Cane Corso

Cane Corso, breed of mastiff dog descended from Molossian war dogs of ancient Rome and subsequently bred in Italy as a versatile farm dog and guardian. The Cane Corso’s protective nature may have inspired its name, which comes from Latin and can be translated as “bodyguard dog” or “guard dog of the courtyard.” In addition, it is able to subdue large prey, including wild boars and badgers, and can herd livestock. The two World Wars decimated the breed in Italy, and it remained rare until the 1970s, when a concerted effort was made to revive the breed.

A medium to large dog, the Cane Corso typically weighs 90 to 110 pounds (41 to 50 kg) and stands 23 to 28 inches (58 to 71 cm) tall at the withers. It has a muscular, stocky physique and a large wide head. The breed’s short stiff coat is black, gray, fawn, or red, and it may be brindled. In countries where it is legal, the thick tail is traditionally docked, and the ears are cropped short.

The Cane Corso was fully recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 2007 and by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 2010. It subsequently experienced one of the most rapid rises in popularity of any breed. The FCI registers it as the Cane Corso Italiano and places it in group 2: pinscher and schnauzer types, in the subgroup Molossian and Swiss mountain and cattle dogs. The AKC recognizes it as the Cane Corso and places it in the working group.