The Cane Corso.(pronounced KAH NAY KOR SO
in English) is a large Italian Molosser. It is well muscled and looks
more athletic than most other mastiffs, tending less toward sheer bulk
like the Neapolitan Mastiff and more towards definition like the
original Old English Bulldog. The official FCI standard calls for dogs
to stand from 62 to 69 cm (23.6-26.7 inches) at the withers,
with females in the lower range and males in the higher. Weight should
be in keeping with the size and stature of these dogs, ranging from 88
to 150 lbs.
The overall impression should be of power balanced with athleticism. A
Corso should be moderately tight skinned, however some dewlap on the
neck is normal, and the bottom of the jawline should be defined by the
hanging lip.
The Corso head is one of its primary features. Its muzzle should be as wide as it is long, and should be 33% of the length of the entire skull (a ratio of 2:1). This head size and type also means that a Corso has superior bite strength. Its ears are naturally dropped forward, but where legal, many breeders crop them so that the remaining stubs are equilateral triangles, standing upright. Most Corsi have docked tails as well. The standard calls for docking at the 4th vertebra, although often they are docked shorter, this is considered an eliminating fault under the Italian FCI 343 standard.
Corsi appear in two basic coat colors: black and fawn. This is further modified by genetic pigment dilution to create blue (from black) and formentino (from fawn) colors. Brindling of varying intensity is common on both basic coat colors as well, creating tigrato (full brindle), black brindle, and blue brindle. Fawn also has a number of different expressions, ranging from the pale of a formentino to 'red' to the more common beige color, with the back coat hairs tipped with black. In blue dogs, the nose can appear grey, but should be darker than the coat. In all other dogs, the nose should be black. White markings on the chest, toes and on the chin and nose are seen as well, with smaller white patches being preferable.
Temperament Cane Corsi are easy to obedience train, have a willingness to please, and form a close attachment with their primary owner. As puppies, Corsi must have strong leadership and training based on positive reinforcement, and though they easily learn the basic commands, any owner understands that the difficult part is controlling, and moulding the Corso's strong protective instinct. Powerful and imposing, a Cane Corso is highly suspicious of strangers and for this reason, aggression should never be encouraged. Corsi should be highly socialized beginning at a very young age to prevent unnecessary negative behavior. Because of their need to keep the status quo, Corsi often dislike new things, animals, and people, so the owner must be careful when bringing the dog around new places and people. Cane Corsi tend to be a quiet breed, though they will bark at anything they are unsure of, but for the most part, they like nothing better than staying next to their owner all the time.
A true Corso should be indifferent when approached and should only react when a real threat is present. Of course, socialization is the key to controlling the dogs natural protective instincts, because a Corso will find anything threatening if not properly socialized as a puppy. If socialized properly as a puppy, a Cane Corso can get along with other dogs and people. Corsi are historically working dogs that need exercise and are at their best when they have a job to do.
History The Cane Corso is a descendant of the Canis Pugnax, the great Roman war Molosser, which is also in the foundation of the Neapolitan Mastiff. In war, the dogs were armoured with spikes on their backs to disembowel enemy horses. Despite being a highly effective warrior, the Canix Pugnax was no match for the English Mastiffs. The English Mastiffs of the past were a much more fierce and bellicose animal then the watered down version seen today, and the English utilized them as guards and warriors. Impressed by the immense size, power, and protectiveness of these dogs, the Romans brought some back with them to Italy, and used them in the foundation of the Cane Corso. The broad skull, brindle coat, and strong guardian instincts can, arguably, be attributed to the English dogs; where as the straight ahead speed, tenaciousness, and courage come from the Roman dogs.
The Cane Corso is a catch dog used with cattle and swine, and also in wild boar hunts. It is also used by night watchmen, keepers, and, in the past, by carters as a drover.
In the more distant past this breed was common all over Italy as an ample iconography and historiography testify. In the recent past its distribution was limited to some districts of Southern Italy, especially in Puglia, Molise, Calabria, and Sicily.
Its name derives from "cane da corso" which is an old term for those catch dogs used in rural activities (for cattle and swine; boar hunting) as distinct from "cane da camera" which indicates the catch dog kept as a bodyguard.
The breed was recovered from near extinction through the efforts of SIG. Giovanni Bonnetti and Dr Poalo Breber in the 1970s, the Corso is now popular globally, as can be seen by recent celebrity ownership of Cane Corsi.
The Corso favours strength combined with agility. The Cane Corso has a very high need for training, exercise and early socialization.
Since coming to the United States in 1987 the breed has gained popularity. It was recognized by the United Kennel Club on July 15, 2008 under the name Cane Corso Italiano, and subsequently by the American Kennel Club in 2010 under the name Cane Corso.
The Corso head is one of its primary features. Its muzzle should be as wide as it is long, and should be 33% of the length of the entire skull (a ratio of 2:1). This head size and type also means that a Corso has superior bite strength. Its ears are naturally dropped forward, but where legal, many breeders crop them so that the remaining stubs are equilateral triangles, standing upright. Most Corsi have docked tails as well. The standard calls for docking at the 4th vertebra, although often they are docked shorter, this is considered an eliminating fault under the Italian FCI 343 standard.
Corsi appear in two basic coat colors: black and fawn. This is further modified by genetic pigment dilution to create blue (from black) and formentino (from fawn) colors. Brindling of varying intensity is common on both basic coat colors as well, creating tigrato (full brindle), black brindle, and blue brindle. Fawn also has a number of different expressions, ranging from the pale of a formentino to 'red' to the more common beige color, with the back coat hairs tipped with black. In blue dogs, the nose can appear grey, but should be darker than the coat. In all other dogs, the nose should be black. White markings on the chest, toes and on the chin and nose are seen as well, with smaller white patches being preferable.
Temperament Cane Corsi are easy to obedience train, have a willingness to please, and form a close attachment with their primary owner. As puppies, Corsi must have strong leadership and training based on positive reinforcement, and though they easily learn the basic commands, any owner understands that the difficult part is controlling, and moulding the Corso's strong protective instinct. Powerful and imposing, a Cane Corso is highly suspicious of strangers and for this reason, aggression should never be encouraged. Corsi should be highly socialized beginning at a very young age to prevent unnecessary negative behavior. Because of their need to keep the status quo, Corsi often dislike new things, animals, and people, so the owner must be careful when bringing the dog around new places and people. Cane Corsi tend to be a quiet breed, though they will bark at anything they are unsure of, but for the most part, they like nothing better than staying next to their owner all the time.
A true Corso should be indifferent when approached and should only react when a real threat is present. Of course, socialization is the key to controlling the dogs natural protective instincts, because a Corso will find anything threatening if not properly socialized as a puppy. If socialized properly as a puppy, a Cane Corso can get along with other dogs and people. Corsi are historically working dogs that need exercise and are at their best when they have a job to do.
History The Cane Corso is a descendant of the Canis Pugnax, the great Roman war Molosser, which is also in the foundation of the Neapolitan Mastiff. In war, the dogs were armoured with spikes on their backs to disembowel enemy horses. Despite being a highly effective warrior, the Canix Pugnax was no match for the English Mastiffs. The English Mastiffs of the past were a much more fierce and bellicose animal then the watered down version seen today, and the English utilized them as guards and warriors. Impressed by the immense size, power, and protectiveness of these dogs, the Romans brought some back with them to Italy, and used them in the foundation of the Cane Corso. The broad skull, brindle coat, and strong guardian instincts can, arguably, be attributed to the English dogs; where as the straight ahead speed, tenaciousness, and courage come from the Roman dogs.
The Cane Corso is a catch dog used with cattle and swine, and also in wild boar hunts. It is also used by night watchmen, keepers, and, in the past, by carters as a drover.
In the more distant past this breed was common all over Italy as an ample iconography and historiography testify. In the recent past its distribution was limited to some districts of Southern Italy, especially in Puglia, Molise, Calabria, and Sicily.
Its name derives from "cane da corso" which is an old term for those catch dogs used in rural activities (for cattle and swine; boar hunting) as distinct from "cane da camera" which indicates the catch dog kept as a bodyguard.
The breed was recovered from near extinction through the efforts of SIG. Giovanni Bonnetti and Dr Poalo Breber in the 1970s, the Corso is now popular globally, as can be seen by recent celebrity ownership of Cane Corsi.
The Corso favours strength combined with agility. The Cane Corso has a very high need for training, exercise and early socialization.
Since coming to the United States in 1987 the breed has gained popularity. It was recognized by the United Kennel Club on July 15, 2008 under the name Cane Corso Italiano, and subsequently by the American Kennel Club in 2010 under the name Cane Corso.