Cane Corso - Complete Dog Profile with History & Traits

Cane Corso History and Origin

Cane Corso dogs have an interesting history. The word “cane” is driven from “canis,” a Latin word for a dog, while the “corso” came from “cohors” or “corsus”, which means bodyguard or strong.

These dogs belong to the many Mastiff-types. Cane Corso is believed to be developed in Italy and is a direct descendant of a Roman war dog with its roots in the Neapolitan Mastiff breed.

Although Cane Corso was a cousin breed of Neapolitan Mastiff, it turned out to be a versatile farm dog rather than a dedicated guard dog. The name Cane Corso originated from the word catch dog that used to dominate and overpower its large prey.

These dogs were known by this name as early as the 20th century. Corso used to protect the farms, hunt his prey, and worked to round up goats and semi-wild cattle. When the Cane Corso breed was declined as farming during World War I and II, the extinction began, but in 1970 many dog fanciers worked to redevelop this breed.

To promote the breed and get it recognized, the Society Amatori Cane Corso was established in 1983. In 1988 a man imported the first litter of Corso to the United States. In addition to this, the Cane Corso breed finally got recognition from the American Kennel Club in 2010.

Cane Corso Temperament and Personality

If we carefully observe the history of Cane Corso, we will identify that this breed has a vigorous temperament. These dogs are always ready to meet any sort of challenge with confidence. However, with the right training and leadership, these aggressive creatures can be turned into amazing family dogs.

Generally, Cane Corso dogs are docile and affectionate towards their families, especially children. To make these dogs well-behaved and social, training from a very early age is required. Cane Corsos can not live happily around people who do not like or are afraid of dogs or have absolutely no clue how to behave around large dogs.

Cane Corso dogs are bossy in nature but are highly intelligent. Due to this, training them according to your family rules is easier. If you don’t want these dogs to dominate the environment, make them obey the rules at an early age.

When training these dogs, make sure to not go extremely strict or start hitting the dog. Cane Corsos are powerful dogs and can get really aggressive if not treated right. Moreover, these dogs are smart enough to recognize the tone when you want to reward them on something nice or when you show a firm reaction to something which they did wrong.

Unlike other breeds, Cane Corsos should be left alone for some time to teach them confidence and the fact that they can do well on their own. No matter if it is left alone in the backyard or a confined place, being in that situation will make them independent and believe that you will always come back to them.

Cane Corso puppies should be exposed to different people, animals, sounds, sights, and experiences to make them comfortable. Moreover, if you wish your Corso to grow up to a well-rounded, fearless, and well-behaved dog, teach him socialization at an early age.

According to the Italian breed standard, an ideal Cane Corso will only react to the threats and not to people who come to praise his beauty.

Cane Corso Appearance

Cane Corso is an ancient Italian breed. It is a medium-sized Molossus dog that is muscular and less chubby as compared to its cousin breed Mastiffs. This dog is popularly known for its sturdy looks and strong skeleton.

This athletic creature moves with ease and elegance and has been a tremendous watchdog and hunter of wild boars. Cane Corso is a balanced and large-boned dog that stands around 23 to 27 inches tall.

The facial expressions of Cane Corso reflect alertness and attentiveness. The beautiful, almond-shaped eyes add depth and intensity to the expressions of this dog. Corsos can have a very serious look on their faces, but if you are a pet lover and understand animals, you would know that these dogs are not mad at you and are calm.

Coat and Color

Cane Corso has a short and very shiny coat of hair on the body. Usually, the undercoat is light, but in cold weather, this coat gets denser. The fine hair gives a glossy image when proper cleaning and grooming are done.

Cane Corso comes in a variety of colors, such as lighter and darker shades of gray and fawn. The solid colors in this breed include black, fawn, and red. These dogs can also have different patterns and shades in their hair, especially in the undercoat.

Cane Corso Care

Just like other dog breeds, Cane Corso requires love and care from its family to be happy, healthy, and active. Although these dogs are not high-maintenance, they still need to be looked after.

If you own Cane Corso, you have to be careful and make sure that all the basic requirements are provided. The essentials for which you have to take care are the diet of your dog, its health, and grooming needs. Unlike other long haired dogs, Cane Corso will not need extra care and grooming.

Diet and Nutrition

The activity level, energy, and health of your Cane Corso depend on the diet you provide and the number of nutrients fed. If you want your dog to be healthy and active, give him dog food that is rich in nutrients.

Keeping in view the size of your dog and its energy level, pick the best dog food, either commercially manufactured or prepared at home. This dog has a tendency to put on weight, so make sure not to feed more than a limit.

People like giving treats as a reward to their dogs, but they can be dangerous for their health if not fed in a limited amount. To ensure a proper diet is given to your dog at the right time, get a plan or schedule from the vet.

The vet will make the plan according to the dog’s weight, height, and body requirements for nutrition. Moreover, make sure that your Cane Corso is drinking enough water as it is essential for it to stay hydrated. Always keep a bowl full of fresh and clean water for your dog.

Health

Cane Corso is a healthy dog breed. However, like other dogs, they are prone to get some medical health problems. This dog breed can develop the following diseases:

• Hip dysplasia
• Entropion
• Ectropion
• Cherry eye
• Gastric torsion
• Cardiac problems
• Elbow dysplasia

Not every dog gets all of these diseases or any one of them. It totally depends on the dog’s immunity. It is important that when you are considering this breed, get a guarantee from the breeder about its health.

Make sure the following tests are done before you get a Cane Corso from a breeder:

• Hip evaluation
• Elbow evaluation
• Cardiac exam

In order to stay fit, Cane Corso requires serious exercise. A brisk walk or a good run in the morning as well as in the evening will keep the dog’s mind healthy and its muscles toned.

Grooming

Cane Corso has a short but double-layered coat. The undercoat takes different lengths depending on the weather, and it sheds throughout the year. Usually, the shedding is more in the spring season as the dog gets rid of the winter fur. Although Cane Corsos do not require daily brushing, it should be done regularly in the season.

Brushing will stimulate the blood flow, helps get rid of dead hair and dirt, and promotes the growth of new hair. In addition to this, the nails should be trimmed once a week as longer nails will be painful for the dog while walking and running.

Regularly check for flea infestation in your dog’s coat fur and use the best flea treatment for dogs after asking your doctor.

Moreover, Cane Corso requires proper cleaning of ears, eyes, and teeth. These are the parts where most bacterias develop, resulting in serious infections. Make your dog habitual of brushing its teeth.

If you notice your dog’s eyes are watery or ears are smelly, visit your veterinarian. Get immediate medical health as small symptoms can result in serious diseases.

Cane Corso and Other Dog Breeds

There are several dog breeds that share many characteristics and attributes but still fall under different categories due to significant or insignificant reasons. Similarly, Cane Corso has always been compared to other breeds such as Pitbull Terrier and Presa Canario.

Cane Corso vs. Pitbull Terrier

Cane Corso and Pitbull Terrier are two very popular dog breeds. Due to a few similarities, these two breeds are often confused. However, there are several differences that make them a separate breed.

Cane Corso is larger and heavier than Pitbull Terrier. When compared, Pitbull Terrier is generally more social towards people and animals, while Cane Corso requires training at an early age to be social and comfortable around people.

Moreover, Pitbull Terriers are more energetic and loyal. They tend to live longer than Cane Corso. Being bigger in size, Corsos require more food in quantity.

In a nutshell, both of these dog breeds are active, muscular, and extremely affectionate. They are eager to please their masters, making them easy to train.

Cane Corse vs. Presa Canario

Cane Corso and Presa Canario are big and powerful dog breeds. They both belong to the molosser line but can not be considered the same breed due to minor features.

Cane Corso dogs are a bit taller than Presa Canario in height, but they weigh almost the same. They both are affectionate towards their families, but Canarios are relatively more aggressive towards other dogs of the same sex.

Corsos are better guard dogs as compared to Canarios, who are better working dogs. When comparing the exercise needs, Presa Canario requires more exercise to stay fit and active. In addition to this, they require more space for playing and exercising purposes.

Both these dog breeds are popular for their strength and affection towards their families. Although Presa Canario is a working dog, it can get protective if its family is threatened.

Interesting Facts About Cane Corso

If considering this breed, you should know that there are several interesting facts about these dogs that are not commonly known to people. Learning these will make it easier for you to make the decision.

• Cane Corso as Emotional Support Animal

Because of their affectionate nature and guarding traits, Cane Corsos can be good emotional support animals. People with different mental health conditions require loving companionship, protection, and support from the people around them to gain control and confidence in life.

Cane Corso can easily provide these things to its owner. To get this breed as your emotional support, you just need an ESA letter from an expert.jh

• Basic Environment

Unlike other large dog breeds, Cane Corso do not require huge spaces to enjoy. They can be happy in a confined room as much as they are in a spacious backyard. As this dog requires exercise, you can arrange dog sports or take him for a run with you in the morning.

Cane Corso is a type of breed that will be loving and extremely protective at the same time. Getting this dog as your pet or emotional support animal is the right choice. However, due to their temperament and non-social behavior, there are some legal issues that should be kept in mind.

Every dog can be trained to be nice, and so does this breed. Contact a reputable breeder to find you a perfect Cane Corso pup to be your best furry friend.