Cane Corso: Personality, Qualities, and Dangerousness

The Cane Corso was used for centuries by the Romans as a working, fighting, and guard dog. Its name, which derives from the Latin cohors (which in Italian means "protector" or "guardian"), indicates its initial functions, which later expanded to include herding livestock and hunting wild boars. But today the Cane Corso, related to the Neapolitan Mastiff, is also considered a faithful companion dog.

Index of topics

History

Several scholars believe that there were two types of the Roman Molosser : a heavy one, from which the Neapolitan Mastiff derived ; and a more agile, light, and quick breed, which was the ancestor of the Cane Corso. When its role in wild boar hunting, accompanying cattlemen while transporting cattle and pigs, and even in dog fighting declined, the Corso risked extinction. And thanks to a group of enthusiasts, united in the Cane Corso Amateur Society, this breed was recovered and saved.

Appearance and character

This is a dog with a bold, strong, and tenacious character , often used as a guard dog. It is very attached to its family and owner, with whom it is very sweet and needs a lot. The Cane Corso Italia website describes it as "an alert, reactive dog, with a great temperament and strong territoriality " and " a sweet and calm nature ." Appearance-wise, it is a medium-large dog, strong and agile, weighing up to 50 kg and reaching up to 68 cm in height.

Il neck it is particularly muscular.
La forehead è corta e long
Il government basically squarish, slightly prognathous, with a straight and rather flat nasal bridge.
- eyes, of medium size, are dark in proportion to the color of the coat. The look is proud, noble and expressive.
Le ears I'm from medium size and covered with short hair.
La queue è big at the root and tapered at the tip.

Il neck it is particularly muscular, strong and robust, as long as the head.
La forehead è corta e long, the upper axes of the skull and those of the muzzle are slightly convergent.
Il government basically teamact, slightly prognathic, with a straight and rather flat nasal bridge. The jaws are very broad and robust.
- eyes, of medium size, are dark in proportion to the color of the coat. The look is proud, noble and expressive.
Le ears I'm from medium size and covered with short hair.
La queue è big at the root and tapered at the tip.
The forelegs have a long, muscular shoulder; the hind legs have a broad, long thigh, with a lean lower leg.

Colour

The most common color of the Cane Corso is gray , with various shades. But the colors of its coat can also vary. Specifically:

Lead grey
Light Grey
Slate gray
Light tawny
Dark tawny
Black
Deer Red
Dark wheat, also known as wheat-colored
Brindle

Quality

The Cane Corso is very affectionate, intelligent, and sensitive . It is particularly attached to its owner and family, with whom it is very sweet. It is also friendly with children, provided it is accustomed to their company from an early age. It is also particularly alert and responsive, as well as having a strong temperament.

Defects

Since it was bred as a guard dog, the Cane Corso tends to be wary of strangers and other dogs . This characteristic, however, is influenced by its training: if socialized from a young age, it is much more open. It generally struggles to be alone and requires the constant company of its owners. Physically, it tends to gain weight easily, so be careful to monitor its diet.

Is the Cane Corso dangerous?

No dog is inherently dangerous, not even the Cane Corso , despite its intimidating appearance. The problem, if anything, lies in how its owners train it. If you train it to be aggressive, the dog will obviously behave accordingly. And being a large dog, it could be more dangerous than a smaller, less physically robust dog. However, it's important to clarify that this isn't an innate temperament; it depends on how you train it.

How to train a Cane Corso

Training a Cane Corso isn't difficult; the important thing is to start when he's a puppy, establishing precise rules during training , and demonstrating firmness. Be careful, however, not to resort to punishment; it's wrong and completely useless. The well-known technique of positive reinforcement is helpful.

How much does a Cane Corso cost?

The Cane Corso is expensive , but buying isn't the only option. Many purebred dogs, including those resulting from crossbreeding, are available for adoption . We absolutely recommend choosing this second option. While there are reputable specialized breeders, there are many others that aren't, not to mention the very high number of dogs in need.

Where do you adopt?

Rather than buying one, it's better to adopt one . It can happen that even purebred dogs like the Corso are abandoned or find themselves alone for some reason. Where can you find them? By consulting the Facebook groups of Rescue Centers dedicated to purebred dogs , or specifically to the Cane Corso and crossbreeds. You can find more information at the Cane Corso Lovers' Association.

The Corso was the watchdog of the Romans