Are Cane Corsos Lazy? Do They Sleep a Lot?

If you have a Cane Corso you know how much they like to sleep and how quickly they fall asleep even in the weirdest of places. Does that correlate to laziness? Heck no! More and more people are asking me: Are Cane Corsos Lazy?

Cane Corsos are not lazy at all, in fact, they are known as highly energetic dogs. They stay energetic and playful even in their old age. Especially the females, my female Corso is 9 years old, and she is still the fastest and most playful dog in our local dog park.

Don’t confuse sleeping a lot with laziness, Cane Corsos are a large breed, and as such, they require 12 to 16hrs of sleep, including nighttime sleep. 

The more active dogs are, the more sleep they need. Cane Corsos take a lot of naps during the day as well as a long sleep during the night.

To help regulate their sleep cycle, it’s important that they get plenty of exercise, a simple one walk per day isn’t going to cut it for a Cane Corso. On top of a 30-45 minute walk, they need 1 to 2 hours of playtime, running, jumping, and mental stimulus like obedience training.

How Much Does a Cane Corso Sleep?

The average Cane Corso sleeps 12 to 16 hours a day, including the night.

All dogs, even in the same breed, are a little different from one another, if they are from the same litter, chances are that they will have a more similar sleep cycle. But an average Cane Corso needs anywhere from 12 to 16hrs of sleep, the more active they are the more sleep they need.

Here is a graph that explains how a dog’s day should be broken down.

Dogs and humans have very different sleeping cycles. We can sleep 8, 6 or even 5 hours during the night and be full of energy when we wake up and be ready to tackle 16 to 18 hours of being awake. That is because we get a lot of REM sleep.

Cane Corsos are a protective breed, even when they are asleep they can sense things around them. If you ever tried to walk past a sleeping Cane Corso you know that they are ready to go at a moment’s notice.

The ability of a protective dog to instantly wake up and be ready even on the slightest sound or vibration is also a curse. Because they are so easily woken up, they often wake up before they hit the REM stage of sleep. That is why even though they love to play around and run, they try to sneak in as many naps as they can through the day.

How Much Does a Cane Corso Puppy Sleep?

Cane Corso puppies can sleep up to 20 hours a day, the younger they are, the more sleep they need. Have a look at the table below to see how much sleep they need from 0-12 months.

Age	Hours of Sleep Per Day
0-2 months	18-20 hours
3 months	17-20 hours
4 months	16-19 hours
5 months	15-19 hours
6 months	15-18 hours
7 months	14-18 hours
8 months	13-17 hours
9 months	12-17 hours
10 months	12-17 hours
11 months	11-16 hours
12 months	10-16 hours

Cane Corsos puppies are what they call a “ball of energy”, they are very curious, adventurous, and mischievous. And once they are totally worn out, they curl up and sleep as much as they want.

As I said, they can sleep for 20 hours a day, not in one session of course, for example: they can play for 20 minutes then fall asleep on the spot for 40 minutes, and so on through the day. That much sleep is needed because their bodies are rapidly growing at this age and all that sleep is helping them repair and grow their muscles

Cane Corso puppies sleep hard and play hard, be grateful when they are asleep, because they are like a tornado when they are awake and have energy.

How Much Does an Active Cane Corso Sleep?

Active Cane Corsos sleep about 16 hours per day or roughly two hours more sleep than an average Cane Corso.

The more energy a dog uses up during his wake, the more sleep it needs, Cane Corsos like to restore that lost energy through short naps during the day.

“Long story short” if your dog is active a lot when he is awake, it’s normal, and you should make sure he gets a lot of sleep as well

How Long Do Pregnant Cane Corsos Sleep?

If your Corso is pregnant, it’s possible that she will sleep 2 to 3 hours more than usual (about 13 to 15 hours) as the pregnancy progresses.

In the first 2-3 weeks, almost nothing will change, but as the pregnancy continues she will be more and more tired. Carrying the extra weight of puppies, plus the hormonal changes in your dog’s body will consume a lot of energy.

In the first 2 weeks of pregnancy your dog should still have her daily walks, but don’t do any, jumping or any intense work.

As more weeks go by, make sure she is spending most of her time relaxing and sleeping, just take her out for really short walks.

How Long Do Elderly Cane Corsos Sleep?

Old Cane Corsos sleep from 17 to 20 hours a day, depending on their vitality and health.

And they absolutely deserve it! They have been on our side, and kept us safe all these years! It’s time to let them relax.

It’s still healthy to give them just a little daily exercise so their muscles don’t get stiff. But don’t overdo it.

What May Cause Sleeping Changes?

Depression – Depression works the same way in dogs as in humans. A loss of a loved one can make your Cane Corso fall into sadness and sorrow. If it doesn’t pass in months, seek veterinary help.

Poor nutrition – Cane Corsos are working dogs, and as such, they require good nourishment, if they don’t get the right amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals from the food, they may become lethargic.

Health issues – Sleeping more than usual can be a symptom of Lyme disease, hypothyroidism, anemia, viral or bacterial infection, and other health issues. Seek a veterinarian’s help.

Related Questions

Should My Cane Corso Sleep With Me?

A Cane Corso puppy should never sleep with you! It can cause tremendous behavior problems later in life!
I know that your puppy is cute and cuddly, but you have to resist it, trust me on this one.

A Cane Corso puppy should sleep in a crate, near its owner. An adult Corso on the other hand can sleep with his owner from time to time, without worrying that he will develop behavior problems.

Where Should My Cane Corso Sleep?

At night, a Cane Corso puppy should sleep in a crate, or bed near its owner’s bed, and the puppy should have a line of vision of his owner. An adult Cane Corso can sleep anywhere inside the house, or yard, where he feels safe and comfortable.

Why Does My Cane Corso Sleep On me?

When a Cane Corso sleeps or leans on you, it’s a sign of affection. It means he trusts you and wants to be close by your side.