Colors: Black, lighter and darker shades of gray, lighter and darker shades of fawn, and red. solid fawn and

Living: The cane corso will do okay in an apartment if it gets enough exercise. they will be content to live

Recognized: FCI, NKC, APRI, ACR

Description

The Cane Corso Italiano is a medium-big size dog, strongly built but elegant, with powerful and long muscles, very distinguished, he expresses strength, agility and endurance. The general conformation is that of a mesomorphic animal whose body is longer than the height at the withers, harmonious as regards the form and disharmonious as regards the profile. The Muzzle is very broad and deep. The width of the muzzle must be almost equal to its length which reaches 3.4/10 of the total length of the head. Its depth is more than 50% the length of the muzzle. Due to the parallels of the muzzle sides and to the fullness and the width of the whole jaw, the anterior face of the muzzle is flat and square. The nasal bridge has a rectilinear profile and it is rather flat. The lower side profile of the muzzle is determined by the upper lips, the suborbital region shows a very slight chisel. The stop is very marked because of the very developed and bulging frontal sinuses and because of the prominent superciliary arches. The neck is slightly arched. The neck shape is of oval section, strong, very muscular. The body is compact, strong and very muscular. The skin is rather thick. The neck is practically without dewlap. The head mustn"t have wrinkles. The pigment of the mucous membranes is black. The pigment of the soles and the nails must be dark. The coat is short hair but not smooth, with vitreous texture, shiny, adherent, stiff, very dense, with a light layer that becomes thicker in winter but never crops up on the covering hair,. Its average length is approx. 2/2,5 cm. On the withers, the rump, the back margin of the thighs and on the tail it reaches approx. 3 cm without creating fringes. On the muzzle the hair is very short, smooth, adherent and is not more than 1/1,5 cm. Color - Black, plumb-gray, slate, light gray, blue/gray, light fawn, deer fawn, dark fawn and tubby very well marked stripes on different shades of fawn and gray,. In the fawny and tubby subjects there is a black or gray mask only on the muzzle and shouldn"t go beyond the eye line. A small white patch on the chest, on the feet tips and on the nose bridge is accepted.

Temperament

This calm, loyal, devoted dog is very affectionate with his owners and gentle with children. Dominant with other dogs, he is courageous and suspicious of strangers. This breed is not aggressive and will not bite without cause. Formidable in appearance, he is even more fearsome if provoked. Early, firm training is vital. The Neapolitan Mastiff should not be trained to attack, because he could become overly aggressive and dangerous.

Excercise

This very athletic breed needs a lot of regular exercise. They make excellent jogging companions, and if not jogged daily, should be taken on at least one long, brisk daily walk.

Grooming

The Cane Corso does not require much grooming. Occasionally comb and brush to remove dead hair. This breed is a light shedder.

Health

Major concerns: CHD, gastric torsion

Minor concerns: ectropion, PPM, vaginal hyperplasia, elbow dysplasia, PRA

Occasionally seen: cardiomyopathy

Suggested tests: hip, elbow, eye