Conformation, temperament, and health... These are the three criteria for any decent breeder planning a litter. When you are looking for a puppy, it's important to choose a breeder that is trying to produce the type of dog you are looking for. Of course a breeder should be staying as close to the standard as possible, but there can be significant variation within that standard.

Also important, of the three criteria, which holds the trump card? The one thing the breeder refuses to compromise on, that holds top importance when choosing which dogs to breed? You may hear some breeders say that all three are equally important, and it's true that each needs to be carefully considered. Sadly, however, there is no 'perfect' dog. So, will a dog with health issues be used for breeding because he has an especially good head? Will a bitch with OFA Excellent (or low PennHip score) be bred, even though she has a nervous temperament? What about the show winner who is aggressive to other dogs or people? Think carefully about what is important to you and the breeder.

 

Health

Thankfully, the Corso has few health concerns as a breed. The main issue that the Corso suffers from, like many large breeds, is hip dysplasia. Studies show that American lines also see elbow dysplasia and demodectic mange, an immune condition that shows up in young dogs. Quite simply, a dog should not be bred who has had demodectic mange, or whose direct family members have. Hips are another problem altogether. The Corso as a breed has looser hips, leading to higher PennHip  scores (the lower, the better). Studies have shown that only hip scores under 0.3 are predictive of not developing hip dysplasia. The average score for Corsos (in 2011, per CCAA site) was 0.61. This means that even dogs with better-than-average for the breed could still develop dysplasia. OFA certification also compares only to other dogs of the same breed, but gives an 'Excellent' 'Good' 'Fair', and so on. There is debate on whether OFA has better predictive value or not. Since it is a condition that often has a delayed onset, it's not practical to suggest that dogs who show signs of dysplasia not be bred- often they may be finished their breeding career by the time the signs show up. To add to the difficulty, hip dysplasia is not passed down by simple inheritance (two 'Excellent' dogs will not necessarily produce all 'Excellent' pups). As breeders, we can only do our best to choose those dogs whose hips are the best possible and to give our pups an advantage by providing free exercise on varied terrain (recent studies show this decreases the risk of HD).

 

Conformation

Here is the aspect you will see the most variation in taste and opinion! Do your homework. Read the standards (you can find some elsewhere on this site). Check out the CCAA (Cane Corso Association of America- an excellent resource),CCCC (Canadian version), CCAC (CKC club), Canada's Guide to Dogs, CKC, and AKC.

Haven Farm looks for a square muzzle (front and side), muzzle about 1/3 the length of entire skull, tighter facial skin, ears set not too low, minimal dewlap, deep chest (to elbows), slightly longer than tall (rectangular body shape), athletic build with some tuck-up and well-muscled hind end. We don't prefer the huskier type you may see, nor the looser skin with droopy eyes, or shorter muzzle.

As far as colour, the standards are as follows: Either black or blue (grey- a dilution of black) as a solid or with brindling; shades of fawn (from red to light) with black or blue mask, with or without brindling. The other consideration is to have as little white as possible. Large amounts of white can indicate a mixed heritage. Personally the black-masked fawn is not a favorite, but colour is not a criteria for breeding.

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Temperament

Here is where our trump card is. For me, the most beautiful, healthiest dog in the world is a waste if it doesn't have the right temperament. The Corso, of course, is never going to be like a Golden Retriever, for example. It's recent history as a working dog means it is a natural guardian. This is absolutely no excuse for aggression though! The ideal Corso will alert it's owner to any intruder or disturbance, but will also be willing to accept any visitors or situations the owner introduces. It's a matter of training and variations of correct temperament on how each individual dog will  specifically respond, especially when there is a threat or the owner is not present. We lean towards the 'softer' (that term is used relative to Corsos specifically, not all dogs!) end of the spectrum. As an example, our Tansy doesn't just accept our visitors, she generally loves them- which we encourage as we want her to enjoy the constant parade of our kids' friends. She still quickly alerts us to everybody who arrives with a brief but intimidating sounding bark. Equally valid and desirable is the dog who is more reserved with those outside of it's own family.

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