Cane Corso History

Cane Corso’s ancestors were Roman Molossian auxiliary fighting dogs. They were called Canis Pugnax and were used for a number of purposes. They have been hunting dogs, often employed in hunting large and dangerous game such as bears and boars. Their strong jaws and curved claws were ideal for dropping and holding a large animal. They were also very efficient as guard dogs, and some believe that this is where they get their name from. Canis means dog and Cohors means a guard. It was not uncommon to see these dogs in the arena fighting other animals or even humans.

Romans first stumbled onto the dogs that were later to become Canis Corso during their conquest of Macedonia. They recognized their potential and started breeding them with other types of dogs in order to enhance their performance and make them specialized for certain tasks. At one point these dogs were bred with the mastiff type dogs that were brought from Britain. It is speculated that this is what gives the today’s Cane Corsi their slightly undershot jaw.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, when their military engagement was over, Cane Corsi still found plenty of use in the rural parts of Italy, as guard, hunting or sheep herding dogs. During the two World Wars the breed was in constant decline, and at one point it almost became extinct and forgotten. However, in the 70’s enthusiasts did their best to help this breed recover, and their efforts were not in vain.

The first litter of Cane Corso dogs was brought to America in 1988, with the second one following the next year. People were intrigued by this magnificent breed, and soon after, the dog’s popularity in the USA was on the rise. They have been granted recognition by the American Kennel Club in 2010.