Breed History

The Cane Corso is a Italian breed and it is an direct descendant of the Canis Pugnax (or Roman Molossian). The name derives from the Latin word cohors which means protector, guardian of the courtyard farmyard).
Owned by Italian villagers and farmers for centuries, the Cane Corso was bred to perform such task as guarding, hunting, controlling cattle and companionship. These task have translated in to the modern day working
abilities such as agility training, personal protection, weight pulling, hog catching, and the perfect 21st century farm dog.
A recent study by the Associazione Italiana Cane Corso (A.I.C.C.) provides evidence that the military used the Cane Corso as an auxiliary warrior as early as 1137. There is also a few poems and prose dating
from 1500 A.D. that cite the name of the Cane Corso. The breed has also been featured the paintings of Bartolomeo Pinelli.
The Cane Corso was nearing extinction until the 1980s when a resurgence of interest in the breed began. In 1988 Dr. Mike Sottile a mastiff breeder
introduced the breed to the United States. The Cane Corso was recorded in the Foundation Stock Service (FSS) of the American Kennel Club (AKC)
in 1996 and will compete in AKC shows starting July of 2008.
The breed continues to gain in popularity due to its unique appeal as both a wonderful family companion and protector.