Home / Breeds / Compare / Cane Corso vs Akbash
The Cane Corso is a large Italian mastiff built for guarding property and family. The Akbash is a giant livestock guardian from Turkey, developed to live out with sheep and cattle and see off wolves, bears and thieves by presence, bark and, if needed, force. This page compares the two on the numbers that actually differ: size, exercise, grooming, what each costs to keep, and the health tests a breeder should show you.
The biggest gap is size: the middle of the Akbash weight range is about 110 lb against 100 lb for the Cane Corso.
The next biggest gap is energy: the Cane Corso is rated 4 of 5 against 3 of 5 for the Akbash.
The third gap worth noting is trainability: the Cane Corso is rated 3 of 5 against 2 of 5 for the Akbash.
| Cane Corso | Akbash | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Working | Working |
| Origin | Italy | Turkey |
| Height | 23.5 to 27.5 in | 20 to 34 in |
| Weight | 90 to 110 lb | 77 to 143 lb |
| Lifespan | 9 to 12 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Coat | Short, dense double coat that sheds moderately year round. | A thick double coat with a dense undercoat and a weather resistant outer layer. |
| Temperament | Confident, loyal, watchful and calm at home | Independent, calm, watchful and deeply territorial |
| Energy | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Trainability | 3 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Grooming needs | 2 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Shedding | 3 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Barking | 3 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| With children | Better with older children | Good with children |
| With other dogs | With early socialization | With early socialization |
| With strangers | Wary of strangers | Wary of strangers |
| Apartment fit | Not ideal | Not ideal |
| Daily exercise | 60 to 90 min | 45 to 90 min |
| Food per month (model) | $55 (5.2 cups a day) | $59 (5.5 cups a day) |
| Insurance per month (model) | $70 to $120 | $55 to $98 |
| Monthly total (model) | $125 to $175 | $114 to $157 |
| Yearly total (model) | $1,502 to $2,102 | $1,371 to $1,887 |
| Lifetime total (model) | $13,514 to $25,218 | $13,705 to $22,638 |
| Breeder health tests | 6 recommended tests | Panel not published yet |
| Health watch | Generally hardy for a giant breed. Watch for hip dysplasia, bloat, eyelid problems such as cherry eye, and demodectic mange in young dogs. Reputable breeders screen hips, elbows, heart and eyes. | Bloat (gastric dilatation volvulus) is the emergency every owner of a big, deep chested dog should know the signs of. Hip screening is the other essential check at this size, and keeping the dog lean protects every joint it owns. |
Cane Corso: scores 15 on the first-time-owner rule (trainability weighted double, then calmer energy, grooming and barking), against 12 for the Akbash.
Cane Corso: matches the Akbash on the apartment rating ("Not ideal") and edges ahead on the tie-breaks: barking, then daily exercise, then size.
Akbash: is listed "Good with children" while the Cane Corso is listed "Better with older children".
Cane Corso: sheds less, at 3 of 5 for shedding against 4 of 5 for the Akbash. Shedding is only a proxy for loose hair in the home; no breed is allergen-free.
Akbash: runs about $14 a month under the Cane Corso on modeled food plus insurance ($136 against $150 at the midpoints).
The five verdicts on this Cane Corso and Akbash page follow published rules: first-time owner = 2 x trainability + (6 - energy) + (6 - grooming) + (6 - barking); apartment = the apartment rating, then barking, exercise and weight; children = the children rating, then trainability and stranger friendliness; allergy = lowest shedding, then grooming; budget = the lowest monthly modeled total. Level scores are declared ties.
The Cane Corso costs more month to month on the modeled figures: about $150 a month at the midpoint of food plus insurance, against $136 for the Akbash. Run across the lifespan ranges, the model gives $13,514 to $25,218 for the Cane Corso and $13,705 to $22,638 for the Akbash. Treat these as planning estimates, not quotes.
The Cane Corso needs the most exercise: 60 to 90 minutes a day, against 45 to 90 minutes for the Akbash. Energy ratings point the same way, at 4 of 5 against 3 of 5.
The Cane Corso sheds less, rated 3 of 5 for shedding against 4 of 5 for the Akbash. Coat notes for the Cane Corso: Short, dense double coat that sheds moderately year round.
The Cane Corso, on the published ratings: "Not ideal" for apartment life against "Not ideal" for the Akbash, barking rated 3 of 5 against 4 of 5, and a daily exercise plan of 60 to 90 minutes against 45 to 90 minutes.
The Cane Corso is the more trainable of the two on our ratings, 3 of 5 against 2 of 5 for the Akbash. Temperament notes describe the Cane Corso as: Confident, loyal, watchful and calm at home
Choosing between more than two? Open the comparison tool and put up to four breeds side by side, or read all written breed comparisons.
Breed facts for the Cane Corso and the Akbash follow the standards and club guidance summarized on each breed profile. Cost figures are modeled estimates for planning, labeled with their basis, and are not quotes or veterinary advice. Health test panels here are the breed club and CHIC recommendations, as set out on each breed's health testing page.