Can Cane Corsos Swim? Do They Like Water?

I love my Cane Corso, but I also happen to love water sports, swimming, and going out to the lake. The first time I took my Corso to the lake with me, I had to wonder: Is he a good swimmer? Does he even like swimming? If you are having the same questions as I did back then, you are in luck, because I now have a lot of experience in that department.

Can Cane Corsos swim? Cane Corsos can swim, but they are not good at it. They love having fun in the water and cooling down in the shallow area, but swimming is not natural to them and their body shape isn’t ideal for it.

Even though they are not naturally great at swimming, they can still have plenty of fun, and you can help them become solid swimmers. Below are the things you need to know before introducing your Corso to water for the first time, and the steps for teaching your Corso how to swim.

Keeping Your Dog Safe While Swimming

Before I say anything else about swimming, I want to go through some safety measures.

1. If you have a pool and a dog, it’s super important to teach them where the shallow ends are and where to get out. I can’t tell you how many dogs, especially puppies, die by getting in or falling into the pool and having no idea how to get out.

2. Closely supervise your Corso whenever he is in water. Keep an eye on him and be close to him so you can react if he starts panicking or anything goes wrong.

3. If you are having doubts, use a life jacket. Adult Cane Corsos weighs 120 pounds, it will be hard pulling him to the shore, but a life jacket will help you with that, especially if the currents are strong and the water is deep.

4. If you are going on a boat, a life jacket is not optional, it’s a must!

Cane Corsos Like To Swim

Cane Corsos love to splash in the water as any other dog does, but they have a big muscular long body and a “deep” chest which makes them sink more than float.

They make up for it with their sheer athleticism, power, and endurance. Below are some of the water activities that Cane Corsos love.

Swimming in a Pool – It will take some encouragement and time for your Corso to go into the pool. Especially if your pool doesn’t have a gradual slope going into the water, the steep drop that most pools have can be a little frightening for them.

I “tricked” mine by playing fetch with a stick. Eventually, he found the courage to jump into the pool and retrieve the stick. Now he loves the pool.

Splashing in Shallow Waters – They love getting chest-deep in shallow waters on hot days. The beach is a great place for a Corso to learn to play in the water. Take it gradually, don’t force them to go deeper if they don’t want to.

Swimming in a Lake – This is the best option. The pleasant slope along a lake will help your Corso gradually build confidence to go deeper and deeper. Get in the water with him and toss a stick further and further out into the water, support him by being beside him all the way until his feet can’t touch the bottom and he begins to swim.

Kiddie Pool – Fill up a kiddie pool on hot days, it will help him cool down, and he will have fun splashing around.

Why Cane Corsos Are Not Good Swimmers

What makes a Cane Corso a bad swimmer, put simply, they don’t have a body that’s made for swimming.

Deep Chest – Having such a huge chest, and lung capacity make their front float more than their rear end, simply put, they are out of balance in the water.

Long Body – Cane Corso has a long heavy body, this makes their rear end sink even more.

Muscular Bodies – Muscle sinks and fat floats. Cane Corsos have a lot of muscle weight. That means they will sink more than float.

Webbed Feet – All dogs have slightly webbed paws, some more pronounced than others. Unlike a Labrador who excels in water activity due to his webbed feet, a Cane Corso isn’t because his feet are just slightly webbed.

Effort – Because swimming isn’t natural to a Corsos body, they have to do a ton of work just to stay floating, all that work exhausts them.

Teaching Your Cane Corso to Swim

Never force a dog into the water when they don’t want to get in. Also, be careful that they don’t accidentally fall into the water, this can cause them to develop a fear of water, it will then become ten times harder to get them to like water activities.

Step 1: Lifejacket

If you opt to use a lifejacket, you need to associate it with something good. If you randomly strap your Corso in a lifejacket it will be distracting, it will irritate him, he will try to get it off, etc.

Instead, start buckling him in a lifejacket before giving him his meals and treats, he will start associating the lifejacket with positive things.

Step 2: Pick a Place

You should pick a practicing place. I recommend a lake, where the water is calm, there is a gentle slope going into the water, no waves, and little distractions. This setting will definitely help your Cane Corso get the confidence he needs to get into the water.

Step 3: Start Gradually

Don’t force him into the water. Start by walking on a leash near water, then try walking on the shore, then just 10-15 inches of water, and so on. The natural curiosity of a Cane Corso will surely make this process go smoothly.

Step 4: Get in The Water Yourself

Cane Corsos don’t want to miss out on any fun. If he sees you having fun in the water, he will want to do it too. It will also make him feel safer in unknown territory.

Step 5: Make it Fun

Get him excited to go in the water. We already know that they prefer land to water, so if they don’t have a reason to go into the water, why would they?

When your Corso gets used to the shallow waters, bring his favorite toy, and play fetch, see if he will overstep his comfort zone and go into the deeper waters to retrieve the toy. When he does, praise him and hi lots of treats.

Swimming is Good For Your Corso

As Cane Corsos are working dogs, they need a lot of exercise and stimulation, swimming is a great activity that provides that. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits.

Excercise – Swimming provides a great aerobic and strength workout for an active breed like a Cane Corso because they need to move their whole body against the resistance of the water and use muscles they don’t normally use. It will also result in better sleep, as they will exert the extra energy Cane Corsos have.

Fun – Once they get used to it, they absolutely love splashing in the water, swimming, and running on the shore. It gives them excitement and stimulates their brain.

Cooling Down – Prevents overheating in the hot summer days, swimming is a great way to cool a dog’s body down, while still being active, and not just laying in the shade all day.

Therapy – Veterinarians recommend water therapy for larger breeds like Cane Corsos. It helps relieve pain in the bones and joints of elderly Cane Corsos.