Cane Corso Italiano

Guardian Dog Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

The Cane Corso Italiano is descended from the old Roman Molossian. Formerly scattered all over Italy, in the recent past the breed has only been popular in the Province Apulia and the adjacent regions of Southern Italy. The breed name is derived from the Latin ‘cohors’ which means protector and guardian of the farmyard. Today the breed is used as a guardian, protection, tracking and police dog.

The Cane Corso Italiano was recognized by the United Kennel Club July 15, 2008.

General Appearance

A medium to large sized, robust, sturdy dog that is somewhat elegant and has lean, powerful muscles.

Characteristics

The breed is extremely responsive and agile. It is used as a guardian of family, property and livestock. In the past, it has been used for herding cattle and hunting big game.

Head

The head is large and typically molossoid. The planes of the skull and muzzle converge slightly.

Serious Faults: Parallel planes of the skull and muzzle or planes that converge too steeply.
Disqualification: Divergent head planes.

SKULL

The skull is broad; at the zygomatic arches its width is at least equal to its length. Convex in front, the skull becomes rather flat behind the forehead to the occiput. The frontal furrow is visible and the stop is marked.

MUZZLE

The muzzle is noticeably shorter than the skull (ratio of 1:2). It is strong, square and flat, as wide as it is long, with a straight nasal bridge. There is no taper in the width of the muzzle from stop to tip. The upper lips hang and cover the lower jaw so that the lower profile of the muzzle is determined by the lips.

Serious Fault: Tapering muzzle.
Disqualifications: Bridge of nose that is convex or concave.

TEETH

The Cane Corso Italiano has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a slightly undershot bite. The jaws are very large, thick and curved. A level bite is acceptable but not preferred.

Serious Faults: Scissors bite; severely undershot bite.
Disqualification: Overshot bite.

NOSE

Large and black with open nostrils.

Serious Fault: Butterfly nose.
Disqualification: Nose pink, without pigmentation.

EYES

Medium size, and oval in shape, the eyes are set to look directly forward and are slightly prominent. The eyelids are close fitting, and the iris is as dark as possible, depending on the color of the coat. The expression is keep and attentive.

Disqualifications: Wall eyes; complete or partial lack of eyerim pigment.

EARS

The ears are triangular and drooping, wide at the set on, which is high above the zygomatic arches. They are often cropped in the shape of an equilateral triangle.

Neck

Strong and muscular, the same length as the head.

Forequarters

The shoulders are long, oblique and very muscular. The upper arm is strong.

FORELEGS

The legs are straight and very strong, with elastic pasterns.

Body

The body is somewhat longer than tall, sturdily built but not squatty. The chest is well developed and reaches to the elbow. The withers are pronounced, rising above the level of the croup. The back is very muscular and firm. The loin is short and strong and the croup is long, wide and slightly sloping.

Hindquarters

The upper thighs are long and wide, and the back of the thigh is convex. The lower thigh is strong, and not fleshy. There is moderate angulation at the hock, and the rear pasterns are thick and sinewy.

Feet

Cat feet, with the rear feet less compact than the front feet.

Tail

The tail is set on fairly high, and is very thick at the root. It is generally docked at the fourth vertebrae. In action it is carried high, but not curled or erect.

Serious Faults: Ring tail, or tail carried vertically.
Disqualification: Tailless.

Coat

Short, shiny and very dense, with a light undercoat.

Disqualification: Semi-long or fringed coat.

Color

Black, all shades of grey and fawn, stag red and brindle.

In fawn and brindle dogs, the black or grey mask on the muzzle should not go beyond the line of the eyes.

A small white spot on the chest, white on the toes and on the bridge of the muzzle are acceptable.

Disqualifications: Any color not specified in the standard; large white patches.

Height and Weight

Height at the withers for males is 25 to 27 inches; for females, it is 23.5 to 25 inches. One inch over or under the preferred size is acceptable.

Weight for males is 100 to 110 pounds; for females, it is 88 to 100 pounds.

Serious Faults: Oversize or undersize.

Gait

At a trot, the gait is extended, with a long stride.

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.
Divergent head planes.
Bridge of nose that is convex or concave.
Overshot bite.
Nose pink, without pigmentation.
Wall eyes; complete or partial lack of eyerim pigment.
Tailless.
Semi-long or fringed coat.
Any color not specified in the standard; large white patches.

The docking of tails and cropping of ears in America is legal and remains a personal choice. However, as an international registry, the United Kennel Club is aware that the practices of cropping and docking have been forbidden in some countries. In light of these developments, the United Kennel Club feels that no dog in any UKC event, including conformation, shall be penalized for a full tail or natural ears.