Have you been thinking about adopting a Cane Corso but are worried about how much they drool? Fair enough, dog slobber can be pretty gross.
Mastiffs and some Bully breeds are notorious for drooling excessively! Below, we will cover everything you need to know about Cane Corsos, why they drool, and what you can do about it.
The Cane Corso drools less than most Mastiff breeds but can still be pretty slobbery. Cane Corsos drool for a few reasons.
Loose skin around a dog’s muzzle can lead to drooling. Neuromuscular and health conditions are common culprits of excessive drooling. Check with your vet to rule out health concerns.
On the bright side, Cane Corsos usually do not drool all of the time. They tend to drool more during activities like walks, feeding time, and vigorous play.
Understanding Why Cane Corsos Drool
So why do these dogs drool and is there anything that you can do about it? The fact is, drooling is pretty common in certain dog breeds. Many things can cause a Cane Corso to drool.
Drooling can be impacted by genetics, environmental factors, and even your dog’s emotional state. Since Cane Corsos are closely related to Mastiffs, frequent drooling can be expected.
Factors that May Contribute to Excessive Drooling
- Dental and oral issues
- Genetics
- Health conditions
- Nausea
- Environmental factors
- Excitement
- Anxiety
- Muzzle shape (soft mouth)
- Heat and humidity
- The presence of food
Dental and Oral Causes of Drool
Just like with human beings, dogs can end up with lots of tartar in their mouth. This tartar buildup can get under the gums and cause swelling.
From there, drooling is likely to increase. To prevent this, brushing your dog’s teeth regularly and practicing good oral hygiene is wise.
Drooling Due to Other Physical and Genetic Causes
In some instances, your Cane Corso might drool frequently due to genetic factors. Breeding, genetics, and the way that your dog’s mouth is shaped can all contribute to slobber quantities.
If the parents of your dog were particularly slobbery, drool might just come as part of the territory for your Cane Corso.
Your dog’s health may also be the cause of drooling. Certain health conditions such as motion sickness, consuming toxic substances, or dental issues can cause excess saliva in a dog’s mouth.
As such, if your dog suddenly begins drooling more than usual or excessively drooling for a long period, it may be time to consult your veterinarian.
Environmental Factors that May Cause the Production of Saliva
A dog’s environment and daily activities can actually have a big impact on how much salivation will occur.
In fact, in Ivan Pavlov’s famous experiment, dogs were trained to drool using a process of conditioning.
When a bell was rung, the dogs anticipated a snack and began to produce more saliva. Therefore, drooling can be triggered by what is going on around your dog.
The Correlation Between Your Dog’s Mental State and Slobber
Alternatively, some dogs drool more when excited, hungry, or stressed out. The mental state of your Cane Corso may indeed have much to do with how much saliva will be excreted.
In fact, mental states of anxiety have been known to cause drooling and excessive saliva production in a range of animals.
Even some cats will drool when anxious! Breeds that don’t usually drool may begin producing saliva when in states of anxiety or excitement. On the other hand, some forms of mental stimulation can cause drooling.
Vigorous play sessions, interesting walks at the park, and rides in the car, may cause your dog to use their salivary glands more than usual.
This is true for almost every breed of dog. Even cattle dogs who aren’t prone to drooling will salivate excessively when anxious or amped up.
Exactly How Much Do Cane Corsos Drool?
So exactly how much do Cane Corsos drool? Well, that will depend on your specific dog, its genetics, a range of environmental factors, and more. Generally, Cane Corsos will drool more than most dog breeds but less than some.
Dogs that Drool More than Cane Corsos
Newfoundlands, Tibetan Mastiffs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Bloodhounds, and Saint Bernards are all dog breeds that drool more than the Cane Corso.
Dogs that Drool Less Than Cane Corsos
Pit Bulls tend to drool less than Cane Corsos. The same goes for most cattle dog breeds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Poodles.
Therefore, you can expect your Cane Corso to drool slightly more than a Pit Bull but slightly less than an English Mastiff.
Why Do Some Dogs Drool More Than Others?
For some dogs, drooling is caused by something called a soft mouth. The term soft mouth is often used by breeders and owners of hunting dogs. The term can have two meanings.
The first meaning refers to a behavioral tendency to carefully hold and carry an item or small game animal.
The second use of this term refers to a physically gentle mouth bred by selecting dogs with excess skin around the muzzle.
In the case of the Newfoundland dog, the soft mouth is used for water rescue and retrieval. The point of the soft mouth is to prevent the dog from damaging what it carries in its mouth.
This loose skin and gentle muscle control can lead to drooling. Cane Corsos have not been specifically bred to have a soft mouth. Still, they are hunting dogs with loose skin near their jowls that can cause plenty of drooling.
Which Dog Breeds Drool the Most?
With some breeds, slobber is just one of those things that owners will have to contend with. However, not all dog breeds will drool a lot.
Also, some dogs do not adhere to breed norms. So, even though most dogs in a breed drool, you may get lucky and have a dog that drools minimally.
For example, the Newfoundland dog is one of the most slobbery pups around. Because of the loose skin around their jowls, these dogs are super drooly.
Bred to have a soft and gentle mouth for water retrieving purposes, these dogs are famous for how much they slobber. The same goes for St Bernards and Tibetan Mastiffs.
With that in mind, not all Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, and Tibetan Mastiffs are prominent droolers. It all depends on the dog!
The 10 dog breeds that drool the most are:
- Saint Bernards
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Bloodhounds
- Bulldogs
- Newfoundlands
- Neapolitan Mastiffs
- Bernese Mountain Dogs
- Bullmastiffs
- Boxers
- Great Danes
Cane Corso History and Traits
To understand why Cane Corsos have large mouths with floppy jowls, it is important to know where these dogs came from and what they were originally bred for.
Although this loose facial skin causes problems like drooling today, once, the supple skin of the Cane Corso provided an important advantage.
Cane Corsos originated in Italy. Specifically, these dogs were once owned by the Ancient Romans. In Ancient Rome, Cane Corsos were used for a range of applications.
These applications included hunting, livestock guardianship, personal protection, herding, and companionship.
Cane Corsos have loose skin around the muzzle and in many other areas because they were once used for fighting, guarding, and hunting.
These dogs were bred to have loose skin as a strategic advantage. With loose folds of skin, the dog could twist and escape from predators like wolves or other dogs when attacked.
The modern Cane Corso still has many of the traits that provided it with a tactical upper hand a long time ago. Unfortunately, drooling is a side effect of these breed-specific traits.
Tips for Preventing Cane Corso Drool Problems
It is a good idea to keep your dog clean and well cared for so that there will not be any unpleasant smell or effects from excess drool.
Grooming your dog can help to prevent bacterial growth from the moisture that goes hand-in-hand with slobber.
It is recommended that you bathe your Cane Corso every two to eight weeks. Bathing is a great way to freshen your dog up, remove dirt, prevent excess shedding, and clean off any drool from the fur.
Additionally, many types of wipes can be used to safely remove drool from your dog’s facial region between baths. You can also wipe up excess drool using a damp or dry paper towel.
Last, one of the best ways to prevent your dog from drooling is to keep its teeth clean. Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly and making sure that it has plenty of safe dental chews can sometimes dramatically decrease drooling caused by oral issues.
Usually, drool is harmless, if not icky. Although, the moisture from drool can lead to bacterial growth on your dog’s toys, bed, and bedding. Keeping your dog clean and dry is always a smart idea.
