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Quick Glance

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    Size
    Large to Giant (27Kg +)
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    Exercise
    40 min/day
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    Training
    Daily
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    Size of home
    House with garden
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    Time at home
    Often alone
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    Grooming
    Weekly
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    Barking preference
    Watchdog barking
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    Personality
    Independent

Breeder List

  • Breeder - Mrs Donna Blundell
    Breeder - Mrs Donna Blundell (Guardacor)

    guardacor@bigpond.com

    See Details
  • Breeder - Mrs Kay Dodds
    Breeder - Mrs Kay Dodds (DIAMANTICOR)

    wattlehill9@gmail.com

    See Details
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History

A stylish Italian breed with Roman origins, the Cane Corso is an ideal protector. Powerfully built and social at heart, it is a true family guardian.

A relatively new breed only formally recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) in 2003, the Cane Corso has a distinguished history in Italy, going back as far as ancient Roman times, when they were used as dogs of war.

The Cane Corso was commonly used to protect property, family and herd livestock. Throughout the breed's existence, it was also used as a big game hunter. Its power, courage, agility and tracking ability made the breed especially valuable with wild boar, stag and bear. With the decline in big game hunting, the breed found a home with Italian farmers and was often used as a driver, moving animals to market and slaughterhouses.

Of Mastiff origins, the breed has seen a recent resurgence in breeding popularity since the 1970s, when it was in danger of extinction. Italian enthusiasts began a recovery process that led to the breed becoming formally recognised in Italy in 1987.

Appearance

The Cane Corso’s closest cousin is the Neapolitan Mastiff, however differences have since filtered down over the decades; the Cane Corso lacks the loose skin of other Mastiff breeds. Strong and elegant at the same time, the breed is large and masculine while being lean and athletic. It is usually longer than it is tall, weighing in at around 50kg for males and 45kg for females.  

The Cane Corso comes in a wide range of colours, from black, tan with a black mask, blue/grey and brindle. The predominant colouring is either black or tan. Eye colour will reflect the coat colour. Dark coated animals have dark eyes, while light coats feature light coloured eyes. The double coat is short but oily, enabling it to repel water. The Cane Corso can feature small white markings on the chest, toes, chin and nose. The head is large and typically molossoid. The muzzle is shorter than the skull, with a flat front and generally strong and square. Eyes are medium-sized, ovoid and slightly protruding with close fitting eyelids.

Temperament

As a guardian, the Cane Corso is extremely agile, responsive and wary of strangers. The breed is very dominant and has an intimidating appearance and stature. Early social outings with humans and other dogs is essential for a happy family life, and the breed can be controlled with a firm hand and a strong influence. The Cane Corso bonds early with its adoptive family and is particularly protective of children. Because of its need to keep the status quo, the Cane Corso often dislikes new things, animals and people, so owners must be careful when introducing the dog to new places and people. 

Maintenance

A low maintenance breed, the Cane Corso’s coat will shed once yearly and only requires bathing around every six weeks. Unless the dog gets particularly dirty, brushing is only required after bathing. The Cane Corso needs regular exercise. At least an average-sized backyard is required, as well as a walk once a day.

Health & Suitability

Entropion (turned in eyelids) and typical bone and joint problems, such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, are not uncommon. Since it’s such a new breed in Australia, full reports on these conditions are yet to be compiled. However, breeders have been selecting only healthy dogs from Italy for the breed’s continued development. The Cane Corso needs an experienced handler that is able to commit to the time it takes to train. The breed is best suited to those who want a loyal, loving, family guard dog; it is an ideal family pet and personal protector.

Words: Frank Bartuccio

Image: Shutterstock.com

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Cane Corso, you may have think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Cane Corso and its needs and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

 

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 29 Apr 2016)

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Breed Standard - Cane Corso

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

Medium to large sized. Robust and sturdy dog, nevertheless with some elegance. Lean and powerful muscles.IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The dog is rectangular in outline and is slightly longer than tall. (The length of the dog is 11% greater than the height of the dog). The length of the head reaches 36 % of the height at the withers.

Temperament

Guardian of property, family and livestock; extremely agile and responsive. In the past, it has been used for herding cattle and hunting big game.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull Large and typically molossoid. The upper longitudinal axes of the skull and the muzzle are slightly convergent, without evident wrinkles.CRANIAL REGION:Skull: Broad at the zygomatic arches the width is equal to the length. Convex in front, it becomes flat behind the forehead as far as the occiput. The medio-frontal furrow is visible, beginning at the stop and ending at about the middle of the skull.Stop: Well defined, with prominent frontal sinuses.FACIAL REGION:Nose: Black. A grey mask may have a nose colour of the same nuance. Large nose with ample open nostrils. Nose placed on the same line as the nasal bridge.Muzzle: Strong, square, noticeably shorter than the skull, ratio muzzle : skull approximately 1 : 2. The front part of the muzzle is flat; the lateral surfaces are parallel; the muzzle is as broad as it is long. Seen from the side it is deep. The profile of the nasal bridge is straight.Lips: The upper lips; seen from the front, form an inverted ”U” at their meeting point; seen from the side hangs moderately. They cover the lower jaw and determine the profile of the lower part of the muzzle.Cheeks: The masseter region is fully evident, but not bulging.
Eyes Medium-sized, slightly protruding, but never exaggerated. Close to ovoid in shape, set well apart in an almost sub-frontal position. Eyelids close fitting. The colour of the iris is as dark as possible but according to the coat colour. Expression is keen and attentive.
Ears Triangular, drooping, of medium size. With a wide set-on that is much above the zygomatic arches. Ears are un-cropped.
Mouth Jaws/Teeth: Jaws are very large thick and curved. Slightly undershot but no more than 5 mm. Level bite tolerable but not sought after.
Neck Strong, muscular, as long as the head.
Forequarters Shoulder: Long, oblique, very muscular.Upper arm: Strong.Forearm: Straight, very strong.Carpus (Wrist): Elastic.Metacarpus (pastern): Elastic and just slightly sloping.
Body The body is somewhat longer than the height at the withers. Sturdy built but not square.Withers: Pronounced, rising above the level of the croup.Back: Straight, very muscular and firm.Loin: Short and strong.Croup: Long and wide, slightly inclined.Chest: Well developed all through reaches to the elbow.
Hindquarters Thigh: Long, broad, back line of thigh convex.Lower thigh: Strong, not fleshy.Stifle (Knee): Solid, moderately angulated.Hock joint: Moderately angulated.Metatarsus (Rear pastern): Thick and dry.
Feet Forefeet: Cat feet.Hind feet: Slightly less compact than the forefeet.
Tail Natural. Set on fairly high; very broad at the root. In action carried high, but never erect or curled.
Gait/Movement Long stride, extended trot; the preferred gait is the trot.
Coat Hair: Short, shiny, very dense with a slight undercoat of vitreous texture.Skin: Fairly thick, rather close fitting.
Colour Black, lead-grey, slate-grey, light grey, light  fawn;  dark fawn and stag red; dark wheat colour (stripes on different shades of fawn or grey); in fawn coloured and brindle dogs the black or grey mask on the muzzle should not go beyond the line of the eyes. A small white patch on the chest, on the tip of the toes and on the bridge of the nose is acceptable.
Size Height at the withers: Males: 64 cm – 68 cm.  Females: 60 cm – 64 cm.With a tolerance of 2 cm, more or less taller.Weight: Males: 45 – 50 kg.  Females: 40 – 45 kg.Weight according to the size of dog.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.SEVERE FAULTS:• Axes of muzzle and skull parallel or very marked converging; lateral surfaces of the muzzle converging.• Partial depigmentation of the nose.• Scissor bite; undershot bite more than 5 mm.• Ringed tail, tail in vertical position.• Permanent amble when trotting.• Over-or under size.DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.• Axes of muzzle and skull diverging.• Total depigmentation of the nose.• Bridge of nose concave or convex (Roman nose).• Overshot mouth.• Partial or complete palpebral depigmentation. Wall eye (blue flecked); strabism (squinted).• Tailless, too short tail.• Semi-long, smooth or fringed hair.• All colours not indicated in the standard; large white patches.

• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.

History

Its direct ancestor is the old Roman Molossian. Formerly scattered all over Italy, in the recent past, the breed was only prevalent in the province of Apulia and in the adjacent regions of Southern Italy. His name derives from the Latin “cohors”, which means “protector, guardian of the farmyard”.

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