Looking for a large dog that guards the household while being a loving babysitter for your kids?
Here are 10 facts to help you decide if that’s the Cane Corso!
1. It’s Pronounced Cane Corso
While steeped in mystery and confusion, we have the correct way to pronounce the breed’s name, and that is KAH-neh-KOR-so.
Don’t worry if you’ve been saying it wrong; not even Google gets it right who tells you it’s pronounced kayn-kor-sow.
2. Some Of The Best Big Boys And Girls Around
With the males of this breed often surpassing the 100lb mark, the Cane Corso is considered a giant breed, with them standing between 23 to 28 inches at the withers. With a head that’s often larger than a human’s and a body made out of pure muscle, Cane Corsos are famous for their intimidating size. Which makes them excellent guard dogs.
Not only are these dogs incredibly big and powerful, but they also have equally strong personalities!
3. Affection But Incredibly Loyal
While not like your Golden Retriever who loves everyone under the sun, despite their reputation as an intimidatingly fierce breed, the Cane Corso is a love bug to their family. Not inherently aggressive to other dogs, but not really a fan of them, the Cane Corso adores their human family, wanting to shower them with cuddles and love. They are incredibly attuned to human feelings, making them wonderful therapy dogs at home.
4. A Healthy Breed
Like with any large breed, it’s important for pet parents to pay attention to health issues such as hip dysplasia, joint issues, and bloat. However, Cane Corsos are bred to excel at work and perform at an athletic level, making this breed healthier than the average.
They do have a big appetite, which will exist whether they are working and burning lots of calories or not, so make sure to keep an eye on their waistline. Last, as with all large breeds, ensuring they are on a complete food formulated for their size and age is a must!
5. They Love Work
When The Cane Corso isn’t enjoying their family’s attention, they prefer to spend their time working. They love physical and mentally stimulating work and are champions of tracking scents. Unlike other large breeds, the Cane Corso has a lasting gas tank of energy with breathtaking agility, making them a terrible breed for those that want a relaxing easy-to-handle dog.
6. A Vocal Breed
The Cane Corso breed is one full of amazing singers that display a delightful range of howls, snorts, grunts, and sounds that have no words to describe them.
7. Training Is A Must
Physically powerful with an equally strong personality, training is a must with this breed. When untrained, a Cane Corso can be a dangerous dog with unbridled strength and a strong disregard for authority. However, when properly trained, which should start young, and when in the right household, the Cane Corso will bless your home like no other dog.
8. A Lion Fighting Ancient Gladiator
The Cane Corso is one ancient dog breed with their history dating back to the Molossoid dogs of Ancient Rome. Molossoid dogs likely included a few different breeds, with the largest and most famous being used for hunting, guarding, and entertainment in the arena. These Mastiff-looking dogs were formidable, going toe-to-toe with lions, bears, and even humans.
While ancient humans often used these dogs for cruel intentions, they equally championed them, creating statutes that have lasted the test of time.
9. Almost Lost To History
Closely related to the Mastiff, specifically to their fellow Italian dog breed, the Neapolitan Mastiff, the Cane Corso was nearly lost to time. While their origins date back to the Molossoid dog, their unique line itself, dwindled to incredibly low levels. With their once wide-sweeping influence across the Italian peninsula receding to just Puglia in southern Italy.
With the collapse of the mezzadria system of share-cropping in the 1960s, the breed’s numbers fell even more. However, thanks to a small but passionate group, in the 1980s, by selectively breeding the last remaining members of this ancient dog, the breed was not only revived but transformed into the modern Cane Corso breed we know as today.
10. Not Always High-Maintenance
Let’s face it, the Cane Corso is not a laid-back dog in most sense of the phrase, but they aren’t demanding 24/7. The Cane Corso’s short and silky coat requires little grooming and is resistant to picking up dirt and foul smells. Then, when placed on a diet formulated for them and given regular exercise, many Cane Corsos see few health issues. They are also downright intelligent, and this, along with their extreme loyalty, makes them much easier to train than their intimidating appearance lets on.
