Can Cane Corsos Live Outside? – Hot & Cold Weather

There is a lot to consider when figuring out if your Cane Corso can live outside. Last week I took a deep dive into this subject to figure it out. I will give you the short answer first, but do yourself a favor and read the whole text as it’s not just a question of CAN, but a question of SHOULD your Corso live outside.

Can Cane Corsos live outside? It depends on where you live. Cane Corsos can live outside in areas with moderate temperatures, but if it gets scorching hot or freezing cold, you have to bring them inside the house.

Firstly, let’s go over the temperature part of the equation. Unlike other short coat breeds like Dobermans, Cane Corsos have a short double coat. This double coat consists of two layers, a dense “undercoat” of short wooly hair and a top coat of straight hairs called “guard hairs.”

The undercoat is actually what protects a Cane Corso from both hot and cold weather, while the top coat repels dirt and moisture. The question is: how resilient is this coat, and to what extent can it protect our beloved Cane Corso.

Can Cane Corsos Live Outside in The Winter?

If given sufficient time, a Cane Corso can adapt to the cold winter weather with the help of its two-layered heavy coat. The more they are exposed to cold temperatures, the thicker their undercoat will grow each winter, although some Corsos will adjust better. (This doesn’t apply to puppies under 6-months old, they should always be kept indoors in the winter)

There is a difference in the undercoat density depending on the various colors of the Cane Corso. The undercoat of a Black Corso is always less dense than those of fawns or brindles, and there is a logical explanation for it.

The color black absorbs all visible wavelengths of light, and with that, it attracts the most heat. Because their coat absorbs more heat from the sun, black Corsos are prone to overheating in the summer. Evolutionary black Corsos adjusted to this by growing thinner undercoats to keep them cool.

If your Corso genetically has a shorter coat, they may not adjust to the cold that well. The best thing to do is to pay close attention and use the “rule of thumb” to determine if your Corso is handling the cold or not. If he is not, then it’s better to keep him indoors.

Can Cane Corsos Live Outside in The Winter

How Cold is Too Cold for a Cane Corso?

Even though Cane Corsos are super resilient and sturdy, they aren’t “geared” for extremely cold weather. An old Cane Corso breeder rule states that: If the weather drops below 32°F (0°C) you should bring them inside.

If you have a dog house that is properly insulated, your Cane Corso can stay warm in it even when the outside temperature drops to the 20s, but more on dog houses later…

If you live in freezing or frigid areas, such as somewhere alongside the US/Canadian border, you should always bring your dogs inside during winter.

Can Cane Corsos Handle Hot Weather?

Cane Corsos are more resilient to heat than some other breeds, but they can’t handle scorching hot temperatures. When it gets hotter than 80°F (27°C) you need to make sure your Corso has plenty of shade and access to fresh water at all times.

As I said, Cane Corso’s double coat doesn’t only keep them warm it also helps them cool down. While they shed their outer coat all year round, the undercoat begins to shed in the late spring to prepare them for the hot summer days ahead.

Hot Weather Precautions

Although shedding is a very convenient mechanism for cooling down in hot weather, there is always a limit and your dog needs your help to endure it with more ease.

Keeping Your Cane Corso Hydrated

Keeping your Corso hydrated during hot summer days is vital. Make sure your Cane Corso has plenty of fresh and cool water, and remember to change it frequently throughout the day.

Provide Shade

When it gets too hot to handle, your dog will find a shaded area, preferably one that has cold concrete underneath it, so they can lay down to cool off.

They’re not a short-term solution, but down the road, a tree will provide lots of cooling shade in your yard. A good big shade created by a tree will be useful to you and your family, not just your dog. If you don’t have any mature trees in your yard, you should think about planting one.

Some quicker ways to create shade are Cantilever Umbrellas, Shade Sails, Awnings, Pergolas…

Reduce Activity

Shorten the duration of your daily walks and exercises, avoid hot pavement, and try to pick a walking route that has lots of trees and grass.

If you can, organize walks, playtime, and training to be in the early morning and the evening.

Cooling Pad, Wet Towel, or a Pool

You don’t need a big pool, just a little kiddie pool so your Corso can splash around, have some fun and cool himself down.

Cooling pads provide a nice cool surface for both bedtime and long afternoon naps. It’s also neat that they are easy to move around and travel with.

At the end of the day, you can use all the old standard “non-fancy” ways of cooling down like:

Wet your dog down with a garden hose.
Dampen a towel and drape it over your dog(you can even place the towel in the freezer for a couple of hours.)
Create a breeze with a floor fan.
Make frozen dog treats and popsicles.

Dog House

If your dog loves spending a great deal of time outside or if you want to train him to be an outdoorsy one, he needs defense against the elements. A dog house provides access to cool shade on a hot day or shelter from the cold, rain, or wind.

When building a dog house, make sure the doorway/entrance doesn’t face into the wind during the most frigid months of the year. If the entrance is big, suspend some flaps or strips over the doorway to keep the heat in and the cold out.

Insulated dog houses keep your dogs warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Also, place well-insulated bedding, like cider wood, to keep your dog up off the cold ground. Make sure to clean the place out every month or two.

Should a Cane Corso Live Outside?

This question is not easy to answer. If we start from the fact that the Cane Corso has a need to perform its guard dog duties, then he should have plenty of space to move around freely.

But that brings up another question. What does a dog have to guard and protect in this day and age? Well, hopefully, a beautiful family, a house, and a yard.

In my experience, the best practice is to mix a little bit of both. Cane Corso needs to be surrounded by “his people” that’s when he is most comfortable, and his guardian instinct is fulfilled.

It’s not good to keep your dog in his kennel/doghouse all day and just let him out for a couple of hours. I keep all my dogs inside the house, but I give them the freedom to roam around the yard, and I train them to be comfortable in the dog house.