Are you looking to buy a new guard dog, such as a Cane Corso, but don’t know if you’ll have the right budget for a new pup? Don’t worry; I’m here to explain to you how much a Cane Corso Costs – and not just the initial price.
Cane Corsos are some of the best family guardians you can find. These large dogs are known for being territorial, protective, and loyal, which is everything you need if you want to feel safe in your own home.
Still, keeping a dog can be expensive, and many people don’t realize this until they’ve started caring for a dog themselves.
So, what is the Cane Corso price, and are these canines expensive? Here’s everything you need to know!
How Much Does A Cane Corso Cost?
Cane Corsos are big dogs, but luckily, they are not among the most expensive dogs out there – although they are far from cheap dogs.
Many people only think about the initial puppy price, but this is only the beginning of all the expenses. While the first year will always be the most expensive one, other years can also keep on being rather costly.
For example, medical costs might vary depending if your pooch will only need to go to regular annual visits or if he’ll need treatment for some health issue.
Similarly, monthly costs might vary depending on the type of food you buy your dog. If you opt for the most expensive option, the price will skyrocket. However, if you choose a more affordable option, your budget won’t be affected that much.
Overall, you can expect your Cane Corso to cost you anywhere between $1,000 and $9,500 a year.
To better understand how much does a Cane Corso cost, take a loot at the price chart below:
Cane Corso Price Chart
Puppy price | $900 – $4,000 |
Dog food | $180 – $700 a year |
Treats | $100 – $750 a year |
Food and water bowls | $10 – $50 |
Dog leash | $5 – $50 |
Dog collar | $5 – $50 |
Dog bed | $30 – $100 |
Dog crate | $50 – $200 |
ID tag | $5 – $20 |
Pooper scooper | $10 – $30 |
Poop bags | $15 – $100 |
Odor removal spray | $5 – $20 |
Dog toys | $20 – $150 |
House training pads | $15 – $45 |
Dog brush | $5 – $30 |
Dog shampoo | $5 – $25 |
Tooth-brushing kit | $5 – $15 |
Toenail clippers | $5 – $30 |
First-aid kit | $15 – $50 |
Medical costs | $500 – $3,000 |
Total price | $1,885 – $9,415 |
Price Of A Cane Corso Puppy
The first thing you’ll be faced with cost-wise is the Cane Corso puppy price.
The price of the puppy can vary depending on many factors I’ll explain in a bit. Overall, you can expect to pay anywhere between $900 and $1,500 for a regular Cane Corso pup if you’re buying from reputable breeders.
However, if you decide to buy a puppy that comes in one of the rare Cane Corso colors, these prices can end up being much higher. For example, it isn’t unheard of for blue Cane Corsos to have a selling price of $3,000.
Similarly, if a dog comes from champion bloodlines, he might cost even more – typically $4,000, but they can end up even more expensive.
The good news is that this is probably the biggest expense you’ll have in a while. All other expenses will be much smaller, although they can pile up.
What Can Affect The Price Of A Puppy?
As I’ve already mentioned, there are several factors that can affect the initial cost of buying a Cane Corso puppy. This is why you can find a Cane Corso costing $400 and a Cane Corso costing $2,000.
Here’s what might cause lower or higher prices when looking to buy a new family pet:
Coat Color
As stated above, a coat color is one of the main factors that can affect a Cane Corso puppy prices. A dog that comes in a rare color, such as merle, blue, or chocolate, will typically cost more than a typical black Cane Corso.
Just keep in mind that just because a dog looks unique doesn’t mean he’s better or even healthy. In fact, many of these “rare” colors are a sign that a dog might be crossbred.
For example, a white Cane Corso is often crossbred with a Dogo Argentino.
While there’s nothing initially wrong with getting a Cane Corso mix, don’t allow someone to scam you.
Also, it might be challenging to predict the temperament of a crossbreed, especially if the breeder was dishonest about what breed the dog’s parents were.
Bloodline
This one is probably fairly obvious: If a dog comes from a rare or a champion bloodline, he will cost more than a “regular” dog.
This is because canines with successful parents have a greater chance of reaching success themselves, due to good genes their ancestors have passed on to them.
Not to mention that the name sells, and having a puppy from a famous family can certainly affect the initial purchase price.
Age
Another thing that affects a dog’s price is his age. Typically, a younger dog will cost less than an older dog.
Now, I’m not talking about the difference between buying a puppy versus buying a senior dog – although the cost discrepancy is rather obvious. Even if you decide to buy a young dog, you’ll find him to cost a lot more than a young pup.
Most breeders won’t sell a dog younger than 8 weeks, so I won’t be talking about pups younger than that. Still, buying a dog that is 8 weeks old will typically be more expensive than buying a dog that has turned 6 months old.
This is because the younger the puppy, the greater the chances you have of molding him the right way and teaching him how to behave according to your standards. Not to mention how a young dog will bond with you more easily than an older one. This is why puppies are so prized.
Of course, this won’t be the case if the dog is intentionally bought when older because he had to undergo certain training at the cost of the breeder.
Geographic Location
The area you live in will also play a part in the pricing of your Cane Corso dog.
For example, if there is a great demand for Cane Corsos, but the supply is low, the prices will be higher. Similarly, if there are many breeders but not many people are interested in buying these pups, their cost will become low.
Due to their size and the fact that they are primarily working dogs, Cane Corsos are usually more sought after in rural towns. No one can safely keep a Cane Corso in a small apartment in the middle of a metropolitan area!
This is why the location of the breeder can result in higher or lower prices.
Different Prices At Different Breeders
Finally, the breeder’s reputation and quality can also affect the price. The better the breeder, the more they’ll value their dogs and the work they do, so they’ll keep their cost higher.
This is why I’m always saying that you shouldn’t just pick the cheapest dog just because he seems affordable. There is almost always a reason why something is cheap, and you shouldn’t play when it comes to living beings.
Reputable Breeders
Reputable breeders invest lots of money in breeding the best puppies possible. They pay for plenty of medical bills and vaccination costs, as well as for proper training and socialization. To make up for that money, they’ll have to sell more expensive puppies.
Good breeders might pay for leash training, potty training, microchipping, ear cropping, tail docking, deworming, AKC registrations, and many other necessary expenses.
So, an important point to keep in mind is that when you’re giving them a large amount of money, you’re also paying for all of these services.
These breeders will also carefully determine which potential buyers have what it takes to be a Cane Corso owner, so don’t be surprised if you hear that they won’t sell to just anyone!
Backyard Breeders
Backyard breeders can easily be confused with reputable breeders, but there are a few differences that allow them to sell their dogs rather cheaply.
Most backyard breeders are people who don’t have registered breeding companies. Although they are not literally selling dogs in their backyard, they are not conducting necessary genetic testing and socialization, so they don’t really care about the quality of puppies they produce.
This is why most of their pups will be sold for a much cheaper price. They didn’t invest much in their litters, so they don’t have any reason to raise their costs.
Some backyard breeders are owners who have accidentally ended up with an unwanted litter of puppies they are now looking to get rid of – and profit a bit.
Puppy Mills
Finally, we have puppy mills. Puppy mills are places that over breed dogs without any plan or order. They often keep their dogs and puppies in dirty surroundings and don’t care about the animals they have.
Most of the time, puppy mills will sell more than one type of dog. They typically have Cane Corsos for sale and very different dog breeds, such as Poodles, Golden Retrievers, or Huskies.
Dogs that come from puppy mills are typically unsocial, with various health issues that come from their bad genetics and improper upbringing.
The main reason why they are still a thing is because they are cheap. It isn’t uncommon to find a Cane Corso puppy being sold at puppy mills at a price of $400.
Adoption
Finally, the cheapest option is to adopt a Cane Corso from a rescue. The adoption cost is typically much lower than the purchase price, especially for an older dog.
When you adopt a dog, you usually won’t know his health history. Sometimes, you won’t even know his true age!
However, when going to the rescues, you can expect to pay just a small adoption price that is typically between $50 and $150.
Cost Of Owning A Cane Corso
Next to the initial purchase price, you can also expect to face some additional costs, such as annual veterinary costs, food costs, and pet insurance.
Here’s what expenses you can expect:
First Year Costs
The first year of dog owning is always the most expensive one. You’ll need to get all the items, such as dog collars and leashes, training pads, and a dog house or a crate.
Also, you’ll need to spay or neuter your dog during this time, and while this is a routine procedure, it can end up pricey. Luckily, this will rarely cost more than $500.
As Cane Corsos are large dogs, any item you buy for them will need to be strong and durable. They’ll need high-quality toys, a large bed, and a large and strong crate for when they need a time out.
Due to their protective instincts and aggressive tendencies, young Cane Corsos and their pet parents will typically require professional training classes, and these prices can pile up.
Overall, you can expect to pay at least $2,000 during the first year of owning a Cane Corso dog.
Depending on the initial purchase price and the cost and quality of items you’ve chosen to get, these expenses can end up being higher.
Supply Costs
It’s challenging to predict a precise price for all the supplies you’ll get for your dog. This is because some items you’ll only need to purchase a few times, while others will need to be replenished regularly.
Due to their large size, Cane Corsos will need lots of food to stay healthy and active. If you opt for a cheaper food option, you can expect to pay around $180 a month to keep your pet satisfied. However, if you go for premium brands, this price is more likely to be around $700.
Treats are another item that you’ll need to buy regularly, and you can spend anywhere between $100 and $750 on them.
Dog toys won’t need to be rebought as often, but keep in mind that a dog of this strength can easily chew through most fabrics and materials with ease.
Most dog beds can last for a long time, so you’ll probably only buy a few during your pup’s lifetime.
Medical Expenses
Another thing you need to be aware of is medical expenses.
Your dog will need to have regular visits to the vet. These visits will usually cost between $100 and $500 per visit. Here are the standard expenses you can count on:
- Heartworm prevention medication: $75 – $120
- Flea prevention medication: $100 – $130
- Influenza vaccination: $70 – $100
- Lyme vaccination: $50 – $90
- Leptospirosis vaccination: $15 – $30
Your Cane Corso might not have to have all of these procedures and treatments done every time, but it’s better to keep the prices in mind.
If your pup ends up sick, you’ll also be liable for treatment costs. Some of the potential health issues a Cane Corso might have, and the costs of their treatments are as follows:
- Eye problems might require treatment or surgery, and these can cost between $500 and $2000.
- Elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia typically affect older dogs, and their treatment can cost anywhere between $500 and $15,000.
- Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (Bloat) requires immediate surgery that costs between $1,000 and $3,000.
While I hope your pup never develops any of these health conditions, the cost of veterinary care is an important consideration before you make a purchase.
Additional Costs
Finally, there can be some additional costs that can further affect the cost of owning a Cane Corso.
You might want to get your dog to additional obedience training , and a full course will typically cost around $500.
If you wish to hire a dog walker, you can expect to pay $10 – $20 per hour.
While Cane Corsos don’t require regular brushing, you might want to take them to a groomer from time to time. This will cost you up to $80 per visit.
If you want to travel, you might need to pay for dog boarding services. These usually cost between $30 and $90 per day.
Finally, most states require a license to keep a Cane Corso dog. Make sure to check your local regulations before you make a purchase. Luckily, a license isn’t expensive, and it will usually cost no more than $30.
Bottom Line
Now you see that the answer to How much does a Cane Corso cost? isn’t as simple as you might’ve thought.
There are many things that can affect the cost of a Cane Corso, and many additional expenses that might pile up.
Even items such as dog beds and leashes will need to be replaced from time to time, while food will probably need to be bought weekly.
Buying a dog is more than just the initial cost; it is agreeing to a lifelong commitment that can be expensive at times. This is especially noticeable when dealing with a large dog that will need lots of care.
Still, as a Cane Corso lover, I can say just one thing: These dogs are worth every cent.
However, before you make a purchase, take a look at your budget and be certain that you can afford everything.
Hopefully, this article gave you an idea of the expected expenses.
Meet Iram, a devoted veterinarian, passionate dog lover, and current Ph.D. candidate at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Seamlessly blending her roles as a vet and content writer, Iram channels her love for dogs into heartfelt narratives.
Since childhood, Iram nurtured a dream of becoming a vet, a passion that runs deep in her family. Having now fulfilled that dream, she’s eager to share her acquired knowledge. In her writing, Iram not only explores the emotional bond between humans and their canine friends but also integrates her veterinary expertise, offering readers a holistic understanding of their beloved pets.