 ITALIAN
CORSO DOG
(Cane Corso Italiano)
TRANSLATION: Dr. Antonio Morsiani, Dr. J.-M. Paschoud
and Prof. R. Triquet.
ORIGIN: Italy
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD:
12.03.1999.
UTILIZATION: Guard, protection, police and tracking
dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.: Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer,
Molossian and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs. Section 2.1
Molosside breeds, Mastiff type. Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: 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.
IMPORTANT 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.
FACIAL REGION:
- 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.
LIMBS
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.
- Hindfeet: 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:
- HAIR: 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.
SIZE AND WEIGHT :
 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 from40 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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