Cane Corso
Cane di Macellaio, Italian Mastiff, Sicilian Branchiero
The Cane Corso is a large mastiff that is used to herd cattle. It works different than other herding breeds, likely due to its ancestry heavily involving bull baiting dogs. It concentrates on the leader on the herd and directing an attack at the cow's head. These are only threatening lunges, but it causes the leader to change course, and the rest of the herd to follow.
Cane Corso Standards
- 22-28"
- 80-140 lbs
- large mastiff
- ears may be cropped or left natural
- tail is traditionally docked where legal
- short, stiff, shiny coat
- black
- fawn
- grey
- red
- may be brindled
History of the Cane Corso
It is likely the Cane Corso is a more recent recreation of the Cane di Macellaio, an old Italian herding breed. The original breed had become virtually extinct, but was rebuilt in the 1980s. It is believed they share a common ancestry with the Neapolitan Mastiff and have descended from the Roman war dog known as the Canis Pugnax.
Related Breeds: