The Cane Corso Italiano – Beloved Dog of Italy

Introduction to the Cane Corso Italiano

If you see a Cane Corso – you are going to take a second look. It’s a beautiful Italian mastiff breed that has been widely bred in Italy and Europe. The Cane Corso can grow to 2 or 2.5 feet in height and weigh anywhere from 85 to 115 pounds. The breed was developed for many purposes including light hunting, guard dog, and cattle management. They are a very active breed so they need room to run and play (which is typical of any large breed dogs). Their colors include black, varying shades of grey, and varying shades of brown.

Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff)

The dog’s traits

The breed has a reputation for being a fiercely loyal dog to its owner and family. Many are trained to be guard dogs and can be very aggressive. There has been some controversy around the breeds being used in dog fighting and being dangerous. Some Cane Corso’s were found in the kennels of Michael Vick.

Elegant looks

The Cane Corso does have fans among the Hollywood gliterati – including Tracy Morgan and his two dogs Max and Sugar, Patty Labelle, Lebron James and many others. The Cane Corso’s elegant and great looks are sure to be catch the eye of the celebs who love to own and train dogs.

Check out the following great video to see some historical photos and several of the dogs in action:

Cane Corso, & Ancient Warhound

History of the Cane Corso

The history of the breed is interesting. The breed can be seen extensively in the historical iconography of Italy and in several regions were very popular and common. Originally bred for military, protection (including from bears!) hunting and cattle herding, their usefulness began to wane with the modernization of Italy’s economy. The breed nearly died out in the 70s but a group of hard core Cane Corso fans were able to keep the breed alive through careful breeding. The breed has continued to evolve over the years and today’s Cane Corso looks somewhat different than its ancestors. Into 2008 the Cane Corso was recognized by the United Kennel Club and then in 2010 by the American Kennel Club.

Useful related links for further reading