CANE
CORSO
Breed Name: This is an Italian breed, and its name is Italian. Please note that the breed name is pronounced "khan-ay corse-oh." It is not "cane" corso, as in sugar "cane" (as it looks as if it might be pronounced in English) nor is it pronounced "can-ee," is in tin "can." Translated, the name is not particularly colorful -- it simply means "running dog," "chasing dog," or "the dog that runs the course." It is ironic that at least one of the "professional" Cane Corso breeders in the United States, who, like me, is of Italian-American heritage, doesn't care enough to pronounce the breed's name correctly. His great-grandparents and all of the Cane Corso breeders of ancient days must be turning over in their graves!
Description: The Cane Corso is a classic mastiff breed. The Cane Corso lacks the extremely loose and wrinkly skin of the other geographically related breed, the Neapolitan Mastiff; and the relatively tight skin around its mouth ensures that it drools less than do the looser lipped mastiff breeds. It is smaller than some of the other mastiff type dogs. The head is large and broad across the skull. The ears are surgically cropped in keeping with the breed's historic traditions. The tail is properly docked at 1/3 its natural length. The muzzle is short and squarish. The jaws are powerful. Typical of all mastiff breeds, Cane Corsos have thick powerful necks. Cane Corsos are very muscular. The forequarters are broad and powerful. Finer examples of the breed have strong, well defined, chiseled hindquarters. Their thick skin is covered with a short, harsh coat. Coat colors include black brindle, black & white, chocolate brindle, blue brindle, chestnut brindle, red, red brindle, fawn, blue fawn, apricot fawn, black & tan, and blue & fawn. The black & tan and blue & fawn colors are acceptable, but somewhat less preferred. (This apparently because of Italian criticism of past American breeding practices, and the failure to take into account all mastiff's genetic origins in asiatic Molossors, where such coat patterning can be found.)
Temperament: Very loyal, willing to please and quiet around the house. The Cane Corso is highly intelligent and very trainable. It is great with children and family members. They are naturally protective yet gentle. The Cane Corso has a very stable temperament. It makes an excellent guard dog and watchdog. They stick close to their masters, and consistently seek eye contact with their masters. The Cane Corso is NOT an indiscriminate barker or biter, but because it can be aggressive with strangers and other dogs, requires an intelligent, realistic owner. As with all large breeds, it should be carefully socialized when a pup, and be fully and professionally obedience trained. When fully trained, the Cane Corso makes an amenable companion -- wonderful with the family, but suspicious of strangers. The Cane Corso will tolerate strangers if its owners are present, taking its cue from its owners' reactions to the stranger quite naturally. When raised correctly, the dog is submissive to all members of its family.
Height: 22-28 inches (56-71 cm.) Weight: 80-140 pounds (36-63.5 kg.)
Health Problems: This is a robust dog. Centuries of selective breeding by Italian farmers have ensured that the present examples of the breed have a low incidence of genetic health problems. While known in the breed, hip dysplasia is of relative low incidence.
Living Conditions: The Cane Corso will do okay in an apartment if it is given sufficient exercise. They will be content to live outdoors provided they have adequate shelter.
Exercise: This very athletic breed needs regular exercise. They make excellent jogging companions.
Life Expectancy: About 10-11 years.
Grooming: The Cane Corso does not require much grooming. Occasionally comb and brush to remove dead hair. This breed is a light shedder.
Origin: The Cane Corso is not a fighting dog (although their history apparently includes being fought in Europe.) There are two origin stories circulating about the Cane Corso. The first is that the breed was created during the Middle Ages, and have been used as big game hunters and working dogs for centuries. Consistent with this origin theory, it is believed that the remnants of the great Roman Molossor was bred with a now-extinct, large hound breed to produce a fast, agile powerful dog capable of doing the jobs of both the chase pack dogs and the game "take down" dog. The Cane Corso seems to ideally represent the successful results of such a breeding program. Cane Corsos are fast, agile, and powerful. The second origin story is that this little-known Italian breed exists today as the re-creation of a lost herding breed called the Cane di Macellaio. Those dogs were not bred on the Italian mainland but on the Mediterranean island of Sicily. On Sicily, the breed functioned as a butcher's dog -- a cattle drover of unyielding abilities. At one time, the breed is believed to have participated in bullbaiting, similar to other butcher's dogs on the Continent; and in the fighting ring. The dog's droving style is unique: the Cane Corso does not heel but rather lunges at the head of the herd in the desired direction. Either way, the Cane Corso is just beginning to make headway in the United States. Less than a half dozen puppies were imported in the very late 1980's. These dogs formed the stock of all breeding programs in the States. The man responsible for exporting these pups, a Sicilian farmer, passed away shortly after those first exportations. The importer was Michael Sottile, Sr., an Italian-American who is also now deceased.
Group: Working.
Our Cane Corsos are quality rare breed dogs. We produce the best large-boned, athletic, brindles, blues, fawns, reds, and apricots! WE CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CANE CORSO! Our breeding stock was selected for even, stable temperament. Every one of our puppies is sold under a written sales contract including guarantees against genetic disorders. Owners of our puppies can receive cash rebates when their dogs earn championships, working titles, and temperament certifications.
