Cane corso mastiff dog breed, history and temperament of cane corso puppies

An Italian guard dog, the Cane Corso is a large dog belonging to the Molosser family.



The Cane Corso mastiff is a well built, muscular, and athletic dog. It is not as bulky as the English Mastiff but is highly defined and its size and stature is quite large. Its overall appearance implies athleticism and power.

Though the dog has droopy ears, in many countries the ears are cropped so that they remain close to the head and appear upright.



The muzzle is both long and wide and the tail is docked.

There are two main colors of the coat, namely fawn and black. However, there is a genetic pigment, the dilution of which causes the coat to appear blue when the dog is black in color and formentino when the dog is actually fawn in color.

Since it is a guard dog, the Cane Corso has an even temperament and isn't too friendly.



For most parts, it is gentle with children and calm when with its primary guardian. However, it may show a lot of aggression towards people that it does not know. Otherwise, these dogs are shy and generally reserved. In fact they are usually considered a quiet breed. The dogs are usually indifferent when they are approached and react only when they feel threatened.

The breed has been discovered recently and its history is not very well documented. It is believed that the Cane Corse was initially bred to be a farm dog to guard property and stock. It was also used for hunting big game. However, the breed was on the verge of extinction and has only been recently saved from completely disappearing. It was the environmental changes that the dog couldn't handle and this brought them to the verge of extinction. Since the dog is so well loved, some enthusiasts got together and successfully tried to save it.

Even today, the Cane Corso is raised to be a watchdog. Due to its alertness, adaptability and courage, today the Cane Corso is also able to resist climatic changes and is able to withstand the most challenging of weathers.

Though the descent remains a mystery, it is believed that the Cane Corso dogs were derived from the same stock as that of the Neapolitan Mastiff which has been recorded historically. However, there is an elemental difference between the two. Whereas the Neapolitan Mastiff is known for its power and its strength, the Cane Corso is known for its agility and speed.