Overview

The Italian Cane Corso is descended from the Roman Molossian and was utilized in hunting large game as well as being an auxiliary warrior in military battles. They make great companion dogs and have been used for cattle and as personal guard dogs for centuries. The name is derived from the Latin word “Cohors” which translates to “Guardian” or “Protector.”

Activity

The Italian Cane Corso requires a lot of exercise but can be content in living in an apartment if taken out regularly for walks. A medium to large fenced in yard is preferred and they can do well living outside if given the right shelter. When living in an apartment, they will require at least one very long walk every day and should never be left alone for long periods of time.

Care

The Italian Cane Corso does not require much grooming at all other than the occasional brushing to remove dead hair and maintain their coat. They hardly shed at all, if ever, and only need to be bathed when it is absolutely necessary to do so. Dry shampooing can be done from time to time to maintain their natural oils and keep their coat looking healthy.

Character

The Italian Cane Corso is a very loyal and quiet dog that is willing to please like no other. They are extremely intelligent and easily trained making them one of the best dogs to train for guard duty or protection. They get along great with children once trained and can be quite docile in home, but ever watchful and protective of their family towards strangers.

Coat

This breed's coat is short but not smooth to the touch. In fact, the Italian Cane Corso should have a shiny vitreous texture to it that is stiff and very dense. In the winter, there will be a thicker layer that will shed down to a thinner layer in the warmer months. Their coats will come in black, slate, fawn, and a plumb-grey with some showing stripes or a black and gray mask on the muzzle.

Temperament

The Italian Cane Corso has a great temperament with their family members and will stay close to home, even when the door is left open all day long. They are not fighting dogs, but make excellent work dogs as they are powerful and have high amounts of stamina. They may not go out looking to fight but they will refuse to stand down if attacked or threatened by other dogs that try to dominate them.

Training

The Italian Cane Corso should have obedience and socialization training at an early age and is not for inexperienced owners. They are very intelligent but tend to push their bounds if not trained when young. They are highly protective of their families and will do well as watch dogs. They may tend to be somewhat difficult to housetrain for those that use heavy or harsh training methods. Positive reinforcement is needed with consistency and a bit of patience.