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The Cane Corso is a large Italian breed of Mastiff, thought to have originated from Greece along with other large, sturdy and solid mastiff types. This dog is prized in Italy for its guarding and hunting instincts.
Thought to have its roots in ancient Roman times as a dog used during battle, this noble dog breed was originally used a companion, herder, guarder and hunter. A large and intimidating looking dog, it was a useful breed to keep in rural areas to dissuade possible thieves. A multi-purpose animal kept by farmers in Southern Italy, its geographical spread was so limited that by the 1970's it was almost extinct as a breed. Only by intensive breeding outside of the gene pool was it pulled back from the brink, although critics of this say that the Cane Corso of today is markedly different to the original breed. This is probably largely true, as todays dog is larger and bulkier than dogs of old, but in 2008 it was recognised as a breed by the UK Kennel Club and is a very popular dog to own in the US.
Average height to withers: Males and females stand between 22-27 inches, with females being at the lower end.
Average weight: Weight is in relation to its height, being between 50-60 kgs for both sexes.
The main feature of this dog is its size and muscle tone. It is a strong and heavy looking dog, which was bred with a specific duty on mind, to guard and protect. Its appearance made sure that is was successful in its role. That said, this dog should not be fat or overly bulky, with weight being in direct proportion to its height. The skin is tighter than that of many Mastiff types, with a slight wrinkling on the face and jowl. This dog has a wide, big head which help give definition to its Mastiff appearance. The muzzle is as wide as it is long, and the ears fall forwards in a natural triangle shape. The nose and eyes should always be dark in colour.
The short coat has two basic colours - fawn and black - which are used as the basis for a variety of patterns including brindle and patches (especially white, on the chest).
The Cane Corso is suited to a more experienced dog owner due to its sheer power and size. If it does not receive correct direction, training and socialisation to make it into a well rounded and balanced dog, then it can be a difficult dog to handle. Because of its size, aggression should never be encouraged, especially when coupled with the dogs already strong guarding behaviours. If this breed is encouraged with strong leadership, it will blossom into a happy, intelligent and obedient animal who is loyal and very willing to please. It is capable of forming very strong bonds with its family and may fix on one person in particular.
If socialised from a young age and well balanced behaviours encouraged, there is no reason why this dog cannot live with children and other animals, although supervision is always recommended. It can be naturally very suspicious of strangers, but once a trust is established, the Cane Corso is a remarkably friendly dog.
The average lifespan of this breed in good health is between 10-11 years old. There is no definitive data or research available to specify diseases or conditions directly connected to the breed, although they are known to suffer from joint dysplasia, as are many larger breeds of dog.
The short coat requires minimal grooming, but when it does shed, the short hairs have a tendency to stick into clothing and upholstery. This dog does not require extensive exercise, but the owner must take care to balance exercise and food as it can become overweight quite easily if allowed to do so.
