The Cane Corso is a Mastiff. It is most certainly a genetic cousin of the Neapolitan Mastiff derived from the Canis Pugnax or Roman war dog. For centuries the Corso has thrived in southern Italy particularly in Puglia. Since then their numbers have dramatically declined until the 1980’s when a group of enthusiasts saved the Corso from near extinction.

The Corso is an all purpose dog traditionally living on farms and used for companionship, big game hunting and guarding. The Corso is therefore leaner and more athletic than its cousin the Neopolitano and other Mastiffs. The breed standards are 60 – 68 cm at the withers and 40 – 50 kilos ( 23 – 27 inches and 87 – 110 pounds) the females should be smaller, and weight should depend on overall stature. The Corso should give an athletic powerful and lovely balanced appearance.

The Corso is reserved with strangers and rather quiet, warming up to people gradually. There has been a push in the United States toward a more aggressive temperament. This is not only unnecessary, but not in keeping with the breed standard. Ask any Police officer and he will tell you that the mere appearance of such a dog is enough to keep you and your loved ones safe!

Nearly all Corsos have docked tails (preferably at the 4th vertibra) and cropped ears where legal. The ears naturally drop forward. We at Global Cane Corso do not crop the ears preferring the more expressive natural look.
Corsos appear in two basic coat colors:

Black and fawn. This is further modified by genetic pigment dilution to create blue (from black) and formentino (from fawn) colors. Formentino only express the blue coloring on the mask. Brindling of varying intensity is common on both basic coat colors as well, creating tigrato (full brindle), black brindle, and blue brindle. Fawn also has a number of different expressions, ranging from the pale of a formentino to 'red' to the more common beige color, with the back coat hairs tipped with black. In blue dogs, the nose can appear grey, but should be darker than the coat. In all other dogs, the nose should be black. White markings on the chest, toes and on the chin are seen as well, with smaller white patches being preferable.