Cane Corsos are categorized to be working dogs, a type of dog that is acquired not merely to become a pet but one as well that is taught to learn and perform tasks that entertain and/or assist its human companions. For instance, in New Zealand and Australia, working dogs are dogs that have been trained work around livestock. The Cane Corso is an Italian dog breed, valued for years and years as a hunter, guardian, and companion.

Belonging to the medium- to large-sized molossoid group, the Cane Corso has a strong skeleton but it moves with considerable elegance and ease. With large bones and generally rectangular in proportions, Cane Corsos should measure in length about 10% more of its measure in height. Generally, the males will measure between 25 and 27.5 inches in height, while the bitches will stand at between 23.5 and 26 inches. In the same way that length is related to height, the breed’s weight is also proportional to their height.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Cane Corso has a short coat that is stiff and shiny and dense with undercoats that are normally light, but thickens when the colder months roll in. Acceptable colors for the breed are black, red, darker and lighter shades of gray, and darker and lighter shades of fawn. Brindling is accepted on all of the mentioned colors, but any color with pattern marks seen in tan and black breeds are not allowed.

Cane Corsos are unrivaled as proud protectors of properties and their owners, standing noble and majestic yet highly affectionate and docile when it comes to their families. A Cane Corso dog is easy to train also because it is intelligent so proper training should yield incredible results. Some of the traits that Cane Corso owners all over the world associate with this dog breed include:

  •          Powerful;
  •          Imposing;
  •          Obedient;
  •          Easily attached;
  •          Suspicious;
  •          Quiet;
  •          Sturdy;
  •          Muscular; and
  •          Athletic.

Cane Corso history

Cane Corsos can trace down their history from the canis pugnax, dogs that were used by Romans before during war. The breed gets its name from cane da corso, a term used to refer to catch dogs utilized for rural activities such as boar hunting, bear fighting, and tending to cattle and swine. Cane da corso is distinctly different from cane da camera which means a dog is kept for guarding purposes. In the past as well, a Cane Corso was only found in certain districts within Southern Italy, like Puglia, Campania, and Basilicata. Around the 1970s, Cane Corsos were able to recover from nearly being extinct through the efforts of dog enthusiasts, opting to crossbreed favored types of selected breeds. The Cane Corso you see today then is very different from what the breed looked like before the 1980s, with drives coming down, builds bulkier, shorter muzzles, and wider skulls. Apart from the AKC, the breed is also recognized as an official breed by the United Kennel Club as the Cane Corso Italiano.