BREED HISTORY & GENERAL INFORMATION  



THE CANE CORSO IS A LARGE WORKING DOG BREED THAT DESCENDS FROM THE ANCIENT ROMAN COLOSSUS, NATIVE TO ITALY. THESE COLOSSUS MASTIFFS WERE IN GREAT DEMAND AS HOUSEHOLD GUARDIANS AND WAR DOGS THAT WERE SOMETIMES PITTED AGAINST LIONS AND OTHER WILD BEASTS IN ANCIENT ROMAN ARENAS. THEY NOW REPRESENT A MODERN DAY CONTINUATION OF WAR DOGS. THROUGHOUT THE BREED'S EXISTENCE, THE CANE CORSOS WERE USED AS BIG GAME HUNTERS. THEIR POWER, COURAGE, AGILITY, AND TRACKING ABILITY MADE THEM ESPECIALLY VALUABLE WITH WILD BOAR, STAG, AND BEAR. WITH THE DECLINE IN BIG GAME HUNTING, THE CANE CORSO FOUND  A HOME WITH ITALIAN FARMERS. THEY WERE OFTEN USED AS A DRIVER  FOR MOVING CATTLE TO THE MARKET. ON THE FARM, THEY PROTECTED THE  LIVESTOCK FROM BOTH HUMAN THIEVES AND ANIMAL PREDATORS AND ALSO DOUBLING UP AS GUARD DOGS FOR HOMES AND ESTATES. WITH THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURE IN MANY REGIONS OF ITALY, THIS MAJESTIC DOG WAS IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION. WITH THE HELP OF SOME SKILLFUL AND CARING DOG LOVERS IN MID 1970'S, SUCCESS WAS MADE IN PROCURING AS MANY GOOD SUBJECTS AS POSSIBLE. SELECTIVE BREEDING BEGAN AND THE CANE CORSO WAS GIVEN A NEW BIRTH. 
  


    ARRIVING IN AMERICA IN THE LATE 1980'S, THE CANE CORSO HAS MAINLY BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A FAMILY COMPANION AND A GUARD DOG. THE CANE CORSO BONDS QUICKLY TO HIS OR HER FAMILY AND BECOMES QUITE ATTACHED, ESPECIALLY TO THE CHILDREN. THEY ARE PLAYFUL AND PROTECTIVE, YET GENTLE, AND ALWAYS AWARE OF A CHILD'S HELPLESSNESS AND INNOSENCE. THEY ALSO ENJOY BEING INCLUDED IN FAMILY ACTIVITIES. THEIR ATHLETIC ABILITY LENDS ITSELF TO INCLUDE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HIKING, JOGGING, LONG WALKS, SWIMMING, BIKE RIDING OR JUST PLAYING FETCH. IN THE HOUSEHOLD THEY ARE NOT OVERLY ENERGETIC OR SPASMODIC AND ARE GENERALLY A QUIET DOG, ONLY BARKING TO ALERT STRANGE SITUATIONS. THEY ARE VERY ANIMAL FRIENDLY AND WILL GET ALONG WITH ANY OF YOUR OTHER PETS. THE CANE CORSO IS INSTINCTIVELY A GUARD DOG. HAVING A STRONG SENSE OF TERRITORY AND BEING QUITE ALOOF, THEY WILL BE SUSPICIOUS UNTIL THE PERSON IS WELCOMED BY THE FAMILY. THESE DOGS DON'T NEED ANY ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE AGGRESIVE, AND KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHEN AND WHERE TO BE PROTECTIVE. THEY SHOULD BE SOCIALIZED STARTING AT YOUNG AGES. THE CANE CORSO IS ABLE TO JUDGE CHARACTER WITHOUT EXCEPTION AND THEIR EXCELLENCE IN DISCERNING FRIEND FROM FOE WILL BE SURPASSED BY NO OTHER...    

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