Adopting a Cane Corso in Birmingham: rescues, costs and the law

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every Cane Corso and Cane Corso cross listed with us in Birmingham and within about 25 miles, with a link to the rescue that has each dog. It changes as dogs are adopted and new ones arrive, so check back if it is empty.

Battersea says it often sees Cane Corsos given up, "usually because people underestimated the time, training and space this breed needs", and calls it a breed that "asks a lot of its owner". It describes a loyal, intelligent dog "with a strong protective streak", naturally watchful rather than naturally aggressive, with a shorter socialisation window than some breeds.

PDSA says that because of their size Cane Corsos are better suited to experienced owners, and that a good rescue centre should tell you about any health and behaviour problems. That is the case for adopting an adult: the rescue has already seen how this dog behaves with people, visitors and other dogs.

An adoption fee covers vet work you would otherwise pay for, and a rescue adult comes with a temperament the staff have assessed. Birmingham Dogs Home's fee of £250 to £400 includes neutering and a microchip. A bought puppy leaves both to you, on top of the £400 to £3,000 Blue Cross gives for a puppy.

The bigger cost is keeping one. PDSA puts it at £80 a month at least, and Battersea says some insurers and landlords may treat Cane Corsos with caution, so check your pet insurance and tenancy agreement before you apply.

UK health guidance for this breed is limited. The Cane Corso is not on The Royal Kennel Club's Breeds A to Z, so there is no breed standard or breed health-test list, and PDSA says the breed is relatively uncommon in the UK, so "we can't be sure which health conditions will be more common". These are the concerns the charities name:

• Joints. PDSA and Battersea both name hip and elbow dysplasia, and Battersea adds damage to the knee ligaments that often needs surgery.
• Bloat. PDSA names gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), where the stomach twists, and says it needs urgent veterinary attention. If you think your dog has bloat, get to a vet straight away.
• Eyes. Both charities name entropion and ectropion (eyelids rolling in or drooping out), and Blue Cross lists the Cane Corso among the breeds in which cherry eye is commonly found.
• Face shape and heat. Dogs Trust describes the breed as brachycephalic and at higher risk of heat stroke.

PDSA puts exercise at around two hours a day, with secure off-lead time and short training sessions, and says never to leave a Cane Corso alone for longer than four hours. Battersea says flat living can work but isn't the easiest setup for a dog this size, because they may guard communal spaces and bark at people nearby.

On children, PDSA would not recommend the breed with small children, who could be knocked over, and says it suits adult-only homes or families with older children or teenagers. Battersea says Cane Corsos can get on with their own family's children and dogs, but not always with visitors. Go by the rescue's assessment of the individual dog.

No. Gov.uk lists the banned types as the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and XL Bully, and the Cane Corso is not one of them. Gov.uk also says whether a dog is a banned type "depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or name", so any dog is judged on its own characteristics, not the label on a listing. Battersea says Cane Corsos are legal to own in the UK, and PDSA says ear cropping and tail docking in the Cane Corso are both illegal in the UK.

Rescue Cane Corsos are adopted, not sold. You apply, the rescue matches you with a dog, and you pay its adoption fee. With an adult dog you meet the grown dog, and its temperament, before you commit, which matters with a large guarding breed.

If you decide to buy, Battersea says responsible breeders health-test the parent dogs and put temperament before size or appearance, and Dogs Trust suggests asking your vet about a pre-purchase consultation. Because the Cane Corso is not a Royal Kennel Club breed, there is no Royal Kennel Club puppy listing for it. Avoid any puppy with cropped ears, and report a suspected scam advert to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud).