I have had 2 Corso, am getting # 3 in a few days.
The first was very poorly bred, has serious fear issues and a weak temperament. She was pts @ 12 months when both of her knees went and her hips were not great so there was concern that her hips would/could become a issue during the stress of a bilateral surgery. There was also the issue that she would inn most probability fear bite during her physical Therapy.
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The 2nd I got at 8 months. She is a great dog, has her CGN and is a working therapy dog. She comes from old southern Italian lines, not bred for the show ring per say, but by breeders who's families have been doing so for generations. Still, she is within the standard, and I do show her, her littermate is currently in the top 10 in the AKC.
Still she is very much a guardian breed and requires constant socialization and I have to be very aware of the signs she is giving off.
As an aloof dog, she puts ppl off by her demeanor at times. She DOES NOT run up to strangers wiggling her bum and wanting affection. She sits back and watches. She is not afraid, do not misunderstand, she is indifferent. They are/mean nothing to her. Not important enough to warrant her attention. As true temperament should be IMO. She accepts affection from strangers, but doesn't really care if they pet her or not.
I wouldn't say the Corso is an easy dog. They are a dominant breed that require work.
And OB is great, but is not a breed that you can take a class and leave at that, there is always a need to reinforce and work at it.
As far as a companion go, they can't be beat (although we all claim that about our chosen breed I know).
There is no such thing as privacy with a Corso in your life.
They will always be at your side, if permitted. They LOVE their family and their only real desire is to be with them. My dogs are awesome with kids, having never ending patients when it comes to them. That said, I have trained my children what is and isn't appropriate behavior around such a dog.
My soon to be girl is from working lines, so I am planning on getting going with ring sports.
I wouldn't recommend to someone as a first time dog, or someone who has had no experience with a working/dominant breed.
I will NEVER not have a Corso in my life, but they are constant work, is not an easy breed IMO, nor do I want it to be.
My trouble with the breed is that there are relatively few breeders out there that I would even consider. Maybe I can count on one hand.
There are breeders out there, who are breeding watered down versions, dogs that no longer have the temperament of a Corso, the aloof nature that they should have. I am not saying aggressive or scared, but truly aloof.
If you want to get into this breed, my suggestion to you is to RESEARCH like there is no tomorrow.
And be prepared to put in the work required.
There is a lot of different "types" in the CC as well, so know what you want, visit breeders and ask questions.
If a breeder doesn't want to answer questions I would move on to another. Also try not to be swept away by the hype, there are some great sales ppl out there
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