| Training | |
| Sensitivity to strangers | |
| Affection for family | |
| Suitable for first-time owners | |
| Ease of grooming | |
| Energy level |
Contents
Although the Italian Cane Corso has a somewhat naive look, it is extremely smart
Its name derives from the Latin word cohors, which means: group or guardian. Both translations connote the main characteristics of this beautiful dog. The Italian Cane Corso it is not only a guard dog, but many other things that all the adjectives in the world would not be enough to describe it.
Cane Corso: Not For Everyone!
The Cane Corso is not a dog for everyone. No! You heard right: It is not a dog for everyone. It needs a lot of affection and a present owner, someone who will train it with patience and tranquility.
This breed is not difficult to train. The close relationship it establishes with its handler forces it to be absolutely obedient, but it does not mean that it will tolerate being treated badly or aggressively.
If you reprimand it badly, the Cane Corso will be offended and will not obey you if you call it. It will become listless and indifferent; attempts to get close to it will be futile. It will be the one who decides when you will be worthy of its trust again. You should be nice both when training it and when telling it off.
If you have already decided to have a Cane Corso in your life, you will find a faithful friend, who will follow you in every room of the house with curiosity and paying attention to what you do; you will find the perfect playmate for your children, and you will not know who has more fun, children or dog; you will find an animal that wants to be part of the family, that will defend it with determination and security, but without ever being too aggressive.
Unfortunately, the Cane Corso has been and still is used for dogfighting, but there is no dog less violent than it. If it feels threatened or fears for himself or its family, it won’t immediately attack; instead it will warn the stranger calmly and intelligently not to take another step by growling or barking.
Cane Corso: Origins
The Italian Mastiff (Cane Corso) is one of the Italian dog breeds recognized by the AKC and the FCI (Standard N° 343). The term “Corso” derives from the Latin noun cohors which means troop or group. But this term also has a military connotation: it may be translated as Army Infantry Corps or Guardian. Both translations fit perfectly with this breed that descends from the Roman molossus.
The Italian Mastiff And Its Noble Origins
The King of Aragon (a medieval kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula) wanted his own version of this short-haired canine breed. This breed originated thanks to the cross-breeding of some rustic molosser with the Majorcan dog. The goal was to get a short-haired dog, which differed from the peasant dogs and that had noble characteristics.
This Italian Mastiff belonging to the nobility was used to defend its owner and the bag with money hanging around its neck. Peasants used this dog to hunt wild boar, and for cattle and pig control.
The black-coated Cane Corso was used to defend horses from theft because they were hidden in the dark and were mistaken for horses.
Italian Mastiffs were expected to be friendly with family and acquaintances but cautious with ill-intentioned people. If well-trained, the Cane Corso is a balanced dog. Besides, it is considered an excellent guardian, without being overly aggressive.
From 1960 onwards, the Cane Corso breeding suffered a sharp decline due to the progressive abandonment of the field. In the 1970s, a group of people started to work to recover this dog breed, which soon aroused the enthusiasm of several lovers of this breed. Until the 1960s, this dog was only popular in southern Italy, particularly in Puglia, where most of the specimens that allowed the recovery of the breed were found.
Cane Corso: Physical Characteristics
The Cane Corso belongs to a group called Molossers. It is a robust and sturdy dog with a compact and powerful body and a muscular neck and large head. The eyes are big and dark eyes, imparting an intelligent and sharp look. Their pointed ears are triangular in shape and medium in size. The nose is black and large. The muzzle is wide and deep.
The Italian Mastiff (Cane Corso) is a large-sized dog breed.
- A male Cane Corso may stand at 25 to 27 inches (64-68 cm) and weigh between 99 and 110 lb (45-50 kg).
- A female Cane Corso may stand at 23 to 25 inches (60-64 cm) and weigh between 88 and 99 lb (40-45kg).
The Italian Mastiff has a short and stiff coat. It can be:
- Black;
- Gray;
- Fawn or brindle.
The brindle Cane Corso coat is gray and brown. It also has a black or gray mask that extends over the face but it never goes beyond the eyes.
Cane Corso: Health
The average life expectancy of the Cane Corso is 10-11 years. It is prone to suffer from hereditary health problems like hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative joint diseases, heart diseases, etc. In addition, given its body size, it is prone to joint problems. For this reason, exercise is essential for keeping your dog healthy.
Cane Corso: Temperament
If you have never seen this breed before, the first time you do so, you will see a large and robust dog, with a noble bearing. And you probably might say that this is not a dog you could have in your home after knowing that it was used, and is still used occasionally as a fighting dog. But appearances can be deceiving.
The Cane Corso is a defender of its home as well as an excellent companion dog as it is very affectionate. It is docile and friendly. Two characteristics that must be developed from puppyhood.
A Cunning and Well-balanced Dog
The Italian Mastiff is clever, with a carefree, intelligent, and ironic gaze. This breed is calm and is almost never aggressive. It is a self-confident and well-balanced dog.
The Italian Mastiff (Cane Corso) is docile, obedient, calm, curious, playful, and it loves company. These characteristics make it a passionate playmate for children. It will probably even have more fun than them.
It needs to create a close relationship with its owner and family. If you have a Cane Corso in your life, you will notice how it follows you everywhere. It is curious and attentive to everything you do. It is a full-fledged bodyguard. If there is no danger for you or for him, he will follow you everywhere looking for pampering. This is why it can get depressed if it is left alone and with no affection for a long time.
Remember that the Cane Corso is a watchdog. Your home and family will be protected unquestionably by this big and loving dog. It does not trust strangers, but this does not mean that it is aggressive, except it or its family is threatened.
And still, it won’t attack immediately. First, it will warn the stranger by growling and barking loudly and powerfully, giving the intruder time to escape. As it is a breed that rarely barks, you must pay attention when it does. It gets along well with other dogs, but you will need to keep an eye on him if they are of the same breed and gender.
Cane Corso: Price and Puppies
A Cane Corso puppy is quite expensive. A dog that meets all the standard requirements and has pedigree and other documents may not cost less than 900 dollars, about 800 English pounds.
In addition, if you adopt a puppy, a reliable breeder will provide you with a veterinary certificate which states that the animal is dewormed and completely healthy.
You can always ask for the pedigree, which is essential: it allows you to check the dog breed’s purity. An animal with a pedigree has certain characteristics of its breed that differentiate it from the rest.
Cane Corso: Breeders and Puppies For Sale
In this section, you will find the best-registered breeders in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, India, Scotland and South Africa; to whom you can ask all the information you are looking for. It is essential that you buy a dog from a reliable breeder so that you can be sure that your puppy has been:
- Bred for good health and temperament;
- Well-selected (this means that its parents were chosen without genetic diseases);
- Properly socialized, so that it is neither too fearful nor too aggressive;
- Vaccinated and well-groomed.
Now that we have clarified all the most important aspects, you can go in search of your new 4-legged friend, who is surely waiting for you.
Cane Corso: Video
You may be interested in reading another article related to other dog breeds such as:
- Pug
- Doberman Pinscher
- Pekingese
- Siberian Husky
- Rough Collie
- Bull Terrier
- German Shepherd Dog
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Great Dane
- Saint Bernard
