Cane Corso
Origin: The Cane Corso, also known as the ‘Italian Mastiff’ or the ‘Cane Corso Mastiff’, is a dog breed that descends from the Napolean Mastiff and the Roman war dogs. They were originated in southern Italy as war and hunting dogs during the middle ages. The Cane Corso was also used in a popular gambling sport called bull-baiting.
Size: The Cane Corso is a large dog with a muscular body. The Male Corso stands 24-27 inches tall at the shoulder, whereas the females stand 23-25 inches tall. The weight ranges from 45-50 kg in males and 40-45 in female Cane Corso. They are athletic dogs with v-shaped ears, lean body and arched necks.
Coat: The Corso has a short and dense coat. It comes in colours like black, grey, red or fawn and may have a brindle pattern. They may have black or grey muzzles with white markings on the feet and the chest. They are generally light shedder.
Temperament: Cane Corsos are a loving and affectionate breed that bond strongly with their families, especially with kids. They are not suitable for novice owners as they need someone who knows how to set boundaries and keep them in the discipline. The Cane Corso is a loyal, confident, and protective dog that makes it a perfect watchdog. They are generally not aggressive, but they defend their owner fiercely when necessary. They are impossible to stop during a fight as they have unusually high pain tolerance. They require socialization and training from an early age so that they turned to be well-mannered dogs. They respond well to rewards and appreciations rather than harsh behaviour or hitting.
Care: The Cane Corso is a working breed, so they have many energy requirements to stay fit. A long walk twice a day is required to fulfil their energy requirements but go easy on puppies as they are not fully developed until they are 18 months old. They are versatile dogs and can easily learn a variety of tasks. They are great companion dogs for long walks and run. A Cane Corso does not require much grooming as they shed little. Brushing weekly is enough to remove dead hair and keep the coat healthy. Brush your pet’s teeth, clean their ears, and trim nails to maintain overall hygiene. Make sure you do not overfeed and divide the meals throughout the day.
Health: A few general health issues that tend to be common in a Cane Corso are Hip Dysplasia, Bloat, and eye disease. Hip Dysplasia is a common disease in the Corsos as they are large dogs. They are prone to bloat as they love to eat, and sometimes they are overfed. Make sure to ask for the health clearance before getting a Cane Corso home.
