War Dog Roots: Legend, or Myth?
What is a Cane Corso?
Antonio Tempesta — “L Canis I Cane Corso”
One of the first artworks to refer to the Cane Corso by name, c. 1600
I am a Native warrior.
Well, not really, but what if I told you my great-great-so-on-grandfather was a Native warrior? I have no way to verify this claim, but trust me. Maybe he wasn’t quite a warrior, but someone told me he was war-adjacent… Warrior-esque?
We should be careful what we regard as truth. Truth is stronger than fiction. The Cane Corso is a vastly misunderstood breed that has benefitted and suffered from a spike in popularity over the last decade. For every video screaming the graces of this so-called “Roman War Dog,” there are two telling viewers “Why the Cane Corso is NOT for you.” There’s no shortage of self-proclaimed experts who have owned one, two, or none.
Despite the documented evidence we have available, the cacaphony of public opinion drowns out the factual legacy of this breed. Some believe they should have a flat face and pinched nose. Others believe they should be indiscriminantly aggressive. Even more believe they should weigh 150+ pounds. Then there are those who think they should be big, sensitive fur-sons and fur-daughters.
Many breeders subscribe to the adage, “Follow the market.” What has happened with the increase in demand? An influx of breeders trying to catch a fad without any amount of research— any amount of observation of their OWN dogs over generations—shows its delaterious effects. In an ideal world, breeders would stand united for their breed.
All that to say that the breed continues to lose grip over its identity as the years roll by. What you'll read here is nothing new, but will hopefully serve as a righting buoy in the sea of information spouted about the Cane Corso.
Recovered in late 1970s Italy and accepted by multiple organizations throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the Cane Corso is widely considered to be a more recent “breed.” Like many of its mollosoid contemporaries, the origin Cane Corso is traced back to Ancient Rome. Specificallly the Greek Mossian-descended Canis Pugnax, which translates to “fighting dog.” To understand the Corso we must understand the types of dogs that form its ancestry, as well as the documented use of said dogs throught history.
The hype-induced version of the story is that these dogs fought on the frontlines of war, laying their lives on the line for their comrades in the face of swords and spears. This is gathered from the accounts of scriptors who spoke of the dogs with adulation, so take it as you will. It can be verfied through written works that they were commonly used in the circus, combat arenas, and as auxillary units in warfare.
If we’re to assume that the modern Cane Corso and Neopolitan Mastiff are the posterity of the Canis Pugnax, then at the very least it’s safe to say that the ancient purpose of these is lost to time. In more recent times, dogs of the Corso type were used to hunt large game, pull carts, drove livestock and protect farmsteads.
Michele Bocci's COMPAGNO III working with cattle.
Photo Credit: Giuseppe Giorgio
Pre-20th Century: The Corso was used in rural Italy for hunting and droving.
1940s-1960s: Industrial advancement and the impact of World War II drives the breed to near extinction.
1970s: The "revival" of the breed begins in Italy.
1983: The Società Amatori Cane Corso (Society of Cane Corso Lovers) is formed to identify and preserve the remaining pure Corsos.
1988: The first Cani Corsi were imported to the United States.
1994: ENCI officially recognized the Cane Corso as the 14th Italian breed.
2007: The FCI granted full recognition to the Cane Corso.
2010: The American Kennel Club (AKC) officially recognized the Cane Corso in the United States.
After World War II, the Cane Corso was on the precipice of extinction. Through the efforts of biologist Paolo Breber, traveling salesmen and mind behind the iconic “Del Dyrium” line Vito Indeveri, authors of
Il Cane Corso Stephano Gandolfini and Fernando Casolino, along with every member of the Societá Amorati Cane Corso (SACC), the restoration of the breed was made possible.
Years of intricate collection, assessment, and breeding brought the Cane Corso to consistent character phenotype. In the late 1988, Mike Sottile is said to have imported the first recorded litter from Italy to the United States. He, along with Ed and Kristie Hodas, and Mark and Tracy Wilson played a pivotal role in the presence and perpetuation of the breed in America.
Over the years, there has been heavy emphasis on the Cane Corso as a “show dog.” While such events have their merits, the obsession with style over substance has bled through the circles of enthusiasts responsible for the progeny of the breed. Some would argue that the shift in temperament reflects a shift in purpose, and furthermore that it is to the benefit of the breed, but I would argue that the only way to maintain the integrity of any family of dogs is to provide and breed to a purpose. Most people don’t work their dogs, but that doesn’t mean their dogs aren’t worthy of work.
Today, the Cane Corso is widely used for personal protection and in rural living, to a lesser extent. The division of “show dogs” and “working dogs” is a social construct and another means of sowing division among breeders. Before the convention of dog shows rose to prominence in the 1800s, there was no distinction between the two. There is no reason a dog can’t look the part AND behave the part. Balance remains a key word in the standard for a reason.
https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/CaneCorso.pdf
“War Dog” propaganda, while having some historic basis, can be as bad for the breed’s reputation as it is good for clicks. An easy way to spot an uninformed owner is to hear them describe their dog that way. All too often do large, powerful breeds fall into the hands of those unworthy to wield the responsibility. When was the last time anyone took their pet to war?
Ultimately, what is a Cane Corso?
The answer: Balance in canine form. A Corso bears the countenance of a sublime beast, the mettle of a soldier, and the nurturing spirit of a true protector. In Italy, it was a vital utility dog and trusted ally. The form the dog took followed its function. No single dog is perfect, but no part of the traditional dog should be presented in excess.
​
They are not war machines, but a well-bred one will lay down it’s life for its master. They were not meant to be mere fur babies, but will care for you like only the best companion could.
​
Truth is stronger than fiction. A Cane Corso is a Cane Corso.
BASIR, a Cane Corso born in 1980. His appearance was an inspiration for the early breed standard, designed by Dr. Antonio Morsiani after measuring over 100 dogs.