Spanish Water Dog vs Cane Corso - Breed Comparison

Spanish Water Dog vs Cane Corso - Breed ComparisonCane Corso is originated from Italy but Spanish Water Dog is originated from Spain. Cane Corso may grow 20 cm / 8 inches higher than Spanish Water Dog. Cane Corso may weigh 28 kg / 62 pounds more than Spanish Water Dog. Both Cane Corso and Spanish Water Dog has almost same life span. Both Cane Corso and Spanish Water Dog has almost same litter size. Both Cane Corso and Spanish Water Dog requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Molosser dogs
Herding dogs
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Italy
Spain
Height Male:
62 - 70 cm
24 - 28 inches
44 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
Height Female:
58 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
40 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 50 kg
99 - 111 pounds
18 - 22 kg
39 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
5 - 8
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Cane Corz, Cane Di Macellaio, Italian Mastiff
Perro de agua Español SWD Turco Andaluz • Turkish Dog
Colors Available:
Fawn shades, gray, red, brindle or black shades
solid black, beige, brown, or white; bicolour where the second colour is white; or particolour
Coat:
Short, dense, double coat
distinctive curly coat which is woolly in texture and may form cords when long
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Territorial
Affectionate, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

cane corsoAs a descendant of the Canis pugnax, the Cane Corso dog which hails from Italy has been used for guarding livestock and property. The Corso’s lineage goes far back to ancient Roman times, with the name of dog actually meaning bodyguard dog.

As life changed in Italy, the Corso became more rare so that some enthusiasts of the breed began to look at helping the dog recover from the brink of extinction. By 1994, the breed was accepted by the Italian Kennel Club and the dog was also recognized internationally, with the American Kennel Club recognizing the Cane Corso in 2010.

spanish water dogBred in Spain to guard and herd sheep, the Spanish Water Dog was also used in hunting because he could retrieve in water. The breed is closely aligned with other water dogs like the Irish Water Spaniel, Portuguese Water Dog and French Barbel. It is especially true that the Spanish Water Dog and the Portuguese Water Dog share some of the same ancestors. The two breeds are closely related.

In the early days of the breed, they were separated into three different sizes and types. The dogs from Northern Spain were smaller than the others and came from the regions of Cantabria and Asturias. These lighter colored dogs eventually became their own breed – the Cantabria Water Dog. The second group came from western Andalusia marsh lands. He had a long chorded coat. The third group was the strongest and largest and came from the southern Andalusian sierras. This was by far the largest and most influential group, most of whom were herders. Eventually the groups interbred and today’s SWD carries the traits of all three. They were and still are a very versatile breed. In addition to herding they fished or retrieved for hunters.

The breed was revived in the 1970”s by two breeders, Santiago Montesinos and Antonio Garcia Perez travelled through southern Spain to buy or borrow dogs for breeding. By 1980, they had established the Spanish Water Dog Club of Spain and reestablished the breed. They fought to the breed recognized in Spain first. After five years of hard work, the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized the breed permanently in 1999.

The UKC, or United Kennel Club, of the United States, recognized the breed in 2001, accepting them for confirmation by 2004. In the United States the breed was championed by Ken and Jerry Mann to attain that UKC recognition. Still the AKC, or American Kennel Club, held out on their recognition. The Manns showed the SWD in 2000 in the AKC Rare Breed Conformation and the UKC multi-breed show in 2004.

The Manns also used their breed for herding in the United States in entered them into the herding competition. In the they advocated for and got the SWD into the herding group for confirmation with the UKC in 2013. The American Kennel Club approved the requests of the Spanish Water Dog Club, Inc and recognized the breed in 2005 as foundation stock. By 2008 the AKC recognized the SWD to be able to compete in field trials by not conformation. In 2015 the SWD will be admitting to AKC conformation and fully recognized as a member of the herding group. They were also recognized by the American Herding Breed Association in 2007.

Description

A Molosser Dog:

cane corso puppy - descriptionThe Cane Corso is a large dog which hails from Italy. He is a molosser. The dog is muscled and is somewhat less bulkier than other Mastiff breeds. He is 64-70 cm in height and he weighs 45-50 kg.

The head of the Cane Corso is large and the ears are cropped and stand erect. The tail is also traditionally docked to give the dog a distinctive look, but these days, with regulations regarding tail docking, the dog can also be seen with a full tail.

The Corso has a short coat which comes in fawn shades, gray, red, brindle or black shades. White markings are common on the chest, chin, toes and sometimes on the nose.

Temperament:

The Corso is a working dog who needs lots of mental and physical stimulation. He’s an inquisitive dog who is confident and ready to meet life as it comes. He’ll want a strong, firm owner with leadership qualities. He'll require training and socialization and then he becomes an affectionate, obedient pet who gets on well with all members of the family as well as other pets. He is a highly intelligent dog and responds well to training.

spanish water dog puppy - descriptionThe Spanish Water Dog is an athletic, medium size, robust breed that is not as tall as it is long. In countries like the US, the tails are docked but it is not a conformation fault if they are not. The carry themselves with pride and elegance, have a strong head and expressive eyes which are brown. They have flat skulls and wide set eyes. Their paw pads, eye-rims and nose should be darker than their coat or at least the same color. Their eyes are chestnut, hazel or dark brown and their ears are medium height and triangular. His coat is curly and his topline is straight. With a broad chest and arched rib, he is a very athletic looking dog. The breed has much respiratory capacity with broad shoulders and straight sturdy legs. The breed has rounded feet , tight toes, and resistant pads.

Characteristics

cane corso dog - characteristicsThe Cane Corso is known for his agility and athleticism. He is full of energy and he also wants lots of attention and companionship from his human family. With proper training and socialization his temperament changes so that he becomes a super friend and companion while also being protective.

The dog is attentive and receptive to training. The way a dog turns out is essentially what the owners are like, and many Cane Corso dogs have been blamed for being aggressive because they’ve been brought up by aggressive, abusive and irresponsible owners.

The Cane Corso is a large dog with an exuberant nature and who expresses his joy by snorting, wheezing, grunting and slobbering. Treat him well as a family member and you’re going to have a wonderful friend and protector.

1.Children friendliness - yes

2.Special talents - water/swimming search and rescue

spanish water dog dog - characteristics3.Adaptability - very adaptable with the right exercise. Neither heat nor cold bother them.

4.Learning ability – Smart but need a reliable recall.

Health Problems

cane corso puppies - health problemsThe life expectancy of the Cane Corso is 10 to 12 years. He is a large, healthy dog breed, but all large dogs are inclined towards bone and joint problems which includes hip dysplasia. Your Cane Corso is also prone to eye defects.

Cherry Eye:

Strangely, dogs have 3 eyelids, with the third eyelid being home to tear producing gland. There are some dogs where the ligament fails so that the gland pops out, looking like a cherry stuck at the inner corner of the eye. The veterinarian will be able to perform surgery to attach the gland back.

Entropion:

There are dogs where the eyelids roll inwards. Entropion causes hair to rub on the surface of the eye, resulting in pain and also damage to the cornea. Sometimes surgery will be necessary to fix the eyelid.

spanish water dog puppies - health problemsThe Spanish Water Dog has much of the same health problems as the other water dogs and dogs their size and heritage. Here are some of the health issues they are prone to.

  • PRA- Progressive retinal atrophy – can cause blindness.
  • Hip dysplasia- can cause lameness or arthritis.
  • Cherry eye – can be successfully treated.
  • Cataracts – usually in old age and not removed.
  • Hypothyroidism – affects the immune system of middle aged dogs.
  • Allergies – skin and food.

• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency – inability to digest food – can be treated.

  • Addison’s Disease – Adrenal glands not functioning. Can be treated.

• CHG – Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter – inherited and pups don’t grow correctly.

• Neuroaxonal Dystrophy – cognitive and muscular dysfunction. Vitamin E and insulin deficiency

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

cane corso dogs - caringThe short coat sheds fairly heavily twice a year. His coat will certainly need a brush twice a week but during shedding time it will be more often if you want to avoid your home being full of hair. As you brush, its the chance to check for fleas, ticks and skin infections.

Brush your Cane Corso’s teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week to remove tartar build-up. If you don’t there is the problem of bacteria which can result in gum disease, bad breath and tooth loss.

Diet:

Your Cane Corso is a large, active dog and will therefore require a high quality food for his breed type. The type of food your dog eats will depend on his age and his activity levels.

The quality of dog food is highly important as it is a contributing factor towards his health. Always try to give your dog some home-made food such as vegetables, rice and meat. Include some raw meat into his diet from time to time as a dog is a carnivore, and raw meat in his diet will help to stave off skin problems. Never forget to check that he has fresh, cool water around the clock.

spanish water dog dogs - caring1.Feeding the puppy – Because of the breed propensity to some genetic dietary issues it is important to feed high quality food made from mostly meat. Avoid grains as much as possible. Don’t feed adult foods to the puppies. Feed puppy breed specific or medium size dogs.

2.Feeding the adult - Feed the adult as little grain and as much protein as possible. Feed adult breed specific or medium size dog’s food.

3.Points for Good Health - speed, stamina and agility

4. Games and Exercises – This is a working breed. Remember they are both herders and hunters and need exercise. They love strenuous hiking, running, jogging, long walks, swimming and playing fetch. Don’t over work the puppy/young dog until they have matured and their growth plates close.

Comparison with other breeds

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  29. Cane Corso vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Cane Corso vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Cane Corso vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Cane Corso vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Cane Corso vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Cane Corso vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Cane Corso vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Cane Corso vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Cane Corso vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Cane Corso vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Cane Corso vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Cane Corso vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Cane Corso vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Cane Corso vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Cane Corso vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Cane Corso vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Cane Corso vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Cane Corso vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Cane Corso vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Cane Corso vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Cane Corso vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Cane Corso vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison