Updated Aug 26, 2022
How far you walk your Cane Corso puppy, how long, and how often are decisions that will have a big effect on his health and happiness. Puppies need the right amount of exercise to stay healthy and well-adjusted.
The Cane Corso was bred as a working dog, and their history includes a lot of exercise. But that’s not the whole story, as we will see…
This article will look into all you need to know about how far to walk a Cane Corso puppy and how long you should walk him. We will also look in detail at the concerns you should have when taking a Cane Corso for a walk and how to best go about it.
How Far Should You Walk Your Cane Corso Puppy?
The distance you need to walk your Cane Corso puppy will depend on his age and activity level. There is really no recommended distance that you should walk your Cane Corso puppy — it's more about the total exercise he gets during the day.
But your puppy's walking should be strictly limited to avoid damage to his bones and joints while he is still growing. The guidelines of the American Kennel Club (AKC) recommend that puppies aged 8-12 weeks old be taken on a walk for no more than 10-15 minutes daily.
In fact, during this period, your puppy will probably get all the exercise he needs from your basic potty training work and general playing. If you think about it, he will be fed 3 or 4 times a day, and will need taking out each time, for house training purposes. He will sleep a lot during the day, and will need to taken out when he wakes up. So you can see how basic house training will give him his basic exercise requirements.
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How Long Should I Walk My Cane Corso Puppy?
Start by taking the puppy on short walks of no more 15 minutes, as mentioned above. As the puppy grows older, you can do this up to three times a day, which adds up to 45 minutes of exercise altogether.
Of course, the length of your walks may change as your dog grows older. The amount of activity that you give your puppy will depend on his age, energy levels, state of health, and weight.
Always keep in mind that, as mentioned above, while the bones and joints of puppies are still developing, you don't want to overdo it and cause any damage.
Once your dog approaches adulthood, you can gradually increase the length of your walks to 30 minutes and then, finally, to one hour. Remember to always keep an eye on your Cane Corso's energy levels and adjust the length of your walks accordingly. If your puppy is starting to look tired, it's time to head back home.
As your puppy transitions into a full-grown adult, keep a careful eye on his gait. Is he walking normally with a fluid action. Does he have any awkwardness or limping?
Problems With Our Cane Corsos
Our female Cane Corso had hip dysplasia and the first indication we had was a clicking sound as she walked. We took her to the vet, she was X-Rayed, and diagnosed with hip dysplasia.
If we had not noticed that early indication, it might have turned out worse. As it was, we made sure that nothing she did would make the condition worse — no jumping etc. Thankfully, the condition has not impacted her life very much at all.
Our male Cane Corso suffered from panosteosis, which is a painful condition common amongst very large dogs. It occurs early growth is so fast, and the bones are not sufficiently developed. This meant that we really couldn’t walk hin at all. This condition persisted until he was 3 years of old, which is exactly what we were told to expect. He ended up an incredibly fast an agile dog, with robust health and no problems.
The point here is to keep an close eye on your dog to make sure there is no damage from walking him too much, or walking him when you shouldn’t
How Often Should You Walk A Cane Corso Puppy?
Common advice out there is that you should try to walk your puppy three times a day. But this can be difficult for many people to fit into a busy life. And it may well not be necessary.
As we saw above, during this period, your puppy will probably get all the exercise he needs from going in and out several times a day for basic house training work. You should definitely take this into account because of the risks involved in overdoing exercise for a young puppy.
Once the dog becomes an adult, you can adjust the walking frequency. A good target is a minimum of three times a week. However, your Cane Corso will adjust to the walking schedule you set.
A healthy adult Cane Corso will be able to walk as often and as far as you would like. But he will also adapt to a lighter walking schedule, if that is what suits your lifestyle.
Cane Corso puppies are generally considered to benefit from an active lifestyle but, as with everything, individual dogs will vary. So, where possible, try to match your walks to their energy levels.
How To Walk A Cane Corso: Helpful Tips
Now that we know how far to walk a Cane Corso puppy and how long we should be walking him, it's time to go over some helpful tips on how to walk them.
When taking your Cane Corso for a walk, it's important that he is on a leash. This will help to keep your dog safe and under control. You should also keep an eye on your dog's behavior and body language while out on walks. If your dog starts to show signs of aggression, it's time to head back home for the day and plan how to address that.
It's good to walk your Cane Corso in open areas, where he can explore and smell new things. This will help to keep your dog happy and stimulated. If you live in a city, try to take your Cane Corso for walks in the park or on trails. This will help to manage your dog's energy and keep him occupied.
Should You Ever Let A Cane Corso Off The Leash?
You should never let a Cane Corso off the leash in an uncontrolled area. While this may seem like common sense, you must always keep an eye on your dog's behavior and body language.
Cane Corso dogs are considered to have high prey drive. But modern breeding has been geared toward a softer, more family oriented dog, where prey drive is lessened. Nevertheless, you should never let your Cane Corso off the leash in areas where they could potentially harm other animals especially smaller breeds.
I’ve mentioned this elsewhere, but it bears repeating — the Cane Corso’s bite pressure is around 700 lbs per square inch (PSI). This is greater than the bite pressure of a lion at 650 PSI. You can see the potential consequences of bad behavior in a large, fast, agile, muscular dog with a bite pressure like this.
So be alert when walking your Cane Corso, always keep him on the leash, and watch for any unusual signs in his behavior when he encounters others. He may well be a sweet-natured individual like ours, and never be any problem. But the responsibility to remain alert is yours.
However, assuming your backyard is fenced, it's fine to let your Cane Corso off the leash there, for some supervised playtime. Again, if there are other pets or people your dog will be in contact with, keep an eye on his behavior, body language, and interactions. If he starts to get too rambunctious, you should bring him indoors again.
How Much Exercise Does A Cane Corso Puppy Need?
Matching the right amount of exercise to the proper age and maturity level is very important. A Cane Corso puppy needs the right amount of exercise — not too much, and not too little. An exercise session of about 15-30 minutes a day should be sufficient and should also avoid any danger of damaging bones and joints that are still developing.
As your puppy grows older, you can gradually increase both the length of your dog's exercise and the frequency.
How Much Exercise Does An Older Cane Corso Need?
Cane Corso dogs, like other dog breeds, need exercise throughout their lives. You may need to adjust your dog's daily activities as he or she grows from a puppy to an adult.
Cane Corsos are an athletic breed and they are surprisingly agile for their size. They love activities and play which allow them to put these characteristics to good use.
An adult Cane Corso, as long as he is in good health, is easily able to keep up with an active owner. They will happily play fetch or chase a frisbee, but it is important to avoid overheating in hot, humid conditions.
Other Cane Corso Exercise Ideas
Besides taking your Cane Corso for walks, there are plenty of other ways to give him exercise. Playing fetch in the backyard is a great way to get your dog moving. Try using a toy that dispenses treats as your dog catches it, like the Chuckit! Ultra Ball. This will keep your pup entertained and motivated.
Other great ways to give your Cane Corso exercise include:
These are some great ways to increase the core strength of your Cane Corso:
Obviously we have to be careful not to let our Cane Corso overdo it — particularly with methods like these which are designed to be moe strenuous than normal. But these are good basic methods which bring good results without excess strain.
Cane Corso Energy Levels
Cane Corsos can be high-energy, but are more likely to have medium energy levels. Their energy levels may vary depending on the season and time of day. Nevertheless, they benefit from the stimulation of exercise, activities and play, even if they are adults. Most owners try to allow their pup to exercise daily.
Being active is not altogether essential for a healthy lifestyle, but it’s generally beneficial. For every dog breed, exercise helps toward a good temperament and overall health.
As the owner of a Cane Corso, you’ll soon become familiar with how much exercise your dog needs daily and what kinds of activities are best suited for him. Providing the right amount of exercise can help keep your pup healthy and happy.
Having said all that, our Cane Corsos are probably less active than most, and they have excellent temperament and health and are clearly happy dogs. Which just goes to show that, as with everything, individual dogs vary in their excercise requirements.
Are There Any Concerns About Walking A Cane Corso?
While there are no major concerns about walking a Cane Corso, it's important to be aware of some potential hazards. As mentioned earlier, Cane Corsos can have a high prey drive and can be quite territorial, although these tendencies are being bred out by breeders focusing on producing family dogs.
But Cane Corsos are, of course, large dogs. And the consequences of bad behavior in any large dog can be significant. So. it's important to always be aware of your surroundings when you're out walking your dog and to keep him or her on a leash at all times.
Of course, as with any dog breed, there are some individual dogs that your Cane Corso won't get along with. No dog will always get along well with all other dogs.
And a Cane Corso who has not been well socialized might be wary around strangers — both people and dogs they haven't yet met. It's important to pay close attention to your pup's behavior, if you find yourself in these situations, and take appropriate action to ensure everyone's safety.
Conclusion
Walking your Cane Corso is a great way to get him some exercise, but it's important to make sure you're doing it the right way. Follow these tips and you'll be on your way to a healthy, happy puppy.
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