Cane Corso Standard
FCI (Italian) BREED STANDARD
FCI-Standard N° 343 / 12. 03. 1999 / GB
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 2.2 Molossian,
Mountain 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.
Behavior/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. Color of iris as dark as possible depending
from the color 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.

Head with the more frequent defects (by the book "Il
Cane Corso" R. Carosio)
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.

Body with the more frequent defects (by the book"Il Cane
Corso" R. Carosio)
LIMBS:
Forequarters:
Shoulder: Long, oblique, very muscular
Upper Arm: Strong
Forearm: Straight, very strong
Carpal Joint and Pasterns: Elastic
Forefeet: Cat feet.

Fore profiles (by the book "Il Cane Corso" R. Carosio)
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.

Hind profiles (by the book "Il Cane Corso" R. Carosio)
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.
Color: 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 colored and brindle dogs the
clack 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 from
40 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:
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 colors not indicated in the standard: large white patches.
N.B. Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended.