Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler: What’s The Difference?

If you are looking for a big and protective dog, then a perfect place to start is with the bully breeds—those descended from the Ancient Roman Mastiffs known as Molossers.

Both Cani Corsi (plural) and Rottweilers are bully breeds. But what are the differences between them?

Rottweilers have longer, thicker coats, require more grooming, are more kid-and cat-friendly, are better in multi-person homes and apartments, and are prone to fewer health issues than Cani Corsi. Cani Corsi cope better alone and in one-person homes and have more energy and higher exercise needs than Rottweilers.

Each dog is different, and the breed standards are only guidelines of how most dogs within a breed should look or behave.

However, breed standards are an excellent starting point when choosing what dog is right for you, so let’s see what characteristics typify Cani Corsi and Rottweilers

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Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler: History

You cannot discount the importance that a dog’s history has on its behavior and characteristics.

When a breed is first developed, it is selectively bred for particular traits, both physical and behavioral, so these are embedded deeply into the DNA of the dogs.

As we have already mentioned, Cani Corsi and Rottweilers share a common ancestor—the Molosser.

Molossers moved with the Ancient Roman legions while they conquered widespread lands. This means that the Molossers were spread to many different places.

Cane Corso History

Molossers that ended up in what is now known as Italy were bred to local dogs. One of the breeds that arose was the Cane Corso.

The first job of the original Cane Corso dogs was as soldiers. Buckets filled with oil and lit on fire were strapped to their backs, and these dogs would then charge straight into enemy lines during battle!

When the Western Roman Empire fell, the Cani Corsi found themselves without work. But they adapted and were used for hunting wild boar and protecting farmsteads.

With this history, you can understand why these dogs are so large, powerful, confident, and protective.

Rottweiler History

Molossers that ended up in what is now known as Germany served as foundation stock for many of today’s German breeds. One of the breeds that arose was the Rottweiler.

Ancient Rottweilers (before they got the name) were not war dogs like the Cani Corsi. Instead, they were drover dogs that moved and protected the cattle that the Legions took with them for food.

Rottweilers also lost their jobs when the Roman Empire fell, but their skill set was put to use protecting and moving cattle to market in the German town of Rottweil.

Their drover history made Rottweilers protective, durable, strong, and trainable.

These characteristics helped the breed find employment as protection, police, and service dogs when the industrial revolution all but eliminated the need for drover dogs.

Summary Of The History Differences

Cani Corsi are an Italian breed, while Rottweilers are German.

Cani Corsi were originally war dogs, then wild boar hunters and farmstead guardians, while Rottweilers were originally cattle drovers, then police canines and personal protection dogs.

Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler: Classification

The breed standards that we talk about are developed by breed registry associations like the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC). These registries are held to be authorities on all breeds listed in their books.

The breeds listed are group into categories or classifications based on their historical and current purposes, appearance, etc.

The Cane Corso and Rottweiler are both in the UKC’s guardian dog group and the AKC’s working dog group, so there is no classification difference.

Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler: Lifespan And Size

	CANE CORSO	ROTTWEILER
Lifespan	9 – 12 years	9 – 10 years
Male Height	25 – 27.5 inches	24 – 27 inches
Female Height	23.5 – 26 inches	22 – 25 inches
Male Weight	100 – 110 lbs	95 – 135 lbs
Female Weight	88 – 100 lbs	80 – 100 lbs

Summary: Life Span And Size Differences

Cani Corsi may live slightly longer than Rottweilers.

On average, a Cane Corso is slightly taller than a Rottweiler.

On average, a male Rottweiler can weigh more than a male Cane Corso

Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler: Appearance

When comparing breeds that fall into the same classification category, then appearance is where they often differ the most.

	CANE CORSO	ROTTWEILER
Head	The head is large and broad The brow is prominent and at almost right angles to the muzzle	The head is broad The brow is visible but not prominent
Muzzle	The muzzle is boxy with a breadth that is approximately equal to the length The upper lips hang past the lower jaw	The muzzle tapers gradually toward the nose Relatively firm lips except at the back corners
Ears	Naturally, the ears are shaped like upside-down triangles Naturally, the ears hang down, but not below the head Often the ears are cropped so that they stand up with a sharp point	The ears are shaped like upside-down triangles They hang down, but not below the head
Body	The neck is arched with slightly loose skin (dewlap) The chest is broad	The neck is arched with no loose skin The chest is broad and deep
Tail	When the tail is un-docked, it is long, broader at the base No feathering When docked, it is done at the fourth vertebra	When the tail is not docked, it is long While not feathered, it is covered in a Rottweiler’s dense fur, making it look thick When docked, it is done at the first or second vertebra
Coat colors	The coat can be black, grey, brown, and red Brindling is also possible Dogs with lighter color coats may have dark masks	The coat is only black with tan markings

Summary: Appearance Differences

A Cane Corso has a more prominent brow than a Rottweiler.

A Rottweiler’s muzzle is tapered and with smaller lips, giving it a smaller look than the Cane Corso muzzle.

Even though the ears are naturally similar, Cani Corsi often have cropped ears, giving them a distinct, sharp, upright look.

While both breeds have broad chests, the Rottweiler’s is much deeper than the Cane Corso’s.

When docked, the Cane Corso’s tail is longer than the Rottweiler’s.

Rottweilers are only black and tan. Cani Corsi can be a range of colors. Interestingly, if a Cani Corsi has black and tan coloring, it is considered to be a fault, and they cannot be registered with the AKC.

Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler: Coat And Grooming Requirements

	CANE CORSO	ROTTWEILER
Outer coat	Short in length, stiff, and shiny The coat has a water-proof quality	Medium in length, straight, flat, coarse, and dense
Undercoat	The undercoat is light and undergoes seasonal changes	The undercoat is short and undergoes seasonal changes
Maintenance intensity	Low	Low to moderate
Brushing frequency	Weekly	2-3 weekly but more when they are blowing their coats
Bathing frequency	Occasionally (coat will release dirt naturally or when brushed)	Regularly
Shedding frequency	Occasional	Moderately most times, but they have a twice-yearly coat blowing
Nail care	Trimmed regularly	Trimmed regularly
Teeth care	Brushed regularly	Brushed regularly
Drooling tendency	Moderate to high	Moderate

Summary: Coat And Grooming Differences

A Rottweiler’s coat is longer and thicker than the Cane Corso’s.

Rottweilers have overall more intense grooming requirements than Cani Corsi because they shed more, and their coats are not self-cleaning like those of the Cani Corsi.

Cani Corsi are more likely to drool than Rottweilers.

Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler: Breed Standard Temperament And Behavior

	CANE CORSO	ROTTWEILER
Affectionate with family	Moderate They are relatively independent and not outwardly demonstrative, but they love to be around their owners	High They can be independent, but they love the company of their owners and are physically affectionate
One-person dog	Possible As with all dogs, it is possible for them to prefer one person over another, but they are not specifically one-person dogs	Possible As with all dogs, it is possible for them to prefer one person over another, but they are not specifically one-person dogs
Child-friendliness	Low to moderate These can be good family dogs, but socialization is important to ensure that they know how to handle children They are big and can knock kids over They do not tolerate kids being rough with them They can become protective if kids are playing too roughly	High These are excellent family dogs, but socialization is still important to ensure that they know how to handle children They are big and can knock kids over They love playing with kids and are gentle and fun playmates They may try to intervene if play gets too rough between kids
Dog-friendliness	Low to moderate Same-sex aggression Socialization is required to minimize the chances of inter-animal aggression	Moderate Same-sex aggression Socialization is required to minimize the chances of inter-animal aggression
Cat-friendliness	Low Socialization is required	Moderate Socialization is required
Stranger-friendliness	Low The protective instincts of these dogs are too well-developed for them to be accepting of strangers	Low The protective instincts of these dogs are too well-developed for them to be accepting of strangers
Prey drive	High	High
Protectiveness	High These are natural protectors, and they will guard their territory and family without any training Training is, however, required to ensure that they do not pose a risk to visitors, delivery personnel, etc.	High These are natural protectors, and they will guard their territory and family without any training Training is, however, required to ensure that they do not pose a risk to visitors, delivery personnel, etc.
Barking potential	Low These dogs will bark to alert you about possible dangers or scare off potential threats These dogs are vocal in other ways	Low These dogs will bark to alert you about possible dangers or scare off potential threats
Dominance	High Their owners need to make sure that their dog does not become the alpha	High Their owners need to make sure that their dog does not become the alpha

Summary: Temperament And Behavior Differences

A Rottweiler will be more outwardly demonstrative of their affection for their owners than a Cane Corso.

Rottweilers are better with children than Cani Corsi.

Rottweilers are more adaptable to living with cats than Cani Corsi.

A Caveat Regarding Breed Standard Temperament And Behavior

As you know, every dog is an individual being with its own personality, which may be slightly divergent from the breed standard temperament or totally contrary to it.

Additionally, a dog’s behavior is influenced by its environment, socialization, and training.

These are factors to bear in mind, but the breed standard exists for a reason. It is the standard to which breeders are held, and it describes the typical traits exhibited by most of the dogs within a breed.

This means that while you are researching what dog is best for you (and which dog you will be a good owner for), the breed standard can be used as a guideline.

When it comes to selecting an individual dog, you will need to ascertain its unique personality and temperament as best you can.

Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler: Exercise And Training Requirements

	CANE CORSO	ROTTWEILER
Socialization	Crucial	Crucial
Intelligence level	High	High
Energy Level	High	Moderate to high
Eagerness to Please	High However, they can still be willful	High However, they can still be willful
Exercise Needs	High Their size means that these dogs need to maintain a good weight and muscle mass for health reasons	Moderate to high Their size means that these dogs need to maintain a good weight and muscle mass for health reasons
Exercise Frequency	1 – 2 times daily	2 – 3 times daily
Exercise Duration	1 – 2 hours	20 – 30 minutes
Exercise Intensity	Moderate These dogs have high endurance	Moderate These dogs have high endurance Be careful of their joints
Owner activity requirements	Moderate to high	Moderate
Suitability as an exercise companion	Moderate These dogs can accompany you on short runs and long hikes	Moderate These dogs can accompany you on short runs and long hikes
Mandatory training	Obedience	Obedience
Crate training	Recommended	Recommended

Summary: Exercise And Training Differences

Cani Corsi have higher energy levels than Rottweilers.

Rottweilers require slightly less daily exercise than Cani Corsi, and their exercise should be broken up into smaller sessions if done at a moderate intensity.

However, a conditioned Rottweiler can last on a long walk or hike that is of low intensity.

Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler: Adaptability And Suitable Living Environment

	CANE CORSO	ROTTWEILER
Suitability for novice owners	No	No
Suitability for single-person homes	Moderate to high These dogs make good companions for single people provided their exercise needs are met	Low to moderate These dogs can be owned by single people, but they much prefer having a whole family to love and play with
Suitability for multi-person homes	Moderate These dogs don’t get attached to only one person, so their attention and exercise needs can be shared among multiple people Make sure they have a space to go when they need to be alone	High These dogs love being members of big families Make sure they have a space to go when they need to be alone
Tolerance to being left alone	Moderate They will turn to destructive behavior if left alone too long	Low They will turn to destructive behavior if left alone for too long May develop separation anxiety
Indoor living	These dogs should be allowed indoors with their family Their size and energy levels make them inappropriate for apartments Need access to a secure garden	These dogs should be allowed indoors with their family These dogs can live in an apartment if they are given sufficient exercise, but their size may make apartment living difficult
Cold tolerance	Moderate	Moderate
Heat tolerance	High	Moderate to high
Tendency to wander	Possible to likely	Unlikely to possible

Summary: Adaptability And Living Environment Differences

Cani Corsi are more suitable for single-person homes than Rottweilers.

Rottweilers are more suitable for multi-person homes than Cani Corsi.

Rottweilers are more suitable for apartment living than Cani Corsi

Neither breed of dog likes to be left alone for long periods, but a Cane Corso will cope better than a Rottweiler who can develop separation anxiety.

Cane Corso vs. Rottweiler: Health Concerns

	CANE CORSO	ROTTWEILER
Joint, Ligament, Muscle Conditions	Hip and elbow dysplasia Bone/joint problems or injuries	Hip and elbow dysplasia Torn ligaments
Cardiovascular Conditions	Heart disease	Aortic or sub-aortic stenosis
Gastrointestinal Conditions	Gastric Dilatation Volvulus	Gastric Dilatation Volvulus
Eye Conditions	Eye diseases	Eye disease
Ear Conditions	Infections in cropped ears	No breed issues
Allergies	Prone	Prone
Neurological conditions	Epilepsy	No breed issues
Cancer	Prone	Bone cancer
Potential for Obesity	Moderate to high	Moderate to high

Summary: Health Differences

Cani Corsi are prone to more health conditions than Rottweilers.

Be sure to check out the informative video below – it gives even more great perspective on the differences between these two amazing breeds!

Final Thoughts

Whether you decide to get a Cane Corso or a Rottweiler, you will be getting a great, protective dog. What you need to determine is if you and the dog will be a good match.

If you have small children, cannot cope with lots of exercise, or live in an apartment, then a Rottweiler is the better choice.

But if you live alone and work full-time, cannot deal with lots of hair, or are looking for an exercise companion/guardian, then a Cane Corso will meet these requirements better.