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American
Kennel Club (AKC)
Foundation Stock Service (FSS)
Cane Corso Breed Standard
Approved
for the Miscellaneous Class July 1, 2008
History
His direct ancestor is the "Canis Pugnax" (the old
Roman Molossian) of which he is the light version employed in the
hunting of large wild animals and also as an "auxiliary warrior" in
battles. For years he has been a precious companion of the Italic
populations. Employed as property, cattle and personal guard besides
being used for hunting purposes too.
In the past this breed was common all over Italy as a
ample iconography and historiography testify. In the recent past he
has found an excellent preservation area in Southern Italy,
expecially in Puglia, Lucania and Sannio.
His name derives from the Latin "Cohors" which means
"Guardian", "Protector."
General
Appearance
Ancient Italian breed medium-large size Molossus Dog. Sturdy, with a
strong skeleton. Muscular and athletic, it moves with considerable
ease and elegance. It has always been a property watchdog and hunter
of difficult game such as the wild boar.
Size, Proportion, Substance A muscular, balanced, large-boned
dog, rectangular in proportion. The length of the dog, measured from
the point of the shoulder to the point of buttock is 11% greater
than the height of the dog measured from the highest point of the
shoulder to the ground.
Height: Dogs: 25 to 27.5 inches; bitches: 23.5 to 26 inches.
Weight:
Proportionate to height.
Head - Molossus, large, its total length reaches 36% of the
height at the withers. Planes of the skull and muzzle are slightly
convergent; they are not parallel. The circumference of the head
measured at the cheekbones is more than twice the total length of
the head; skin is firm and smooth. Skull: Viewed from
the front, skull is wide and slightly curved; width is equal to the
length. From the side, a prominent arch begins above the eyes and
then flattens backward toward the occiput. Viewed from the top, it
has a square appearance due to the zygomatic arches and powerful
muscles swathing it. Stop: Well-defined due to developed and
bulging frontal sinuses and prominent arch above the eyes.
Expression: Very alert and attentive. Some wrinkling on
forehead occurs when alert. Eyes: Medium-size, almond-shaped,
not round or bulging, tight fitting rims preferred with only a
minimal amount of haw being visible. Eye Color: Dogs
with black muzzles (coat colors of black, fawn or red, and these
colors brindled) dark brown eyes are preferred. Gray muzzles (coat
colors of gray, fawn or red and these colors brindled), lighter
shades are approved. Pigmentation of the eye rims is complete,
pigmentation of eye rim matches pigment color of dog. Ears:
Set well above the cheekbones. May be cropped or uncropped. If
cropped, it is in an equilateral triangle. If uncropped, they are
medium size, triangular in shape, held tight to the cheeks, and not
extending beyond the jaw bone. Nose: Large with
well-opened nostrils, pigment color to match pigment color of the
dog. Dogs with black pigment have black noses; gray pigmented dogs
have gray noses; pigmentation is complete. The nose is an extension
of the topline of the muzzle and does not protrude beyond nor recede
behind the front plane of the muzzle. Muzzle: Very broad and
deep, width is almost equal to its length, which reaches 34% of the
total length of the head; the depth of muzzle is more then 50% of
the length of the muzzle. The top and bottom muzzle plains are
parallel, and the nose and chin form a perpendicular line. Viewed
from the front, the anterior face should look flat and form a
trapezoid. Muzzle is not overly narrow or snipey. Lips:
Rather firm. Upper lips moderately hanging, they join under the
nostrils to form an inverted "U." Pigmentation matches color pigment
of dog. Dogs with black pigment have black lips; gray pigmented dogs
have gray lips. Bite: Slightly undershot (no more than
1/4 inch) and level preferred. Scissor bite is acceptable, if
parameters of the head and muzzle are correct. Dentition is
complete. Incisors are in a straight line. No more than two missing
teeth.
Disqualification: More than two missing teeth; wry mouth. Undershot
more than ? inch.
Neck: Slightly arched, flowing smoothly into the shoulders
with a small amount of dewlap. The length of the neck is 36% the
height at the withers. Body: Depth of the ribcage is
equal to half the total height of the dog, descending slightly below
the elbow. Ribs are long and well sprung. Moderate tuck up.
Chest: Broad, well-muscled, strong forefront.
Back: Wide, strong, muscular. Highest part of shoulder blade
slightly rising above the strong, level back. Loin:
Well-muscled, and harmoniously joined to the back. Croup:
Long, wide, slightly sloping. Rump should be quite round due to
muscular growth. Tail: Tail set is an extension of the
backline. It is thick at the root with not much tapering at the tip.
When not in action, carried low, otherwise horizontal or slightly
higher than back, not to be carried in a vertical position. It is
docked at the fourth vertebrae. In the case of natural tails, the
tip reaches the hock but not below. Carried low, it is neither
broken nor kinked but supple. Hanging when the dog is in repose;
generally carried level with the back or slightly above the level of
the back when the dog is in action, without curving over the back or
being curled.
Forequarters - Strong and muscular, well-proportioned to the
size of the dog. Straight when viewed from the front or side; height
of the limb at the elbow is equal to 50% of the height at the
withers. Shoulders: Muscular, laid back. Upper
arms: Strongly muscled, with good bone, powerful.
Elbows: Held parallel to the ribcage, turning neither in nor
out. Forelegs: Straight and with good bone, well
muscled. Pasterns: Almost straight, strong but
flexible. Feet: Round with well-arched toes (catlike).
Lean, hard, dark pads and nails, except in the case of white toes.
Hindquarters - As a whole, they are powerful and strong, in
harmony with the forequarters. Straight when viewed from the rear or
front.
Thighs: Long, wide, angulated and well-muscled.
Stifle: Should be moderately angulated, strong. Legs:
Strong bone and muscle structure. Hocks: Wide, thick
and clean, let down and parallel when viewed from behind. Rear
pastern: straight and parallel. Rear dewclaws: Any rear
dewclaws are removed. Hind feet: Slightly more
oval-shaped and less-arched toes.
Coat - The coat is short, stiff, shiny, adherent and dense
with a light undercoat that becomes thicker in cold weather.
Color - Acceptable colors are black, lighter and darker
shades of gray, lighter and darker shades of fawn, and red.
Brindling is allowed on all of these colors. Solid fawn and red,
including lighter and darker shades, have a black or gray mask. The
mask does not go beyond the eyes. There may be a white patch on the
chest, throat, chin, backs of the pasterns, and on the toes.
Gait - The movement is free flowing and powerful, yet
effortless, with strong reach and drive. As the dog accelerates, the
feet converge toward a center line of gravity in a near-single
track. When viewed from the side, the topline remains level, with
minimal roll or bounce.
Temperament - The Cane Corso as a protector of his property
and owners is unequaled. Intelligent, he is easily trained. Noble,
majestic and powerful his, presence is impressive. He is docile and
affectionate to his owner, loving with children and family.
Summary The overall conformation of the dog should be
well-balanced and proportionate. The foregoing description is
that of the ideal Cane Corso; any deviation from the above described
dog is penalized to the extent of the deviation.
Disqualifications
Yellow bird of prey; blue eyes.
More than two missing teeth; wry mouth. Undershot more than ?
inch. Any color with tan pattern markings as seen in
black-and-tan breeds. An atrophied tail or a tail that is
knotted and laterally deviated or twisted. |
F?d?ration
Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
Original Cane Corso Breed Standard
May
21, 2007
Translation: Dr. Antonio Morsiani, Dr. J.M. Paschoud and Prof.
R. Triquet.
Origin: Italy
Utilization: Guard, protection, police, and tracking dog
Classification: Group 2 - Pinscher and Schnauzer,
Molossian and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs Section 2.1 -
Molosside breeds, Mastiff type, without working trial
History
Its
direct ancestor is the old Roman Molossian. Formerly scattered
all over Italy, in the recent past, the breed was only prevalent
in the Province Apulia and in the adjacent regions of Southern
Italy. His name derives from the Latin ? cohors ?, which means ?
protector, guardian of the farmyard ?.
General Appearance
Medium
to large-sized. Robust and sturdy, nevertheless elegant. Lean,
powerful muscles.
Proportions: The length of the head reaches 36 % of the
height at withers. The dog is somewhat longer than high.
Behaviour / Temperament: Guardian of property, family and
livestock; extremely agile and responsive. In the past, it has
been used for herding cattle and hunting big game.
Head: Large and typically molossoid. The upper
longitudinal axes of the skull and the muzzle converge slightly.
Cranial Region:
Skull: Wide; at the zygomatic arches its width is equal to
or greater than its length. Convex in front, it becomes fairly
flat behind the forehead as far as the occiput. The medio-frontal
furrow is visible.
Stop: Marked.
Nose: Black and large with ample, open nostrils, on the
same line as the nasal bridge.
Muzzle: Noticeably shorter than the skull (ratio muzzle :
skull approximately 1 : 2). Strong, square; the front part of
the muzzle is flat; the lateral surfaces are parallel; the
muzzle is as wide as long. The profile of the nasal bridge is
straight.
Lips: The upper lips hang moderately and cover the mandible,
so that the lower profile of the muzzle is determined by the
lips.
Jaws/Teeth: Jaws very large, thick and curved. Slightly
undershot. Level bite acceptable, but not sought after.
Eyes: Medium-sized, ovoid, looking directly forward,
slightly protruding. Eyelids close fitting. Colour of iris as
dark as possible, depending from the colour of the coat.
Expression keen and attentive.
Ears: Triangular, drooping, with a wide set on high above
the zygomatic arches. Often cropped in the shape of an
equilateral triangle.
Neck: Strong, muscular, as long as the head.
Body: The body is somewhat longer than the height at the
withers. Sturdily built, but not squat.
Withers: Pronounced, rising above the level of the croup.
Back: Rectilinear, very muscular and firm.
Loins: Short and strong.
Croup: Long, wide, slightly inclined. Chest: Well
developed in three dimensions, reaches to the elbow.
Tail: Set on fairly high; very thick at the root. The
tail is docked at the fourth vertebra. In action carried high,
but never curled nor erect.
Forequarters:
Shoulders: Long, oblique, very muscular.
Upper arm: Strong.
Forearm: Straight, very strong.
Carpal joint and pasterns: Elastic.
Forefeet: Cat feet.
Hindquarters:
Upper thigh: Long, wide, back line of thigh convex.
Lower thigh: Strong, not fleshy.
Hocks: Moderately angulated.
Metatarsals: Thick and sinewy.
Hind feet: Slightly less compact than the forefeet.
Gait / Movement
Long
stride, extended trot. The preferred gait is the trot.
Skin: Fairly thick, rather close fitting.
Coat: Short, shiny, very dense with a light undercoat.
Colour: Black, lead-grey, slate-grey, light grey, light
fawn; stag red and dark fawn; brindle (stripes on different
shades of fawn or grey); in fawn coloured and brindle dogs the
black or grey mask on the muzzle should not go beyond the line
of the eyes. A small white patch on the chest, on the tips of
the feet and on the bridge of the nose is acceptable.
Height at withers: Males - from 64 to 68 cm, Females -
from 60 to 64 cm. Tolerance of 2 cm more or less.
Weight: Males - from 45 to 50 kg, Females - from 40 to 45
kg.
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be
considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault
should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
SEVERE FAULTS :
• Axes of muzzle and skull parallel or too converging; lateral
surfaces of the muzzle converging
• Partial depigmentation of the nose
• Scissor bite; pronounced undershot mouth
• Ring-tail, tail in vertical position
• Permanent amble when trotting
• Over-or undersize
ELIMINATING FAULTS :
• Aggressive or overly shy
• Axes of muzzle and skull diverging
• Total depigmentation of the nose
• Bridge of nose very hollow, rams’s nose
• Overshot mouth
• Partial or complete palpebral depigmentation, wall eye;
strabism
• Tailless, short tail (docked or not)
• Semi-long, smooth or fringed hair
• All colours not indicated in the standard; large white
patches.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities
shall be disqualified.
N.B.:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
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