Cane Corso

Cane Corso

2010- New Breed Accepted by the AKC

Noble, majestic, and powerful in presence, the Cane Corso is a muscular and large-boned breed. One of two native Italian "mastiff type" dogs that descended from the Roman canis Pugnaces, the breed’s name derives from the Latin "Cohors" which means "Guardian" and "Protector."

The breed's coat is short but not smooth (like the coat of a cow), very coarse and thick in order to be perfectly waterproof. It can be black, gray, fawn or red, with brindle variations and a black or gray mask also acceptable.

Intelligent, the Cane Corso is easily trained. As a large and athletic breed, they need a lot of exercise. They are affectionate to their owner and bond closely with children and family. Cane Corsos are light shedders, which make grooming simple – all they need is an occasional brushing.

Listed in: Working Group - Property watchdog; large-game hunter.

General Appearance

Ancient Italian breed medium-large size Molossus Dog. Sturdy, with a strong skeleton. Muscular and athletic, it moves with considerable ease and elegance. It has always been a property watchdog and hunter of difficult game such as the wild boar.

Size, Proportion, Substance

A muscular, balanced, large-boned dog, rectangular in proportion. The length of the dog, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of buttock is approximately 10% greater than the height of the dog measured from the highest point of the shoulder to the ground.

Height: Dogs: 25 to 27.5 inches; bitches: 23.5 to 26 inches.

Weight: Proportionate to height.

Head

Molossus, large, its total length reaches approximately one third of the height at the withers. Planes of the skull and muzzle are slightly convergent; they are not parallel. The circumference of the head measured at the cheekbones is more than twice the total length of the head; skin is firm and smooth. Skull: Viewed from the front, skull is wide and slightly curved; width is equal to the length. From the side, a prominent arch begins above the eyes and then flattens backward toward the occiput. Viewed from the top, it has a square appearance due to the zygomatic arches and powerful muscles swathing it. Stop: Well-defined due to developed and bulging frontal sinuses and prominent arch above the eyes.

Expression: Very alert and attentive. Some wrinkling on forehead occurs when alert.

Eyes: Medium-size, almond-shaped, not round or bulging, tight fitting rims preferred with only a minimal amount of haw being visible.

Disqualification: Yellow bird of prey; blue eyes.

Ears: Set well above the cheekbones. May be cropped or uncropped. If cropped, it is in an equilateral triangle. If uncropped, they are medium size, triangular in shape, held tight to the cheeks, and not extending beyond the jaw bone.

Nose: Large with well-opened nostrils, pigment color to match pigment color of the dog. Dogs with black pigment have black noses; gray pigmented dogs have gray noses; pigmentation is complete. The nose is an extension of the topline of the muzzle and does not protrude beyond nor recede behind the front plane of the muzzle.

Muzzle: Very broad and deep, width is almost equal to its length, which reaches approximately one third of the total length of the head; the depth of muzzle is more then 50% of the length of the muzzle.

The top and bottom muzzle plains are parallel, and the nose and chin form a perpendicular line. Viewed from the front, the anterior face should look flat and form a trapezoid, wider at the bottom. Muzzle is not overly narrow or snipey.

Disqualification: More than two missing teeth; wry mouth. Undershot more than 1/4 inch.

Neck, TOPLINE, Body

Neck: Slightly arched, flowing smoothly into the shoulders with a small amount of dewlap. The length of the neck is approximately one third the height at the withers.

Body: Depth of the ribcage is equal to half the total height of the dog, descending slightly below the elbow. Ribs are long and well sprung. Moderate tuck up.

Chest: Broad, well-muscled, strong forefront.

Back: Wide, strong, muscular. Highest part of shoulder blade slightly rising above the strong, level back.

Tail: Tail set is an extension of the backline. It is thick at the root with not much tapering at the tip. When not in action, carried low, otherwise horizontal or slightly higher than back, not to be carried in a vertical position. It is docked at the fourth vertebrae. In the case of natural tails, the tip reaches the hock but not below. Carried low, it is neither broken nor kinked but supple. Hanging when the dog is in repose; generally carried level with the back or slightly above the level of the back when the dog is in action, without curving over the back or being curled.

Disqualification: A natural tail that is atrophied or a natural tail that is knotted and laterally deviated or twisted.

Forequarters

Strong and muscular, well-proportioned to the size of the dog. Straight when viewed from the front or side; height of the limb at the elbow is equal to 50% of the height at the withers.

dewclaws: Can remain or be removed, if left intact should only be a single dewclaw on each leg.

Hindquarters

As a whole, they are powerful and strong, in harmony with the forequarters. Straight when viewed from the rear or front.

Rear dewclaws: Any rear dewclaws are removed.

Coat

The coat is short, stiff, shiny, adherent and dense with a light undercoat that becomes thicker in cold weather.

Color

Acceptable colors are black, lighter and darker shades of gray, lighter and darker shades of fawn, and red. Brindling is allowed on all of these colors. Solid fawn and red, including lighter and darker shades, have a black or gray mask. The mask does not go beyond the eyes. There may be a white patch on the chest, throat, chin, backs of the pasterns, and on the toes.

Disqualification: Any color with tan pattern markings as seen in black-and-tan breeds.

Temperament

The Cane Corso as a protector of his property and owners is unequaled. Intelligent, he is easily trained. Noble, majestic and powerful his, presence is impressive. He is docile and affectionate to his owner, loving with children and family.

Summary

The overall conformation of the dog should be well-balanced and proportionate. The foregoing description is that of the ideal Cane Corso; any deviation from the above described dog is penalized to the extent of the deviation.

Breeders Information - http://www.qualitydogs.com/Cane_Corso/breeders.html