If you read our previous blog about what it means to own this working breed, today’s blog will provide six effective dog sports to challenge your Corso both physically and mentally!
When owning a working dog breed, like the Cane Corso, it’s critical to provide enough activity to challenge both their mental and physical prowess. If not given regular and proper outlets for their energy, the Cane Corso can become bored and engage in negative and destructive behaviors to release excess, pent-up energy.
It bears repeating, an adult Cane Corso will require around 90 minutes of daily exercise! Keep in mind, the Corsi responds much better to exercise where their humans also participate to honor and nurture their deep bonds with their owners!
But “exercise” doesn’t need to be boring! Switch it up and keep you and your Corso interested and engaged! Next, let’s look at six dog sports you can do with your Corso, even competitively, to improve their overall skills, abilities, communication and bonding.
Corso Sport #1: Agility
Dog agility is one of the most popular K9 sports! While this activity may not seem appropriate for a Cane Corso, they are very agile and engaging in this sport can help maintain and improve their overall dexterity. Not only is it a great source of exercise, but it also fine-tunes your dog’s concentration, obedience and discipline. From weaving through poles, to teeter boards, tire jumps and more, agility challenges guarantee a happy and tired Corso!
Corso Sport #2: Dock Diving/Jumping
Dock jumping (aka dock diving) is the perfect summertime exercise! The outcome is simple: which dog can jump the longest distance over water? There is also a newer version of this sport called Ultimate Vertical. In this sport, it’s all about which dog can jump higher to reach – and grab – a suspended toy at pre-determined heights.
Corso Sport #3: Tracking
The sport of scent tracking is a great way to combine your Corso’s sense of smell with physical exercise! There are three different ways for a dog to track scents:
- On the ground.
- In the air.
- The identification of scented objects.
Black and Tan Dog Learning to Track a Scent
Place your dog’s favorite, high-value treat along the ground in increments to engage his nose. Praise your dog as he finds each treat, but resist leading him to the treats! Let him figure it out. Even after all the treats are gone, your dog can still track the scent. Increase the length of the track and even move sideways to create new scent track challenges.
Corso Sport #4: Cart/Weight Pulling
This dog sport is custom-made for the Cane Corso as it engages their natural desire to pull! Remember, this breed was specifically bred towork and are happiest in having a job to do! Weight-pulling requires pulling a weighted sled or cart. There’s no better way to physically challenge your Corso while building muscle and strength!
Corso Sport #5: Lure Coursing
Another great K9 sport that takes advantage of the Corsi’s natural high-prey drive! If your Corso lives to chase, this sport is calling his name! Using a Lure Coursing machine, a white plastic bag (the “prey”) moves along a suspended line initiating a fast game of chase. Typical lure courses (in the USA) range between 600 and 1,000 yards.
Corso Sport #6: Flyball
Also known as “catch ball,” this dog sport became famous in the early 70s and is perfect for the very active dog (including the Cane Corso). If your dog’s best friend is a tennis ball, you have to try this sport! Flyball is a team/relay sport and includes the completion of an obstacle/hurdle course ending at the “flyball box” which has to be triggered by the dog to release the ball. The dog must then catch and return the ball to its handler.
This is by no means an exclusive list! The Cane Corso would also excel at competing in show or conformation, obedience and rally obedience (which mixes classical obedience skills and agility skills).
The Final Word
The Cane Corso has been bred and revered throughout history for its physical and mental abilities. As working dogs, the Corso inherently has high energy, a large physique and great power. Try different sports and games to engage your Corso’s mind, body and sensory abilities for a happy and tired dog!
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