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characteristic of the
Cane Corso

The Cane Corso can be many things to many people; a loving pet, an intelligent and active companion, and a fierce protector.  The Cane Corso is all of these, and more. Affectionately known by some as the "Collie of the Molossers", the Corso is an eminently trainable and extremely active dog. Large and imposing, the Corso's natural wariness and indifference to strangers provides owners with a sense of security both in and away from home. The Corso's working ability, be it in modern dog sports, on the farm, or in police work, proves that the Cane Corso can indeed be almost all things to all people.

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The content of this page is credited to the BCCS original website.

The Roles of the Cane Corso

What does the breed excel at?

Quite simply, the Cane Corso is one of the most versatile breeds around, capable of excelling in a number of different pursuits and functions.  For example; 

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  • Obedience – this compliant breed aims to please and with a competent handler can progress from basic commands (such as sit, stay, wait, down and leave) right through to competitive obedience.  Corsos in the UK have attained Bronze, Silver and Gold awards in the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme.

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  • Schutzhund – the Cane Coso has reached BH level.

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  • Agility – the breed is naturally quick to learn and once mature (at around 18 months old) many love taking part in this fun hobby. 

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  • Beating – the Corso can be trained as a bird retrieval dog.  They quickly learn to have a soft mouth and really enjoy this sport.  At the All About Dogs show 2011 a Corso was the fastest dog over the scurry, much to the astonishment of the host!  So much so, he went on to have an article published on how this 54kg dog beat other gun dog breeds during that weekend.  They are also very good at flushing pheasants and rabbits on land where this is permitted.

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  • Swimming – some dogs love to swim and, from this, it can be seen just how much stamina the breed has.

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  • Tracking – from a simple home made track laid for fun to high level tracking via a reputable training school the Corso is very good at using its nose!

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  • Lure racing – quite a few Cane Corsos have been known to take part, all doing very well within reasonable times.

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  • Therapy dog – adaptability, a soft side and an affinity with small children, the elderly and the disabled make this breed ideal for therapeutic visits. 

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  • Biking / running / horse-riding companion – a high level of stamina makes the Corso a perfect companion in this type of leisure pursuit (once fully mature at around 18 months old).

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  • Carting - at a BCCS fun event in 2008 Corsos proved they are more than capable of pulling a cart!

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  • Manwork / close personal protection / guard – deliberately left until last, as this aspect of the breed is easily misunderstood.  The Corso is a natural guardian meaning a dog with the correct temperament can, in the right hands, be trained to excel in protection related activities.

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