This is Not a Toy: The rising popularity of the Cane Corso, as a direct result of BSL

Well Hi There!  I know, it's been a while---

There are several topics that have been buzzing in my brain as of late, and while I have the immediate reaction to address them all in one, huge posting, I will refrain and focus on one at a time.  This one, while I can't really speak to many other areas of the country, is happening right in front of my face.  In my town, in the surrounding areas, and on my social media feed, I am beginning to see too many similar dog faces.....The Cane Corso is the becoming "dog of the moment."

Let's take a quick look at him first.

He's muscular.  Stout.  Athletic.  Loyal.  Protective.  Receptive to training, when exposed to it properly.  Playful.  A dog who can work cattle, and watches your home.  A good family guy....So what's wrong with that?

Nothing.

I live in a Breed Specific Legislation zone.  This means that "pitbull" type dogs are under government regulation--You are not supposed to own them in my city, and this is creating a need/want for a substitute.  Unscroupulous individuals are everywhere, and here is no exception.  The demand for a replacement breed is up, so there are Humans out there advertising these guys and selling them to anyone who'll pay.  I mean, they do come in such wonderful color variations, and the more rare the color, the higher the price tag.....crop their ears and they resemble a giant pitbull.....What's the problem with that?

Everything.

The Cane Corso (pronounced Kah-nay Cor-so) is an Italian Mastiff. 

His original purpose is to guard.  This is the military version of the mastiff.  This guy is capable of doing some damage.  They require a TON of socialization and good leadership in training, if you hope to avoid a spoiled, pushy, dominant and potentially dangerous 100 lb dog running your life.  They are relatively quiet, so you won't get a lot of "warning" vocally about their intentions.  They can be shady around small children (again, if not properly handled/socialized), and people they don't know.  They are pretty outgoing as puppies, but as they mature, they draw their social circle closer, and prefer the company of family only.  Mr. Corso does not do well when left alone for long periods---Can you just picture the amount of destruction a mastiff suffering from Separation Anxiety can do? 

The Cane makes a terrible "my first dog," experience---Unless you happen to be a person who also hires a great Teacher when you get one, so you can learn to get control while he is still a small dog.  They excel at Protection Work, as they do want to please their leaders, and are built to dish it out.  They can be very independent and tend to make their own choices about how to handle a situation, so you may not be getting a dog who will listen to you the first time you speak (Training!!!!! Do more of it! ).  In short, this guy wants to be the boss, and will have a tough time relinquishing that title to you, unless you do so in a fair, firm and consistent way.  

In layman's terms, the Cane Corso is capable of being a real jerk. 

I know, I'm getting hate mail as I type from those who own/love these guys.  Don't get me wrong, I adore these enormous monsters.  They are amazing dogs.  But just like anything in the wrong/uneducated hands, they can be hard to control.  What concerns me, is that now, instead of a 40-60 pound dog (most pitbull types) out of control because their Humans don't know any better...we now have approximately 100 pounds of muscle, attached by leash (hopefully at least a leash) to a small framed, light weight Human .....

To wit:  I witnessed this really nice guy with his new Cane pup walking around a store.  She was 11 weeks old and already a goodly sized girl.  He's got her in public (hooray) and introducing her to everyone (awesome), but allowing her to mouth, jump and tug on strangers clothing (NOOOooooo!!!).  I talked with him.  He used to have pits.  Loved them.  But can no longer have them due to BSL, so he bought her, literally, because "they look like big pits."  uh oh.....

Fast forward a few weeks.  She's out again.  Only now, she's almost 40 pounds, and stands about to your knee.  She's leaping to the end of her leash, playfully, at anyone walking by.  Those foolish enough to stop and pet her get pummeled.  She launches into a woman, who almost gets taken out; the woman stumbles, the pup snags a hunk of the lady's skirt and starts to play tug-o-war with it.  Her person laughs, "ha ha! She's so playful!" and untangles the lady's clothing from his pup's mouth....I naturally talk to him about some classes, and mention how big his dog is going to be in just a few months.  Perhaps teaching her not to pull strangers' clothing may be a good idea?  "oh, she's alright.  My pits were like this too.  She'll grow out of it."  uh, no she won't.  I'm just saying this is going to be a big dog man....

Give it another couple weeks...Here he is again.  She's put on another two inches in height, and is now really pulling him around.  Somebody tries to pet her and she jumps on them, immediately biting this person's hands and arms.  That person walks away saying something to the guy about how teething puppies need more to chew on.  Her Human just stares at the receding person with a smile on his face.  Another person tries to pet her, and this biting routine is repeated, only this time, the person she's biting encourages her by playing slap-face.  OH! Yay! She goes nuts!  She's pouncing and gets his arm in her mouth and starts to play tug with it.  ................................. damn it................I go over, remove her from the guy, and return her to her Human.

"Let me make this more clear for you.  This animal is going to be almost one hundred pounds when she grows up.  This is not funny.  This is not cute.  This is a dog capable of taking someone's face off..... by accident.  She may be playing, but what if she does this to a child?!  Get her under control!  Get her in to a class, and stop letting your dog bite people!  Your lack of control is going to get her killed." 

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Good Dogs Die every day because of foolish actions like this.

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There is a Cane Corso around the corner from one of my clients who is destroying the corner of his fence line; he grasps the wire with his mouth and yanks it free from the wood it is poorly secured to...He is doing his job.  He is protecting his house from the Intruders who dare to walk their dogs past "his" property.  Owner actually watches this from the window, and does nothing.

There are two more (in a different neighborhood) who snap and snarl at each other, while leaping high enough to clear their fence; you can literally see 3/4's of their bodies above the privacy fence, as you walk by.  Luckily, they have not figured out how to jump over it...yet.  Owner will either yell from inside the house for them to "shut up," or come out on the porch and stare at you as you pass.

Still another is known for biting strangers hands/wrists "without warning" after his Humans give permission to pet him.  He is quick.  He chooses random people to threaten with body blocks, and then placing his nose on their body (usually the back of the thigh) and growling....  Owner in this case will giggle and say something like "_____(dog's name here)___ don't bite" without moving him away from the human he has threatened.

Two beautiful Corso dogs attend my favorite dog park---I now take my dogs to the other side when I see them.  Their person is texting and completely unaware that both her dogs are flanking weaker, smaller dogs and biting them in the back/neck/ears.  If the dog is tries to appease them by rolling over, they will really get serious and it usually ends with the smaller dogs owner screaming and yanking these big dudes off the other dog. Owner hears the yelling, sort of looks up and will weakly call out "___(dogs name's here)____ Be nice," before returning to her phone.....

In all four of these scenarios, these dogs are not inherently bad.  They are acting according to what comes naturally to them, in these situations...and has not been properly handled by their Humans.  They are owned by ignorant, dangerous people.  These dogs may well die early deaths.  They are huge animals not being responsibly handled.....

This is how Breed Specific Legislation starts.

No matter what sort of dog you have, be it a Border Collie, German Shepherd, Mutt or Mastiff, if you are irresponsible with it, the general public has a tendency to remember you.  They don't want to feel unsafe.  They don't like to be scared.  Or worried for their own family members.  These people will act.  They will go to city council, and make calls to Animal Control, and to the Police.  They will start calling these dogs "dangerous."

I know some wonderful Corso dogs.  They are in homes that have done some research, and realize that what they have is not a toy.  It is not an accessory to go with their lives as a symbol of how tough they are.  They understand that the Corso is not a "pitbull replacement."

They realize their dogs are a responsibility not to be taken lightly.  Their dogs are exemplary citizens, who can be trusted with children and other animals.  And if they can't handle it, these Responsible Humans are doing their diligence to keep them under control, and not placing them in situations that could potentially get their dogs killed.

I guess my point is that I am watching the rise of another breed's popularity, and it is breaking my heart.  I see the numerous gigantic dogs cycling into our local shelters; leftovers that the backyard breeder couldn't sell; or the teenagers that destroyed the apartment after someone bought them and didn't do anything with them....There are not enough homes for most of the dogs in there, much less 100 pounds of out of control...and a lot of them are black.   Those are not good odds.