Cane Corso Resources
General
Appearance
The Cane Corso is an ancient Italian breed, medium-large sized molossoid.
Sturdy, with a strong skeleton, muscular and athletic.
It moves with considerable ease and elegance. It has always been a
property watchdog and hunter of difficult game such as the wild boar.
Size,
Proportion, Substance
A muscular,
balanced, large boned dog, rectangular in proportion. The length of the dog,
measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of buttock, is 11%
percent greater than the height of the dog measured from the highest point of
the shoulder to the ground. Height: Dogs: 25 to 27.5 inches, Bitches:
23.5 to 26 inches. Weight:
Proportionate to height.
Head
Mollossoid, large, its total length reaches 36% of the height at the withers. Planes of the skull and muzzle are slightly convergent, they
are not parallel. The circumference of the head measured at the cheek bones is
more then twice the total length of the head; skin is firm and smooth.
Skull:
Viewed from the front is wide and slightly curved, width is equal to the
length. From the side a prominent arch begins above the eyes and then flattens
backwards towards the occiput, viewed from the top it has a square appearance
due to the zygomatic arches and powerful muscles swathing it. Stop:
Well defined due to developed and bulging frontal sinuses and prominent arch
above the eyes. Expression:
Very alert and attentive. Some wrinkling on forehead occurs when alert.
Eyes: Medium
sized, almond shaped, not round or bulging, tight fitting rims preferred with
only a minimal amount of haw being visible.
Eye Color: Dogs with black muzzles (black, fawn, red, and these
colors brindled) dark brown eyes are preferred. Gray muzzles (gray, fawn, red
and these colors brindled) lighter shades are acceptable. Pigmentation of the
eye rims is complete, pigmentation of eye rim matches pigment color of dog. Disqualification:
Yellow bird of prey, blue eyes. Wall eyed.
Ears:
Set well above the cheekbones. May be cropped or uncropped, if cropped it is
in an equilateral triangle. If uncropped, they are medium sized, triangular in
shape, held tight to the cheeks, and not extending beyond the jaw bone. Nose:
Large with well-opened nostrils, pigment color to match pigment color of the
dog. Dogs with black pigment have black noses, gray pigmented dogs have gray
noses, and pigmentation is complete. The nose is an extension of the topline
of the muzzle and does not protrude beyond nor recede behind the front plane
of the muzzle.
Muzzle: Very broad and deep, width is almost equal to its
length which reaches 34% of the total length of the head; the depth of muzzle
is more then 50% of the length of the muzzle.
The top and bottom muzzle plains are parallel and the nose and chin form a
perpendicular line. Viewed from the front the anterior face should look
flat and form a trapezoid. Muzzle is not narrow or snipey. Lips: Rather
firm. Upper lips moderately hanging, they join under the nostrils to
form an inverted “U”. Pigmentation matches color pigment of dog, Dogs with
black pigment have black lips, gray pigmented dogs have gray lips. Bite:
Slightly undershot (no more then1/4 inch) and level preferred, scissor bite is
acceptable if parameters of the head and muzzle are correct. The incisors are firmly placed on a straight line. Dentition
is complete with no more then two missing teeth. Disqualification:
More then 2 missing teeth, wry mouth. Pronounced and undershot more then ¼
inch.
Neck,
Back and Body
Neck: Slightly arched, flowing smoothly into the shoulders with a small
amount of dewlap. The length of the neck is 36% the height at the withers. Body:
Depth of the ribcage is equal to half the total height of the dog, descending
slightly below the elbow. Ribs are long and well sprung. Moderate tuck up Chest:
Broad, well muscled, strong forefront.
Back: Wide, strong, muscular. Highest part of shoulder
blade slightly rising above the strong, level back. Loin: Well-muscled,
and harmoniously joined to the back. Croup: Long,
wide, slightly sloping. Rump should be quite round due to muscular
development. Tail: Tail
set is an extension of the backline.
It is thick at the root with not much tapering at the tip. When
not in action carried low, otherwise horizontal or slightly higher than back,
not to be carried in a vertical position, it is docked at the 4th
vertebrae. Natural
tails are accepted, though not preferred.
In the case of natural tails, the tip reaches the hock but not below.
Carried low, it is neither broken nor kinked but supple. Hanging when the dog
is in repose; generally carried level with the back or slightly above the
level of the back when the dog is in action, without curving over the back or
being curled. Disqualification:
A natural tail that is
atrophied or a natural tail that is knotted and laterally deviated or twisted.
Forequarters
Strong and muscular, well proportioned to the size of the dog. Straight when
viewed from the front or side, height of the limb at the elbow is equal to 50%
of the height at the withers. Shoulders: Muscular, laid back. Upper
arms: Strongly muscled, with good bone, powerful. Elbows: Held
parallel to the ribcage, turning neither in nor out. Forelegs: straight
and with good bone well muscled.
Pasterns: Almost
straight, strong but flexible. Feet: Round with well arched,
toes (cat like).Lean hard dark pads and nails except in the case of white
toes.
Hindquarters
As a whole, they are powerful and strong, in harmony with the forequarters. Thighs:
Long, wide, angulated and well muscled. Stifle: Should be
moderately angulated, strong. Legs: Strong bone and muscle
structure. Hocks: Wide, thick and clean, let down and parallel when
viewed from behind. Rear pastern:
straight and parallel. Rear dewclaws: Any rear dewclaws are
removed. Hind feet: Slightly more oval shaped and less arched toes than
the front feet.
Coat
The coat is short, stiff, shiny, adherent and dense with a light undercoat
that becomes thicker in cold weather.
Color
Acceptable colors are black, lighter and darker shades of gray, lighter and
darker shades of fawn, and red. Brindling is allowed on all of these colors.
Solid fawn and red, including lighter and darker shades have a black or gray
mask; it does not go beyond the eyes. There may be a white patch on the chest,
throat, chin, backs of the pasterns, and on the toes. Disqualification:
Any
color with marking pattern
as seen in black and tan breeds.
Gait/Movement
The
movement is free flowing, powerful yet effortless, with strong reach and
drive. As the dog accelerates, the feet converge
towards a center line of gravity in a near single track. When viewed
from the side, the topline remains level, with minimal roll or bounce.
Temperament
The Cane Corso as a protector of his property and owners is unequaled.
Intelligent he is easily trained. Noble, majestic and powerful his presence is
impressive. He is docile and affectionate to his owner, loving with children
and family.
The overall confirmation of the dog should be well balanced and proportionate. The foregoing description is that of the ideal Cane Corso any deviation from the above described dog is penalized to the extent of the deviation.