What Were Cane Corsos Bred For? Original Role, Jobs, History, and More

Cane Corsos are sturdy muscular dogs that have a no-nonsense look. While they may initially look intimidating, they are affectionate pets that are cooperative and playful. From their early history to today, they have been bred for different roles and jobs, adapting over the years. But what was Cane Corsos bred for? What was their original role and what jobs do they have today? Cane Corsos look a lot like Mastiffs but are they? Read on to find out all about what Cane Corsos were bred for!

What is a Cane Corso?

Cane Corsos are working dogs that look similar to Mastiffs but are a bit smaller. Sometimes they are called Italian Mastiffs due to their history…but more on that in a bit! Males can get to be 28 inches at the shoulder and weigh 110 pounds. Compare that to a 200-pound Mastiff and you can easily tell the difference. Cane Corsos have short coarse fur with a variety of colorations including all-black coats, gray, brindle, fawn, and red. Some also have markings similar to a Mastiff, like a black mask. These pups are intelligent dogs that are quick to learn and eager to please. One hint as to what Cane Corsos were bred for is their name which means “bodyguard” in Latin.

What were Cane Corsos Bred for?

Cane Corsos were bred to be guard dogs and working farm dogs. On the farms of Italy, they were favored because they were so adaptable at doing a variety of jobs. Farmers didn’t need one dog to guard, one to help haul and another to hunt, the Cane Corso did it all. Their strong build made them excellent at pulling carts and their non-nonsense demeanor made them fearless guard dogs. Due to their size, Cane Corso were used to hunt larger game and they became quite skilled at it. They were all-around, reliable, workers and companions on those early Italian farms.

What were Cane Corsos Originally Bred for?

The origins of the Cane Corso date back to the early Romans who used hefty war dogs, and canis pugnaces, to help on the battlefields. These dogs had to be obedient and fearless which still rings true with the Cane Corsos of today. Imagine as well, the concentration these dogs needed to maintain on the battlefield. You still see that in Cane Corsos today which is what makes them excellent guard dogs. These war dogs were bred into what we know today as two different Italian mastiff breeds; the Cane Corso and the Neapolitan Mastiff. The Corsos were bred to be lighter and more agile and the Neapolitans to be the heftier more solid breed.

What Jobs did Cane Corsos have?

A well-trained Cane Corso was invaluable in the countryside of Italian farms. They were trained to not only be guard dogs of the farmstead but of livestock as well. When it came to hauling large loads they were used to pulling surprisingly heavy loads with ease. Not only were they excellent hunters, able to hunt larger game like wild boars and deer, but they were also used by farmers to flush out smaller animals like badgers. Because of their agile build, they were responsible for driving cattle and were quite skilled at the task.

What is the History of the Cane Corso?

We know the original Cane Corso came from the fearless Roman war dogs. They were then bred on Italian farms to be two types of mastiffs, Cane Corso and Neapolitan Mastiffs. These two breeds played an important role in the early history of the Italians but sometime between the 19^th and 20^th century the breed nearly disappeared. Some speculate that the changes in farming practices made the honed skills of the Corso less needed and the dogs were no longer purposefully bred.

What brought these dogs back from near extinction was a targeted effort that started with a salesman, Vito Indiveri, who remembered these dogs from his grandfather’s farms. As a traveling salesman, he went to some of the most remote places of Italy where he saw some Cane Corsos remained. Later, in 1980, the Malavasi brothers started a breeding program that led to the breed standard today. By 1988 the first Cane Corso was imported to the United States by Michael Sottile, an American, who was a guest at an Italian wedding. On his way to the wedding, he saw one of these agile Corsi and stopped to talk with the owner which led to him later importing the first Corsis to the States. In 2010 the Cane Corso was officially recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club.

Does Cane Corso Make Good Pets?

Yes! Cane Corso are excellent pets and can be both noble watchdogs and affectionate companions. If they are trained well, they can even be great family dogs and get along well with children. They still are used as guard dogs and hunting dogs with the same traits that were useful on the early Italian farms.

A group of Corsi lovers formed the Cane Corso Association of America. The club states they are “dedicated to preserving the working ability, soundness and intelligence of the Cane Corso in its purest form.” If you are considering getting a Corsi, they have a helpful article to help you know what you would be getting into. After all, taking care of a 110+ pound dog can be more challenging than you think. They emphasize the importance of making sure these dogs have a job so that they feel purposeful and get lots of exercise. A well-trained Corsi will be loyal and obedient, a welcome companion to any dog owner!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sbolotova/Shutterstock.com