Did you know?
Dogs, like humans, experience Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep is when dreaming occurs. While adult dogs spend up to 12% of their sleep time in REM, puppies spend more so that their developing brains can process all those new sights, sounds, and smells they experience every day.
Cane Corso
The rich man’s guardian and the poor man’s friend,
The only creature faithful to the end. – George Crabbe
The noble Cane Corso traces his line back to the ancient Roman molosser dogs. Ancestors of the Cane Corso (pronounced Cawnie Corso) were used in war and fighting in the circuses of the Roman Empire.
Once common throughout Italy, he is now primarily found in southern Italy. The Cane’s predecessors were big game hunters that showed power, courage, and agility, and later proved their skills as drovers and guardians of livestock, property, and family on Italian farms.
His name comes from the Italian “cane” which means “dog” and the Latin “cohors”, which means “protector”. He has also been called the Italian Mastiff.
In a 2017 study by Evžen Korec a link was found between the lifespan of the Cane Corso and his coat colour. Two hundred and thirty-two dogs across 25 countries, found an average life span of 9.3 years. However, the longest living were black brindle dogs (10.3 years) followed by brindle dogs (10.1 years), grey brindle dogs (9.8 years), fawn dogs (9.0 years), black dogs (9.0 years), grey dogs (9.0 years) and other colour dogs (8.1 years).
Photos displayed courtesy of J. Moryski, Avitus Cane Corso, Alberta
This impressive animal stands up to 27 inches (68 cm) tall at the shoulders and may weigh as much as 110 pounds (50 kg). The ears may or may not be cropped, but the tail is docked. The short, dense, harsh coat requires minimal weekly grooming. The coat may be black, lead grey, slate, light fawn (yellowish), stag red, or brindle. A black mask is present in fawn coloured dogs.
The modern Cane is a stable, generally relaxed but protective dog with a strong sense of territory and purpose. He is loyal and submissive to his family, but suspicious and aloof with strangers. Dogs of this breed today are excellent interpreters of human gestures and react only when necessary.
Early socialization and training are critical as this dog can be highly dominant toward people and other dogs, Fortunately, he is very intelligent and trainable. When properly socialized, he is gentle and protective with children. The Cane craves regular affection, attention and interaction with his family. The International Cane Corso Federation does not recommend this dog for first-time dog owners; those who have had experience raising and training dominant dogs are best suited for the breed.