The Cane Corso is an Italian breed of mastiff (Image: Getty Images)
Premier League footballers, film actors and reality TV stars have been spotted with them and now the controversial cane corso, an Italian mastiff breed, has become the new fashion dog of choice since the ban on XL Bullies came into force just over a year ago.
The powerful breed, that can weigh up to eight stone (50kg), is becoming more popular in the UK thanks in part to their newly found celeb status – but could they be too much for the average dog owner?
The increase in cane corso popularity has been linked to the XL bully ban and thanks to the influence of celebrity owners like Premiership footballers Marcus Rashford and James Maddison, hard man actor Vin Diesel… and even Irish pop star Ronan Keating.
Dubbed “XL’s on steroids” there aren’t any official numbers showing how many cane corsos are in the UK and the breed is not recognised by the Kennel Club, although the Cane Corso Appreciation Society UK are campaigning for this to happen.
Marcus Rashford and his Cane Corso Saint (Image: Marcus Rashford )
Don’t miss…
A spokesperson told the Daily Express: “We are striving to promote the breed in a positive manner.”
However last year a cane corso owner was jailed after his dog mauled his younger brother to death. Wayne Stevens, 51, suffered “massive and horrific” injuries when he was attacked by the cane corso cross at a house in Derby in April 2023 and died at the scene. His brother Gary was jailed for four-and-a-half years.
The dogs, whose names translated from the Latin word “cohors,” means “guardian” or “protector,” are mainly bred to be guard dogs, but throughout their history they have often been kept as companion pets.
However, pet experts say they do need the right home and handling and shouldn’t be taken on just because they are a fashionable “status” dog.
Cane corso puppies go for between £600 to £1,600 on the Pets4Homes website, where there are more than 200 posts advertising litters.
However, some fully grown cane corso dogs are being sold for as little as £75, suggesting new owners soon realise they have bitten off more than they can chew.
And while they are perfectly legal in the UK, vets, trainers and professional dog walkers are concerned they are not really suitable for most owners.
Carmen Pintea, owner of Barbarian Corso Kennels in Sheffield, said: “I’m very strict about who I place my puppies with. They are fantastic dogs and wonderful family protectors with the right training, in the right hands of the right owners who have clear boundaries and rules. They really do need responsible owners.”
But dog trainer Ben Newton, from Platinum K9 residential training, doesn’t believe problems are necessarily down to a particular breed.
He said: “Aggression is the most common and most serious behaviour problem in dogs. It’s also extremely stressful for the owner.
“But there are good and bad dogs in every breed including the cane corso. We have a lot of dachshunds, German shepherds, cockapoos in for reactivity training.
“Large high energy dogs like the Belgian Malinois, to give another example, should not be considered for a first time owner, they are working dogs.
“The hardest pet dogs to train obedience have to be hounds, like the beagle. Once they get a scent, there is no stopping them. Same with the husky, recall is very difficult with them as they are pretty feral.”
The majestic but powerful Cane Corso (Image: Getty Images/View Stock RF)
Doggy professionals are keen not to demonise any breed but they do point out that dogs like the Cane Corso and indeed other really fashionable smaller breeds like dachshunds and French poodles, and designer crossbreeds like cockapoos and cavapoos, do not necessarily make the easiest pets.
They believe owners are choosing to own the wrong dogs for the wrong reasons.
British Veterinary Association President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “A puppy is a huge responsibility that starts even before you bring one home.
“If you are considering getting one, do your research and carefully consider if you can meet a new puppy’s health, welfare, socialisation and behavioural needs.
“Think about how much time you’ll have to spend with the pet and train them, whether there’s enough space in your home for the type of dog you’re looking at, and how much it will cost to feed and care for them, including routine vet care like annual vaccinations.”
She warns that fashionable breeds like Pugs and French bulldogs may be cute but they often have serious health issues that could be costly to treat and recommends speaking to a vet for advice to ensure you get a breed that best suits your family and lifestyle.
Amber Foston is a professional dog walker who runs AJ’s Pets Hotel, a community of hosts for daycare and boarding across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Kent.
She warns taking on a large, aggressive dog could “potentially be fatal”.
She said: “I don’t look after aggressive dogs. Aggression is mainly linked to the anxiousness of the dog rather than the breed.
“But as a female I don’t feel comfortable with large strong dogs walking alone that I don’t have the power to control if a situation was to arise.
“The strength of the dogs and the size in breeds like the Cane Corso means we don’t take them.
“They are big strong dogs in terms of walking and restraining if needed.
“It is unnerving not knowing what training the dog has had and how predictable they are around food, other dogs and on walks. [Trying] to separate a dog fight could be fatal.”
Amber believes it is easier to intervene in any “snarling or scraps” with a small dog.
But she says some dogs like huskies and Staffordshire bull terriers have an unfair reputation and has noticed other people and dog walkers avoid them if she is out walking one.
She recommends the German spitz as “the happiest dogs on the planet” and says Jack Russells are “the perfect entertainment and company for families with young kids.”
However, Bill Lambert, a spokesman for the Kennel Club, admits: “Lots of families do enjoy owning larger breeds or types of dogs, and many may now be looking for a pet that is broadly similar to an XL bully but not a banned type, without any ill intentions.
“But with a larger dog, owners need to really understand their pet’s size, strength and exercise needs and be able to accommodate these responsibly.”
Don’t miss…