You’re in California, and you’re a fan of large dogs, so you might have your eye on the Cane Corso Italiano, a seriously impressive dog with a dignified look. So, where do you go to find one? This breed hasn’t been in the US for very long and is still fairly rare, mostly because of the law (more on this later!), but we’ve put together a list of Cane Corso breeders in California to help you.
7 Best Cane Corso Breeders In California
Cane Corso Breeders In Southern California
1. Odisseia Cane Corso
Odisseia Cane Corso, based in Pasadena, CA, takes great pride in the dogs it produces. The team of breeders here has invested a lot of time and effort over the last decade, creating stable, confident dogs with the perfect temperament. These pups stand every chance of being excellent family pets. They’ll be sociable towards humans and animals while still retaining an instinct for protection when the need arises.
Of course, the owner plays an essential part in this process by continuing their dog’s training and socialization throughout its life.
Odisseia’s website has a lot of information about their breeding program and the Cane Corso breed in general, which is worth a read.
They are refreshingly honest about many aspects of their work, including the price of their pups, which is $3,500. This includes a $1,500 fee for ear cropping and recovery, followed by compulsory training.
If you want to know more, here are their details:
Website: Odisseia Cane Corso
Phone: 323-600-5610
Email: [email protected]
2. Dal Cielo Cane Corso
Dal Cielo Cane Corso is situated one hour north of Los Angeles. With around thirty years of experience with rare breed dogs and twenty years breeding Cane Corso, Dal Cielo knows the breed very well.
As with all the best breeders, their dogs are treated like family members and share the house with them. This means that they only have puppies available occasionally, and they would never overbreed their animals. When they do have Cane Corso pups, they are only sold to people who make the grade. This breeder takes time to match the pup with the right home, which is exactly as it should be.
The process of making the perfect pup starts well before they are born. The mother dog is given special care and attention for her own sake as well as for her puppies.
When the pups are three days old, the process of bio-sensory training starts, followed by socialization, crate training, and potty training at one month of age.
Dal Cielo is a proud member of the AKC Breeder of Merit program, and it’s easy to see why, as they have a real passion for what they do.
To contact them about prices, etc., you can check them out here:
Website: Odisseia Cane Corso
Phone: 805-529-4384
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @dalcielo.canecorso
Cane Corso Breeders In Northern California
1. Norcal Cane Corso
Norcal Cane Corso is a small kennel based in Cupertino, CA. Its website is almost minimalistic, without lots of confusing detail. This immediately tells us that Norcal Cane Corso is a no-nonsense breeder.
The write-up on its about us page confirms this, indicating that this breeder is not in it for the money. The owner has a full-time job as well as a passion for the breed. He’s a family man who wants to protect his family and property, as it says on the website.
Any pups are raised in the family home around kids and pets, which helps with socialization. Focus is placed on breeding dogs with an excellent temperament so that they are a loyal friend, great with kids, and can offer protection if needed.
You can get in touch with Norcal here:
Website: Norcal Cane Corso
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 408-439-8933
2. Antico Cane Corso
Antico Cane Corso is a small, family-run kennel based in Arcata, Northern California. They are committed to improving the breed and treat their breeding stock as family members.
Patrick and Kate, the driving force behind Antico, are passionate about this large breed and have dedicated their lives to producing the best Cane Corso you can find. Their list of achievements in the show ring speaks for itself, and you can see these on their website.
It isn’t just about winning prizes, though, as Patrick and Kate use these opportunities to test their dogs. To them, although conformation is important, it’s also essential that the dogs have a well-rounded and stable temperament. They must also be obedient and trainable.
Dogs that perform well in the show ring will make it into the breeding program, ensuring that the next generation of pups will be champions!
What’s great to see is that Antico is backed up by a network of professionals, including other breeders, trainers, and handlers.
To discover more, check them out here:
Website: Antico Cane Corso
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 530-215-5012
Cane Corso Puppies Fresno CA
1. Wise Guardian Kennels
Wise Guardian Kennels is based in Hanford, not far from Fresno, CA. This kennel has been working with large dogs for more than 20 years and has been a breeder of Cane Corso since 2012.
What sets them apart is that they put their dogs’ health and wellbeing above everything, from birth right up until they leave to go to their forever homes.
Every effort is made to ensure that the parent dogs are as healthy as possible, and this is passed onto the pups. Each adult is carefully screened and health tested for common problems, such as hip dysplasia, to make sure that the pups are free from these conditions.
Wise Guardian Kennels raises pups that will be loving family members and protective guard dogs if required. They focus on two words: defend and obey.
However, their pups don’t come cheap. The deposit is $1,000, with puppies priced at $5,000 each. This rises to $6,000 if you want breeding rights. Remember, though, these are show-quality dogs with limited AKC and ICCF (International Cane Corso Federation) registration, which is why the prices are higher.
To check if Wise Guardian have any Cane Corso puppies for sale, look them up here:
Website: Wise Guardian Kennels
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 559-717-8871
Cane Corso Breeders Near Sacramento CA
1. Diaz Cane Corso
Diaz Cane Corso, situated in Sacramento, CA, describes the Cane Corso as an exceptional guard dog and an even better family dog.
This breeder has made it their mission to produce quiet, calm, stable dogs with an even temper. They are confident but trainable, making them the ideal mix of companion and protector.
Diaz Cane Corso doesn’t give too much away on its website, but one encouraging sign is that they do welcome visits by appointment, and they welcome email or telephone/text messages any time.
Prices for their pups are $3,500 with a $500 registration fee.
Feel free to get in touch here:
Website: Diaz Cane Corso
Phone: 916-690-7006
Email: @diazcanecorsos
Cane Corso Breeders In San Diego
1. Olivenhain Corsos
Bob and Rachel are the husband and wife team behind Olivenhain Corsos, San Diego, California.
They began their journey as Cane Corso breeders after their beloved dog, Ziva, came into their lives. She has now become an ambassador for the breed,due to her intelligence, loyalty, presence, and temperament.
Ziva was matched with the perfect breeding partner, an AKC champion with an excellent bloodline and pedigree, to produce the best quality pups you would wish to find.
On Bob and Rachel’s website, beneath the contact us section, you will find three very helpful links. These give advice and guidance on buying puppies, puppy prices, and the Cane Corso breed. It’s well worth reading these before going ahead.
Website: Olivenhain Corsos
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @OlivehainCorsos
Are Cane Corsi Illegal In California?
It might seem strange to ask this, seeing as we have already given details of selected Cane Corso breeders in California!
However, the Cane Corso breed is banned in many countries, and around 700 US cities have breed-specific legislation (BSL). At least 30 states in the US have an outright ban on Cane Corso.
The good news, if you’re in California and want one of these massive dogs, is that this state has a law that prohibits discrimination against a particular breed, meaning that BSL is against the law!
So, you can purchase your Cane Corso, but you’ll have to be familiar with the laws in other regions if you travel with your dog or move house to another state. For example, if you’re in Northern California and head north into Oregon, then you could be in trouble!
We won’t debate the rights and wrongs of breed-specific regulation here, other than to say that it is effectively prejudiced against particular dog breeds based mostly on their looks rather than any accurate data. This has led to countless innocent dogs being euthanized based on their appearance, not because they have caused harm.
Are Cane Corsos Aggressive?
We used the term Cane Corsos purposely to highlight that the plural is actually Cane Corsi, which the more observant readers will have noticed in other section titles.
This enormous Italian Mastiff has a fascinating history that can be traced back to ancient Italy and the now-extinct Molossus breeds. It was primarily used as a war dog and guardian, which is where its name comes from: Cane Corso means guardian dog.
So, are they aggressive? Well, as with other large breeds, especially those with a reputation, the answer is yes and no.
These dogs were originally bred for their aggression and obedience. Having almost become extinct in the 1970s, they were revived, becoming popular across the US – at least in places where they are allowed.
As usual, the real culprits here aren’t the dogs; it’s humans. Reputable breeders do all they can to ensure that the pups have the best chance of being great pets. These dogs are instinctively protective, but with proper socialization and obedience training, they should not display undue aggression. They are naturally calm and placid dogs, and with the right guidance and a firm hand, they rarely cause any problems.
Irresponsible owners who don’t socialize or train their dogs are asking for trouble. Unethical breeders add to this by producing poor-quality pups from parents with a history of aggression. This highlights the need to only use reputable breeders.
Tail Docking And Ear Cropping
One way in which breeders could help to sway public opinion is by stopping the cruel and unnecessary practice of ear cropping and tail docking, as these two factors add to the dog’s intimidating appearance.
You may notice that some of the breeders in this list, however reputable, make exactly the same claim that ear cropping is a relatively painless procedure. This is patently untrue, as proven by recent research. If anything, it is far more painful because the pup’s ear is packed with nerve endings, and the neural pathways are not insulated yet. This allows pain to be felt much more keenly, which is why the procedure has been banned in many countries.
Breeders will also say that floppy ears are not natural and are a result of selective breeding. Allegedly, cropping simply restores them to the ‘natural’ upright position. However, science has proved that floppy ears are the result of domestication in certain breeds, as wolves became tame and did not need to hunt for food. So, even though floppy ears are the result of selective breeding, they aren’t a bad thing and are entirely natural. And as for ear infections, it’s a simple case of cleaning them once in a while!
Some breeders have stopped cropping ears after treating pups that screamed in pain after their ears became infected and pus-filled. With no reasonable or logical argument in favor of this procedure, there is a strong case for introducing a worldwide ban.
Likewise with tail docking. It’s an entirely cosmetic procedure that serves no practical purpose. Those in favor of docking claim that it’s to prevent injury to the dog’s tail, but that’s not a convincing reason for removing it. After all, the same could be said about damaged paws!
For now, these procedures, along with dewclaw removal, are allowed in many states. Finding Cane Corso breeders in California who sell natural pups (that is, without ear cropping, tail docking, or dewclaws removed) will be extremely difficult, if not impossible. Some will leave it up to you, but they are rare. If you are not comfortable with ear cropping and tail docking, then you might want to look at another breed.
How Much Do Cane Corso Puppies Cost?
Photo from: @canillardosguardioes
These ‘little’ beauties will set you back between $1,500 and $5,000, depending on whether it’s a pet quality dog or one with an exceptionally good bloodline and good pedigree.
On average, you’ll probably pay around $2,000 to $2,500 from a reputable breeder.
However, this is only the beginning! This pup is going to grow to between 25 and 27 inches in height and weigh up to 110 pounds if it’s a male and 99 pounds if it’s a female. This means that your dog food bill will be enormous.
Cane Corsi have a lifespan of around 10 or 11 years, so you need to be fully aware that this dog is going to make a big dent in your finances.
On top of the food bill, you’ll need pet insurance, which really isn’t avoidable with this breed. If your dog escapes the backyard and causes any damage, then you will need some kind of financial protection. Pet insurance is often more expensive for big dogs than for smaller ones.
You’ll also need to consider vet bills. Generally, the bigger the dog, the bigger the bill. Surgery on large dog breeds is usually more expensive as the procedures carry more risk.
Final Thoughts
Cane Corso dogs aren’t for everyone. There’s no doubt that it’s a stunningly good-looking breed, made to look more intimidating through cosmetic procedures. But it isn’t a breed to be taken lightly and certainly isn’t a good choice for newbie dog owners. You’ll need to have an assertive nature and always have the upper hand, or this dog will rule the roost! Extensive socialization and dog training are essential for teaching this dog how to behave, and if you have young kids, then it’s best to raise the puppy alongside them.
They’ll adore you but will treat strangers with suspicion and will fearlessly confront anyone or anything that they believe to be a threat. And they won’t back down. They’ll also chase and kill small animals if not securely contained or trained properly.
They make excellent guard dogs, but it’s essential to ensure that they are fully trained.
Eventually, it’s likely that animal welfare laws will dictate that all ear cropping, tail docking, and dewclaw removal must end, though the arguments will continue regardless. The good news is that the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standards state that these procedures are not strictly necessary, even for conformation shows. So when a dog breeder states that they crop ears and dock tails in accordance with breed standards, this is not entirely accurate.
Whatever your views on this divisive subject, it is vital that you only ever approach a reputable breeder any time you buy a dog. Our list shows some of those who can be trusted, but there are others out there. Always take your time to check them out thoroughly, and never go ahead if you are not happy.
You can usually tell the good from the bad, either in the way they communicate with you or how they react to any questions. You can also tell whether they care about their dogs from the state of the premises. It’s a good sign if you find things clean and well-kept! Filthy kennels and untidy yards should make you think twice.
In the end, the main thing is that the animals involved, from the breeding stock to the puppies, are loved and cared for properly.
As dog lovers, that’s something we can all agree on.
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