Coveting a Cane Corso

One of the new breeds showcased at the WKC dog show this year will be the Cane Corso, and it’s a beauty. A well-muscled, big-boned, light molossian dog, popular in 19th century Italian art, whose history includes it among the Roman dogs of war, the Cane Corso has made a comeback from the edge of extinction, not only in its native southern Italy, but across the world.

WKC photo.

As a big game hunter and farm working dog, the Cane Corso fell out of favor when its work was no longer valued. Loss of game and new farming methods made its skills unnecessary, and the breed, all but obsolete. Through the dedication of a few Cane Corso enthusiasts, the breed is rebounding in popularity as a guard dog (its name Corso, probably comes from the Greek KOHORS for protector). 

I found several sites dedicated to this magnificent breed, but this breeder’s site is my favorite. Its write up on Cane Corso Security Systems is quite entertaining.

·          Voice Activated and Controlled.
·          Easy to Understand System Instructions.
·          Simple and easy to use operation.
·          No keypads to punch and codes to remember.
·          Completely Wireless Security System!
·          Comes with a variety of audible signals to alert you to emergency conditions.
·          Responds instantly to any type of emergency (fire, intrusion or personal).
·          Portable Personal Security System.
·          Simple, Clean, Fast Installation!
·          The completely wireless system needs no installation.
·          No mess*, No wires, No dust or imposition.

*(Housebreaking is required)

But its dogs are what really sold me.


This is Chaos. Isn’t she gorgeous? I don’t recall ever having seen a more fearsome and beautiful guard dog.

I may have to write an Ode to a Devil Dog (not to be confused with my Ode to a Yodel), but for now, I can appreciate, from afar, the apparent strength and temperament of these working dogs as I hone in on my future dog-owning plans. 

Comments

Unknown said…
Lynne,

Dogs I've had include:
Weimaraner - Akita - American Staffordshire Terrier - Doberman (2) - Bullmastiff (2) - Corgi - Cane Corso - Bernese Mountain Dog

RE the Cane Corso; it's my opinion that there are few people who should own this breed. Expert training is an absolute requirement. They are fast, powerful, fearless and protective. A properly trained, by the owner, Cane with good temperament can be a great companion and family dog. But, out of control Canes are fearsome liabilities that will intimidate your friends and family who may want to visit you even if they themselves are dog lovers. It is obvious that this breed will be a valuable part of your security system. I'm not writing this to discourage you; only to caution you to spend significant time around these dogs before making to commitment to ownership.

Cloud
January 30, 2011 at 8:53 AM
Lynne said…
Absolutely!

It's clear from what I've read that these dogs are smart and very good at what they do. What they do is a combination of what they've been bred to do and what they have been trained to do. It would take serious skill and effort in dog training to be a successful owner of this breed. At this point, I'm simply admiring the traits of this well-trained and beautiful dog.

Despite the fact that I've owned a Pug and a Labrador, I really prefer mutts. I'm wary of older rescues because you can't know what habits may have been trained into them. I do like to know the tendencies of the breeds so that I can at least estimate what I'm getting into.

An Akita is another very owner-protective breed. Which has been your favorite and why?
January 30, 2011 at 9:13 AM
Unknown said…
RE my top choice; it's the American Staffordshire Terrier. Why?
Intelligent
Alert
Absolutely fearless
Loyal
Highly Trainable
Medium size (mine was 70lbs.)
Minimum grooming
Extremely agile and fast
Strength/pound unmatched
Big head
Protective

This is the breed that is commonly called 'pit-bull' (different than the breed that is actually named Pit-Bull Terrier). Some cities outlaw the dog due to its reputation. The dogs bred to fight are not naturally aggressive but are trained to be that way. The reason these dogs are used/abused as fighting dogs is because of their fearlessness, strength etc.
My Staff was highly trained; I could put him in a 'down-stay' between a Doberman and German Shepard and turn my back and walk away; and I did. He had a keen sense of discrimination and could sense if my wife was in an uncomfortable situation which would bring him to full ready-alert. But, this is another breed that should definitely have owner requirements; they MUST be trained and well socialized. Being a short haired dog they don't do well in cold weather outdoors. If I was going to stay in a northern climate, which I'm not, I would carefully consider a Black Russian Terrier as my next dog. But, since I'm planning to move south I will be getting another Am-Staff.
Cloud
February 1, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Lynne said…
Thanks for sharing your wealth of information and experience. Right now, I'm trying to decide between the traits of a terrier (BRT or Bull) and a mastiff type. I have tons of time before I have to make my decision about the next dog (years), so I can collect lots more information.

Only recently I've noticed how very much my own yappy lap dog, a Pug, looks like a miniature version of the bullmastiff (facial appearance only). Pugs are weird little dogs.
February 1, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Plainsies, Clapsies

A ball bouncing game from my youth instructed the player to throw the ball up ( plainsies ), throw it up and clap ( clapsies ) throw it up and roll your hands ( roll the ball ) and touch your shoulders ( tabapsies ). In trying to locate the rest of the ball bouncing chant, I found out not only is my “tabapsies” a mondegreen , but also the motion – touching your shoulders – isn’t even the correct movement! You are supposed to clap your hands behind your back and say “ to backsies .”  Yeah. That makes much more sense. Being only slightly deflated by this discovery, I will still share my exciting news.  In an attempt to counteract the stretching of my wrist from doing front squats two days in a row, I pulled out the tabapsies motion this morning.  This, in itself, is not newsworthy.  However, I grabbed both shoulders with all five fingers!!! Again, not exciting unless you know that when I was nine years-old, I broke my left elbow doing a running c...
Read more

Memorizing the Preamble to the Constitution

Image
In preparation for celebrating the 222nd anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787, here are a few videos that I hope will inspire you to at least memorize the brief, but powerful Preamble. First, here is my first attempt at video editing with the bare bones Windows Movie Maker (no ability to step through frame by frame with sound, or ability to mark stops before cutting). My daughters are reading the Preamble to the Constitution from the little book I carry in my purse. They can recite it by heart, but it I thought it would be a little different (and a little less exposed) if they did it this way. Let's not even talk about the 20 takes due to laughter. If you knew it as a child, don't worry, it'll come back to you as Barney shows in this video. Finally, a little treat for my sci-fi loving friends. And if memorizing and reciting The Preamble in creative ways leaves you wanting more, you can find out which Founding Father you...
Read more

Why I am an Objectivist

I am a human being who values her life on this earth above all other things. The right and good is that which contributes to my life and the wrong and evil is that which destroys it. Every action I take must pass through the gates of identification before being pursued as a value which I understand will contribute to my life. Happiness is my ultimate goal. I understand the importance of identifying, applying, pursuing, and achieving those values which will contribute to my life, not just in the immediate sense (which every child understands), but in the long-term sense (which develops with experience). This is not to say that I’m really good at always identifying, pursuing, and achieving those values, or that I remain consistent in my applications of them; merely that I had already understood that this selfishness was the key to my happiness when I was relatively young. The importance of the fact that I understood I was responsible for my own happiness can not be overemphasized here. W...
Read more