The Cane Corso is a beautiful, elegant, loyal dog breed with a long and complex history. There’s much debate in the dog world about whether there are two separate Cane Corso breeds.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) only recognizes one Cane Corso breed. However, many breeders and enthusiasts believe that two entirely separate lineages have developed throughout the years. The Italian Cane Corso is said to have evolved from the Molossus war dogs of ancient times. Meanwhile, the American Cane Corso is supposed to have a different bloodline derived from breeding the Italian Corso with fighting dogs.

Confused? So were we until we started to do some research! Keep reading to discover our findings about the differences between the American and Italian Cane Corso.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

American Cane Corso Overview

American Cane Corso dogs have an entirely different bloodline than their Italian counterparts. The American Cane Corso is sometimes also called a “non-traditional Corso”. Though the first few American Corsi came from those that arrived in America from Italy, the bloodline was eventually “muddled” through breeding them with other dog breeds. They are derived from fighting dogs like the English Mastiff, Rottweiler, and Pit Bull Terrier. Great Danes and Boxers were also commonly used for breeding with the Italian Cane Corso.

Personality

The American Cane Corso is intensely loyal to its owners, but they are known for their somewhat stubborn streak. They make fantastic guard dogs, though they have been known to show aggressiveness to their owners if they haven’t been trained or socialized properly.

Because the non-traditional Cane Corso results from mixed breeding, they tend to exhibit a wider variance in their temperament than traditional Corsi.

Training

The American Cane Corso is an enthusiastic and self-motivated breed. This can make training them easy or difficult, depending on the dog’s feelings toward the training at hand.

Appearance

The biggest difference between the American and Italian Cane Corsi is their appearance.

According to the AKC standard, the American version is muscular, athletic, and large-boned. They are bigger, taller, and more muscular than their Italian counterparts, with larger heads and chests. Their short, stiff, and dense coats can come in various colors like black, brindle, fawn, and red.

The American is more masculine and intimidating in appearance but can still pull off a certain elegance that makes it a beautiful breed.

Suitable for:

The American Cane Corso could be the perfect companion for a confident, experienced dog owner. These big and strong dogs need a lot of training and socialization, but they can become loyal and affectionate family pets with the right owner.

Italian Cane Corso Overview

The Italian Cane Corso’s history dates back to ancient times. These “original” Cane Corso dogs are direct descendants of the Neapolitan Mastiff, which has the Molossus war dog in its lineage. The Neapolitan Mastiff eventually became recognized as a separate breed, though it is still closely related to the Italian Cane Corso.

Personality

The Italian Cane Corso is a curious dog who takes life as it comes. They’re highly intelligent and tend to take to training well, but it needs to be started as soon as possible when the dog is still a puppy for best success. They are independent and tend to have a mind of their own.

This breed tends toward the dominant side, so you’ll need to show them you’re the pack leader from the get-go.

Some Cane Corso dogs won’t tolerate another dog of the same sex, and some won’t stand for having another pet in the house. In addition, they have a strong prey drive, which can make living with smaller pets dangerous.

Training & Exercise

Because the Italian Cane Corso is a working dog, it needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation. This is not a pushover breed to raise and train. These curious and self-assured pups need a confident and firm owner who can devote much time to training and socialization. With the right stimulation and training, the Italian Cane Corso can be a loving and obedient family pet that can get along well with others.

Appearance

The Italian Cane Corso is shorter and less muscular than its American counterpart. The Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana (ENCI), the Italian organization responsible for recognizing and standardizing dog breeds, says the Italian Cane Corso is a robust, sturdy, yet elegant breed. They’re lean, with powerful and long muscles.

Their heads and chests are smaller, and their jaws aren’t as powerful. The coat tends to be on the longer and thinner side. Like their American relatives, this Italian breed can be found in several colors.

Suitable for:

The Italian Cane Corso is perfect for someone with much experience in dog training and socialization. However, this is not the breed for a first-time dog owner. They need a firm and confident human to become the alpha; otherwise, they’ll assume the role which could make living with them difficult.

Which Breed Is Right for You?

Whether you believe there are two Cane Corso dog breeds, there is no denying these dogs’ sheer elegance and beauty.

If you choose to bring a Cane Corso into your life, there are some things you need to be prepared for, regardless of if you adopt a traditional or non-traditional Corso. Training is paramount. Without proper training or socialization, you’ll constantly be fighting with your dog to behave and obey you. You must establish dominance right away.

Once your dog has some training under its belt, you’ll start to see just how wonderful, loving, and loyal the Cane Corso can be.

See also:

• Presa Canario vs. Cane Corso: Which One Is Right for Me?
• Cane Corso vs. Neapolitan Mastiff: How Are They Different? (With Pictures)

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Featured Image Credit: Top – otsphoto, Shutterstock | Bottom – EKATERINA SOLODILOVA, Shutterstock