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Fci Standard No. 343 - 12.03.1999
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 Molossoid 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.
Hind feet: 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 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:
·
Aggressive or overly shy.
·
Axes of muzzle and skull
diverging.
·
Total depigmentation of the
nose.
·
Bridge of nose very hollow,
ram'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.
NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal
testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Source:
Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) |
