The Alaskan Malamute Cane Corso mix is an unusual and rare cross between the energetic and friendly Alaskan Malamute and the intimidating and competent guard dog of the Cane Corso.
The result is a demanding mix that can be wary around strangers. They’re incredibly loyal to the family, though, and are less work in terms of grooming, thanks to the addition of the Cane Corso.
Stay tuned as we take a deep dive into everything there is to know about the Malamute Cane Corso mix.
Contents
Quick Overview Of The Malamute Cane Corso Mix
Before we jump into the main details, here’s a quick overview of the Malamute Cane Corso mix:
- Average Lifespan: 9 to 12 years
- Average Height: 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder
- Average Weight: 75 to 120+ lbs
- Coat appearance: Short to medium, double-coated, lots of color variation but black markings common
- Grooming Frequency: Low to medium
- Typical Temperament: Fiercely loyal, wary of strangers, energetic
- Daily Food Consumption: High
- New Owner Friendly: Not suited for new owners
- Suitable to live with children? Can be great with children if socialized properly
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Can be great with other dogs if socialized properly
- Suitable to live with cats? Difficult due to high prey drive
Appearance
The appearance of the Malamute Cane Corse can vary dramatically, although it’s common for the head shape and overall body to take after the Cane Corso with coloring from the Alaskan Malamute, as seen below.
The coat is short to medium, with black, fawn, and brindle common with white markings.
Some Malamute Cane Corsos have more prominent, erect ears like the Malamute, although the smaller ears are more common from the Cane Corso.
The overall build is athletic but powerful; these dogs can exercise all day and have great endurance.
Alaskan Malamute Appearance & Background
Alaskan Malamutes are one of the largest Spitz breeds, and their appearance shows it.
They have many characteristics of Spitz-type dogs, such as pointed ears, fluffy double coats, and a fluffy curled tail.
Malamutes have a super friendly expression, but they can be pretty intimidating to those unfamiliar with the breed. You’ll usually find Malamutes in a black-and-white coat, but there are a lot of other possible colors as well.
Malamutes have an extensive history as sledding dogs, specifically used to pull heavy loads.
Cane Corso Appearance & Background
The Cane Corso’s origins can be traced back to the molossus, a mastiff dog from ancient Greece.
The Cane Corso is a relative of this breed originating in Italy and was used as a guard dog and in war.
They were almost wiped out during World War I and II, but fortunately, small numbers prevailed, and the breed was successfully expanded in the 1970s.
It wasn’t until 1988 that the Corso was brought over to the US, and since that time, it has gone on to become a highly popular guard dog breed.
Cane Corsos are huge and powerful dogs that require an experienced and confident owner.
If you want to learn more about the differences between the parent breeds of this mix, check out our comparison article here.
Average Size
Malamute Cane Corso mixes are pretty large dogs, easily exceeding 100 lbs with an average weight of 75 to 120+ lbs.
They’re pretty tall, too, reaching 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder. They also have a very muscular build, contributing to their intimidating appearance.
Coat Appearance
Malamute Cane Corso mixes have a short to medium-length coat that is double coated.
This means that the coat is split up into two layers: a short, dense, wooly undercoat for insulation and a long guard layer that protects the coat and fur below.
Various color combinations are possible thanks to the Mal parent, ranging from all black to black and white and many more.
Grooming Guide
Most Malamute Cane Corso mixes will only need to be brushed a few times weekly to keep their coat in good condition.
If they have a longer coat, they may require more frequent grooming, and the details for that can be found here, although most of the time, their coat will be dense and relatively easy to manage.
They will shed seasonally due to having a double coat, which means they will blow their coat twice per year on average, once in the Spring and once in the Fall.
Bathing
The Malamute Cane Corse mix can be bathed quite frequently as needed, thanks to their shorter coat. This should work as once every 4 to 6 weeks on average and should only be done if their coat looks or smells dirty.
Just make sure to use a pH-neutral, soap-free shampoo and conditioner that is gentle on the skin.
Temperament
Now the physical attributes are out of the way, let’s take a look at the temperament of the Malamute Cane Corso mix to find out what these dogs are like to live with daily.
Very Loyal
Loyalty is one of the strongest instincts of the Malamute Cane Corso mix and runs strong in both parent breeds.
Malamutes, although stubborn, are very loyal to their family and love to be part of a pack. Cane Corsos are fiercely loyal to the family as well and commonly bond closely to the person they spend the most time with.
(Varying) Guarding Instincts
Malamute Cane Corso mixes can vary significantly with how strong their guarding instinct is, as Malamutes and Cane Corsos differ so much in this aspect.
Mals are probably the worst guard dogs you can find and are more likely to make friends with a stranger, whereas Cane Corsos are exceptional guard dogs and are often trained for this specific purpose.
Active
Malamute Cane Corsos are very active dogs, requiring one to two hours of daily exercise.
Most of this exercise will have to be done on a leash due to their high prey drive (more on this shortly), but they also require time off leash to burn off excess energy.
Prey Drive
On the topic of using a leash, Malamute Cane Corsos will always have a high prey drive, which means they’ll instinctively chase after small animals like other small dogs or cats.
This means that using a leash will be necessary a lot of the time to ensure they don’t run off and potentially put themselves or the other animal in danger.
It also means they’re not suited for living with cats or small dogs unless socialized together from a very young age.
Intelligent
There’s no denying the intelligence of the Malamute Cane Corso mix.
Malamutes are intelligent but in their own way. They might not learn tricks quickly, but it’s more out of stubbornness rather than misunderstanding what you’re asking.
Cane Corsos take to training much quicker as they are eager to please, so the Malamute Cane Corso mix will excel in intelligence but may have a stubborn streak as well.
Is The Malamute Cane Corso Mix A Good Family Dog?
Malamute Cane Corsos can make great family pets, but they require experienced owners who know how to handle them.
They require socialization to live with other small animals, and they will always need to be supervised around children due to their size.
They can be very wary of other people, too, so they require lots of socialization around other people and obedience training to learn how to act around other people.
Having said all that, they are incredibly loyal and affectionate with people that they trust; it’s all about finding the right owner for them who can match their energy and other requirements.
How Much Do They Cost?
The average prices of each parent breed can be found below:
- Alaskan Malamutes cost between $1,500 and $3,000 on average
- Cane Corsos cost $1,000 to $2,000 on average
You’re much more likely to find a Malamute Cane Corso mix in a shelter or rescue, though, as this isn’t a common mix for breeders to breed for.
In Summary
Malamute Cane Corsos are incredible dogs, but they need a dedicated owner who can have patience with training and meet their exercise needs.
If you find one of these at a shelter or rescue, keep in mind that they will likely not be great around other dogs or cats and will need a lot of socialization.
If you’re interested in learning about more Alaskan Malamute mixes, you can check out some of our recent articles below:
- Newfoundland Malamute Mix: A Complete Mix Profile
- Alaskan Malamute Samoyed Mix: Full Profile, Pics And Q&As
- Alaskan Malamute Saint Bernard Mix: A Full Breakdown & Pics
- Doberman Malamute Mix (Dobamute): A Complete Profile
- Akita Malamute Mix (Malkita): Complete Profile & Pictures
- Alaskan Malamute Pomeranian Mix: A Complete Profile
- Alaskan Malamute Corgi Mix: Full Breakdown With Pictures
