Cane Corso Italian Mastiffs

Description

A large dog, the Cane Corso Italian Mastiff is strongly built but elegant looking. Possessing powerful and long muscles, the Cane Corso looks more athletic than most mastiffs - it looks more like the original Old English Bulldog then the Neapolitan Mastiff. Basically, the overall impression you should get from the Cane Corso Italian Mastiff is one of power, balanced with athleticism.
This dog's body is longer than the height at the withers and its muzzle is broad and deep. The muzzle's length and width should be the same size, and it should be 33% of the length of the head, while its depth should be more than 50% the length of the muzzle. This gives the dog's muzzle a flat and square appearance and the bottom of the jawline should be defined by a hanging lip. Plus, with this head and muzzle size and type, the Cane Corso has superior bite strength. As well, this breed's head shouldn't have any wrinkles. Its high-set ears may be left natural or cropped; and if they are cropped, they must stand erect in the shape of triangles.
The Cane Corso Italian Mastiff's neck is slightly arched, oval, strong, muscular and without dewlap. The skin on its compact, strong and muscular body is rather thick. Finishing off the look, the Cane Corso tail is usually docked.

Cane Corso Italian Mastiff Puppies

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Coat Description

The Cane Corso Italian Mastiff's coat is composed of short hair that is shiny, adherent, stiff, and dense. In the winter, it has a light layer that becomes thicker in winter. The main color of the Cane Corso's coat comes in black and fawn. However, genetic pigment dilution may cause hues of blue or fawn colours. Brindling is common on both basic coat colours as well, giving it a full brindle, black brindle, or blue brindle effect. The fawn tone ranges from formentino to red to beige. In a Cane Corso that is blue, its nose can be grey, but it should be darker than the coat. For all other colors, the nose should be black. As well, the Cane Corso Italian Mastiff can have white markings on the chest, toes and on the chin and nose.

History

The Cane Corso Italian Mastiff takes its name from cane da corso, a term for dogs used in rural activities. And that's what this breed was used for - to herd cattle and swine, for boar hunting, and bear fighting. As well, this dog was used as a bodyguard. The Cane Corso was largely found in southern Italy, such as in Basilicata, Campania and Puglia.
This breed was on the verge of extinction until enthusiasts of this dog took it upon themselves to re-establish the Cane Corso in the 1970s. This was done by cross-breeding the remaining dogs with appropriate type-selected breeds. This is noticeable when you compare the pre-80s breed to its forefathers.
After its re-emergence, the Cane Corso Italian Mastiff became popular around the world, especially when it came to the United States in 1987. This breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2008 and the American Kennel Club in 2010.

Temperament

Cane Corsos are intelligent, which makes them easy to train. Couple that with a willingness to please, and the ability to form a close attachment with its primary owner, and you've got a great dog on your hands. Loyal and quiet around the house, the Cane Corso is often described as active and even-minded, making it an excellent watch and protection dog. And even though it may look intimidating, Cane Corso Italiano is wonderful with children in the family because this dog is protective yet gentle. It will want to spend as much time with its family and its primary owner as possible.
Right from the beginning, Cane Corso Italian Mastiff puppies must have strong leadership and training. It will pick up the basic commands quickly, so the most important part is controlling and moulding the Corso's strong protective instinct. The Cane Corso is always suspicious of strangers, so owners must never encourage aggression. As well, the Cane Corso doesn't always respond well to new things and situations, such as animals and people - you should be careful when introducing your Cane Corso to new experiences. Be sure to properly socialization your puppy to control the dog's natural protective instincts.
It's important to note that the Cane Corso Italian Mastiff is not a fighting dog. It won't go out looking for a fight; however, it will not back down from a dog that tries to dominate it. This breed needs an experienced owner who knows how to establish natural authority over the dog. Once your Cane Corso is fully trained and knows what it can and can't do, this dog will be an excellent companion and family pet.

Health Problems

Some of the most common Health Problems associated with Cane Corso Italian Mastiff dogs are hip dysplasia, Bloat, mange, and eyelid abnormalities such as Cherry Eye.
To ensure that your new dog will be less prone to hip dysplasia, the puppy's parents should have hip evaluations of excellent, good, or fair from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Breeders should also have eye clearances from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation.

Grooming

A light shedder, grooming the Cane Corso Italian Mastiff is easy due to its short coat. But even though there's not much of a coat to brush though, it can still be a big chore - after all, this is a big dog. Brush its sleek coat with a natural bristle brush or mitt once a week and to really brighten its sheen, use a coat conditioner or polish. You won't need to bathe your Cane Corso often. About every three months using a mild shampoo will be sufficient.
Don't forget the rest of your Cane Corso Italian Mastiff. Its ears will need to be checked and cleaned every week. Your dog's nails need to be trimmed regularly (once a month). It's also a good idea to brush your Cane Corso's teeth daily with a soft toothbrush and dog toothpaste to keep teeth and gums healthy.
As with most dogs, you should introduce grooming to the Cane Corso as early as possible so it learns to keep still and eventually enjoy the process.

Exercise

You may have heard of the Cane Corso Italian Mastiff referred to as the "coursing mastiff." This is a nod to the fact that the Cane Corso can exceed other mastiff breeds in terms of athleticism, agility, speed, energy level, and sense of adventure. The Cane Corso Italiano is athletic, requiring a substantial amount of daily exercise. That being said, it's no surprise that this breed needs a substantial amount of daily exercise. Because it boats high stamina, the Cane Corso is a great companion for long jogs or hikes. This dog does best in a house with a large fenced in yard; however, it can live in an apartment if it gets enough daily exercise.
In combination with daily exercise, the Cane Corso Italian Mastiff needs personal interaction and lots of companionship. If it doesn't get enough exercise or attention, it may become destructive.

Training

The Cane Corso Italian Mastiff is best owned by an experienced handler, not a first-time owner. This is because it is a powerful dog and can be dominant. From the beginning, the owner needs to be firm and consistent at all times and assert his or her role as the pack leader. Once trained, the Cane Corso Italian Mastiff is obedient and willing to please.
Agile and intelligent, the Cane Corso can be taught using a variety of training methods. You will find that your dog will be responsive to obedience training, and classes are recommended at the puppy stage. Show strong leadership while training your puppy as it is an important step when controlling and molding your Cane Corso's strong protective instinct. As well, you will also need to be careful when introducing your dog to new places and people - the Cane Corso likes the status quo, and may react strongly to new experiences. To take control of its powerful need to protect, the Cane Corso must be trained so it only reacts when a real threat is present.
Be sure to socialize your Cane Corso Italian Mastiff as early as possible so it can learn to get along with other people and animals.