BreedHistory

      The Cane Corso is a descendant of the Roman War Dog, or Canis Pugnax. Cane Corsos are cousins to
the Neapolitan Mastiff, who also descended from the Roman War dog. Cane Corsos were originally
bred to hunt wild boar and stag. Their powerful frame and surprisingly graceful movement helped
bring down the large animals for their masters to finish the kill. In 1137 they were used as military
dogs in Monopoli di Sabina near Rome. Eventually they found a home on Italian farmlands where they
can still be found today.

     The Cane Corso is an even tempered dog. Born suspicious, this dog is
a natural guard dog. However, if brought up well socialized and trained the Cane Corso can be
extremely friendly in daunting situations. However, guidance from the owner is necessary. Cane
Corsos are generally good with children, but owners should never forget the power of this breed.
Being a large breed they could unintentionally hurt a small child. They need guidance as well as the
child. Play should be supervised at all times with young children.
Discipline and consistent training is necessary to own this breed. Cane Corsos are not meant for busy
families or people with hectic work schedules. In the time we have owned Cane Corsos we have found
they are extremely easy to train and want to learn. Trailhead Cane Corso believes they learn best
through positive reinforcement due to their sensitive nature.

Conformation:

     Cane Corsos are a brachycephalic breed. Simply put the Cane Corso has a short foreface. However in
The United States (ICCF) breeding has produced a slightly longer muzzle compared to breeding
programs still found in Italy (FCI).

     There are two original breed standards for this breed. I find that many people do not know about
the registries on this breed before they choose a breeder. Research is necessary to find the perfect
Cane Corso for you and your family's needs. In July of 2010 the Cane Corso was accepted into the
American Kennel Club. No longer a rare breed, FCI registries are going to become more difficult to
locate.

     This is the Italian registry and it is used in all of Europe. I have found FCI bred Cane Corsos tend to
have a more compact muzzle and are lighter than their American bred counterparts. Males weight is
between 45-40 kg and their height is 64 to 68 cm. Females are smaller at a weight of 40-45kg and a
height of 60-64 cm. There is an allowance of +/- 2 cm. The Cane Corso Preservation Society uses this
standard. Trailhead Cane Corso also uses this standard. We believe in this standard because Cane
Corsos were bred to work. Due to the larger size of the American bred Corso we do not feel they
perform as well in the field of game hunting. FCI registered Cane Corsos are not limited in the show
ring anywhere. Once you have your pedigree and registration papers you may show your dog
anywhere in the world.

International Cane Corso Federation (ICCF)
     The ICCF published a new standard in 2000 believing the original standard needed revising. This is
the American standard of the Cane Corso. The ICCF standard calls for males to stand between 25-27.5"
and weight must be proportioned to height. Females must stand between 23.5-26" with weight
proportioned to the dog's height. Meaning these dogs can grow to 150 pounds which in our opinion
affects their ability to hunt properly. We also do not feel one needs a 150 lb dog for protection. ARBA,
or the American Rare Breed Association, accepts this standard. This registry is limited in show only
tailoring to the AKC and American show rings. Europe does not recognize this standard.

Ear Cropping:

     In our opinion cropping of the ears should be up to the buyer. We own and have owned Cane Corsos
with cropped ears and non-cropped ears. We personally do not feel Corsos lose any conformational
value by having ears. However, some breeders feel the exact opposite. We choose to breed a Cane
Corso based on temperament, lineage and conformation. We will never exclude a Cane Corso from our
breeding program because the dog has intact ears. In Europe it is now illegal to alter a dogs
appearance. Keep this in mind when choosing a breeder. The best lines found in this breed are located
in Europe. Soon the dogs being shipped in will come with ears and tails intact.

History of the Cane Corso

Trailhead's Treasured Poker Face

Federation Cynologique Internationale, #343 (FCI)