CORSO’S CHARACTER - THE PSYCHOLOGY MAP OF CANE CORSO ITALIANO
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This is a
portrait of the mental character of an ideal Cane Corso Italiano. It is
compiled based on private communications and published documentation.
The copy right of this compilation remains with Hu Song and
the Cane Corso Pages. Permission in writing is required for reproduction of the
whole or part of this compilation.
Hu Song – Saturday, March 25, 2000, revised
December 01, 2001.
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Introduction
“Character: n., 1. Distinctive mark; 2. Characteristics (especially of species in
Natural History); collective peculiarities, sort, style; person’s or race’s
idiosyncrasy, mental or moral nature;
3. Moral strength, backbone; reputation, good reputation; description of
person's qualities; testimonial.
Characteristic: n., Typical,
distinctive trait, mark, quality.
Temperament: n., Individual
character of one’s physical organization permanently affecting the manner of
acting, feeling and thinking”.
Concise Oxford
Dictionary published 1964 by Oxford University Press.
By “Temperament”
and “Character”, we mean the sum
total of all those innate and acquired mental qualities and capabilities that
regulate, control and shape a dog’s response to its environment, a product of the
interaction of environmental experiences and its genetic make-up, heritage from
its ancestors.
A breed standard
should have description of “Behaviour and
Temperament” of the breed. Just like the physical attributes
described in the breed standard, the psychological attributes described in “Behaviour and Temperament” section of
the breed standard serves as guidance and target for breeders and as reference
and guide for judges.
The description in
essence of the psychological attributes of the Cane Corso Italiano breed is
stated in the Cane Corso Italiano breed standard as “Behaviour and Temperament”.
But, as the physical features in the Corso Italiano breed
standard described the morphology of ideal Corso Italiano, the psychological
attributes described the temperament and
character of ideal Corso Italiano, not that of all Corsos Italiano.
While nature provides individual Corso Italiano the
heritable traits, nurture enhances or suppresses such traits in him, exhibited
by his behaviour. Heredity will varies for individual Corso Italiano in the
breed. Up bringing of each individual Corso Italiano from puppy to adulthood as
well as environmental experiences certainly differ. Thus an individual Corso Italiano may exhibit behaviour and temperament
in variable degrees from the psychological attributes as described in the breed
standard.
The individual Corso Italiano’s heritable traits of “temperament” and “character” may be tested for suitability to the work he is required
to performed and be judged by how well he performs those tasks that are
foundation of the work he is required to do
In fact, physical structure and form of a working breed is
intrinsically tied to its working abilities. The physical structure of a Corso
Italiano should provide a strong, healthy, and correct vehicle by which the
working temperament and character of the Corso Italiano can be best operative.
Thus ethical breeding program should seriously consider health and
psychological attributes before physical features. Aesthetic elegance and
other visual considerations should never supplant the deeper realities of the
working temperament and character.
The mental
testing of recovery specimens was presented in the first Corso book ever
printed "Il Cane Corso" published in 1990 by L'ORSA. The recovery
dogs were tested for the parameters: temperament, hardness, docility,
vigilance, aggressiveness, combativeness, sociability, curiosity,
possessiveness and courage. The result of the Corsos used for hunting was that
they showed higher aggressiveness and lower sociability than the average –
quoting Christian Ferraro (Cane Corso Pages Bulletin Board, Tuesday,
23-May-2000).
With better understanding of the Corso Italiano’s Character
hopefully it will lead to better understanding of behaviour and temperament of
the Corso Italiano as a breed, better understanding of the temperament tests
for the Corso breed, and better understanding and deployment of the individual
Corso Italiano one owns and lives with.
It is with these considerations in mind that this
elaboration and illustration of Corso Italiano’s Character is compiled.
The Psychological Map of An IDEAL Cane
Corso Italiano
The Cane Corso Italiano is intelligent, energetic, balanced,
and incomparable for guard and defense. He is docile and affectionate with his
master, loves the children and the family, and when necessary, becomes a
frightening and brave defender of his people and his territory. He is easy
trainable.
He was used for multiple functions during the period and the
time of the masserie, rural farms of Southern Italy. He was used to hunt, to
assist the cattle-herders and the shepherds, to be caretaker in the farms, and
to be faithful companion and trusted bodyguard of cart drivers. Taking
advantage of him being ductile and adaptable to every use and condition, he was
selectively bred to amplify those inherited instincts and thus his character.
In addition to the history of Corso Italiano, the usage of
Corso Italiano in the past and his morphology, the understanding of the Corso
Italiano’s character will lead us to understand the Corso Italiano more
accurately and completely.
“If it is relatively
easy to defines the aptitudes of a breed, it is much harder to define the
parameters within which one describes the complex components making up the
character of a dog” - quoting from ‘IL
Cane Corso’ by Prof. F. Casolino & Dr. S. Gandolfi.
The Corso’s character perhaps may be described by using
these attitudes or components of
character: temperament, hardness, docility, vigilance, aggressiveness,
combativeness, sociability, curiosity, possessiveness and courage.
TEMPERAMENT - Stable and calm, never excitable easily nor
apathetic.
The velocity and intensity of the Corso Italiano’s reaction
to external stimulus of any kind, pleasant or unpleasant, is referred to as
TEMPERAMENT. This reflects the steadiness and soundness of nerve. The faster
and the more intensive are the Corso’s reactions, the sharper and more
impetuous is the temperament. The slower and more phlegmatic reactions indicate
a dog that might lack the keen will to work. A calm Corso does not bark without
a reason, it does not immediately fall prey to agitation but will review to see
whether it is an inevitable situation that needs reaction. From a scale of 1
being very easily excited to 5 being extinguished from being lively, Corso
Italiano’s TEMPERAMENT is 3 - stable and calm.
HARDNESS - Hard but not to the extreme, and resilient.
The ability to tolerate and resist over time an unpleasant
stimulus of any kind, physical or emotional, is referred to as HARDNESS. The
more it is able to tolerate and resist physical pain and mental pressure, the
‘harder’ is the Corso Italiano. The ‘harder’ the dog is, the more dominant and
less submissive the dog will be. The ‘hard’ Corso Italiano is preferred over
the ‘soft’ subject but extreme hardness makes difficult challenges in control
and in training and is less preferred by trainers for dog sports and protection
training. From a scale of 1 being very soft to 5 being extremely hard, Corso
Italiano’s HARDNESS is 4, harder than normal but not to the extreme and
resilient.
DOCILITY - Willingly submissive and profoundly attached
to his master, his family and his territory.
The predisposition of the Corso Italiano to accept and
recognize spontaneously that his master is his hierarchical superior / pack
leader, without having to use repression or submission is referred to as
DOCILITY. The Corso Italiano should have very strong attachment and obedience
not only to his master, but also to his family, demonstrating his feeling by
being sweet and careful towards children and weaker family member(s). From the
scale of 1 being indifferent to 5 being willingly submissive and profoundly
attached, Corso Italiano’s DOCILITY is 5.
VIGILANCE - Highly alert and able to respond with great
speed to external threat when he deems required.
The sensitivity and speed of the Corso Italiano in noticing
and signalling in time the presene of strangers and the closeness of external
dangers which might threaten his own safety or that of his master, his family
and his property is referred to as VIGILANCE. Such ability is closely tie to
the space the Corso Italiano considers is his ‘territory’ which he supervises
with alert, staying near the house or his own quarters, leaving this space only
for an occasional round and never for long. The Corso Italiano will warn
intruding stranger with imposing low deep bark and only attack in case of
emergency for his territory and sure danger of his family.
The vigilant Corso Italiano will not let the intruder who
violates his territory be seen in order to surprise him by arriving suddenly
and rapidly. If the intruder remains calm and motionless, the Corso Italiano
will call his owner with a rhythmic bark. If intruder makes suspicious
movements or tries to run, the Corso Italiano will immobilize him, becoming
ever more aggressive in relation to the escape attempts of his victim. From the
scale of 1 being not alert to 5 being extremely vigilant, Corso Italiano’s
Vigilance is 5.
AGGRESSIVENESS - Strong but not extreme hostility in reaction
to external stimulus he interprets as menace to his safety and the safety of
his master, family and territory.
The physical hostile reaction of the Corso to external
stimulus he interprets as a menace to his safety, the safety of his pack and
that of his territory is referred to as AGRESSIVENESS. This innate quality of
the Corso Italiano is not an excessive and marked characteristic. The excessive
aggression developed and displayed by the Corso Italiano usually hides strong
insecurity and lack of courage. From a scale of 1 being timid to 5 being
extremely hostile, Corso Italiano’s AGGRESSIVENESS is 3, strong but not
extremely hostile.
COMBATIVENESS - Fight vigorously against threats that
stimulated his aggressiveness and fight with gameness to finish what he started.
The capacity to fight vigorously and for long against the
disagreeable external stimulus he reacts with aggressiveness is referred to as
CONBATIVENESS. The Corso Italiano will not be overwhelm and/or give up facing
threats but become terrible, brave and determined defender to finish what he
started. From a scale of 1 being avoiding to fight to 5 being fighting very
vigorously, Corso Italiano’s COMBATIVENESS is 5.
SOCIABILITY - High in capacity to communicate and insert
naturally without hesitation in both his usual ambience and strange
surroundings.
The capacity of the Corso Italiano to communicate and to
insert himself naturally and without hesitation in environments both familiar
and unfamiliar / strange to him is referred to as SOCIABILITY. The Corso
Italiano will display indifference towards neutral strangers in unfamiliar surroundings
but flanking his master. From the scale of 1 being aloof and not sociable to 5
being extremely sociable, Corso Italaino’s SOCIABILITY is 4, high in
sociability.
CURIOSITY – Very highly interested in everything around
him and in exploring his surroundings.
The disposition of the Corso Italiano to be interested in
everything around him and to explore his surroundings using his sense of sight,
sound and smell is referred to as CURIOSITY. Derived from his predatory
instinct, CURIOSITY of the Corso Italiano is always exalted and never
repressed. From the sale of 1 being indifferent to his surroundings to 5 being
very highly interested in his surroundings and in exploring, Corso Italiano’s
CURIOSITY is 5.
POSSESSIVENESS - Highly intensive in becoming owner of
something or relationship to someone.
The disposition of the Corso Italiano, derived from his
predatory instinct, to place himself in relationship to something or someone is
referred to as POSSESSIVENESS. It is a natural quality that the Corso Italiano
is highly intense and very strong in possessiveness. The puppy during ball
plays defends his object with fury and expression of possessiveness will
develop such possessiveness quickly into guarding, defending and protecting his
people and his territory. From the scale of 1 being not possessive at all to 5
being extremely possessive, Corso Italiao’s POSSESSIVENESS is 5.
COURAGE - Very strong tenacity in facing threats or
danger and defend / protect without regard of his own safety.
The capacity of the dog to face danger yet conscious of the
risk it means is referred to as COURAGE. The Corso Italiano will disregard his
own interest and defend the interest of his master, his family, and his
territory, manifesting undoubtedly a proverbial courage. Because COURAGE is the
most human of the parameters, it is the hardest to evaluate. From the scale of
1 being afraid to face danger and take risk when necessary to 5 being willing
to take danger and take risk wen necessary with very strong tenacity, Corso
Italiano’s COURAGE is 5.
Due to its rural origin, the Corso Italiano is capable of
living in many environment and is adapt to perform multiple functions for
different usage. In the ENCI/FCI Standard #343 for Cane Corso Italiano, in its
utilization it is stated as guard dog, protection dog, police dog
and tracking dog. The Corso Italiano has good olfactory capability. With
its character and with good physical and psychical constitution, it makes a
good tracking dog and search dog.
According to Giorgio Danilo, ENCI defence and utility judge,
together with its very good capability in memory the Corso Italiano’s level of
trainability is remarkable. Good memory tends to have more influence in the
training of adult dogs. However, the dog’s willingness to work in training is
not very prolonged and its learning relative to other breeds is less quick,
probably also due to its strong character. It is suggested by Giorgio Danilo
that Corso puppy needs to be well socialized and play training perhaps is the
best method. He further suggested that in its training, one should avoid any
repression and coercion on the dog and take care not to repress its
impulsiveness and its temperament so that it will always come exalted in its
joy.
In summary the ideal character profile of the Cane Corso
Italiano can be recaptured as follows:
His temperament is stable and calm, reflecting
the steadiness and soundness of nerve. He is lively but never always
excitable easily nor apathetic. When he appears to be slow in reaction, he is
taking time to estimate the situations he is in and to comprehend the
differences between the natures of the several one stimuli. Once he has
decided, hiss action fast and hard but always in self-control.
His nature tends to be hard but not to the extreme
and it has much resilience. He is willingly submissive and profoundly
attached to his master, his family and his territory, demonstrating his
feeling by being sweet and careful towards children and weaker family
member(s). Very highly vigilant he is able to respond with great speed
to external threat when he deems required. Usually, positioning himself, he
will warn with a deep low growl and attack in case of what he deems emergency
for his territory and sure danger of his family.
He will show strong physical hostile reactions to
external stimulus he interprets as a menace to his safety, the safety of his
‘pack’ and that of his territory, but not to immediately react with extreme
hostility. His capacity to fight vigorously and for long against the
threats that stimulated his aggressiveness is extremely high.
He has high sociability and will display indifference
towards neutral strangers in unfamiliar surroundings but flanking his master.
He is extremely possessive, highly intensive in becoming owner of
something or in relationship to someone. He is extremely interested in
everything surround him and in exploring his surroundings. He is extremely
courageous, with very strong tenacity in facing threats he perceived and
defend/protect the interest of his master, his family and his territory without
regard of his own safety.
The ‘Character Tests’
for Corso Italiano designed by the Italian are based on these above character
traits. They are:
Test of Hardness;
Test of Docility;
Test of The
Inoffensive Stranger;
Test of The
Hostile Stranger or The False Argument; and
Test of The
Reaction To Stimuli.
Significantly, as a ‘Proof
of Work Attitude’, to obtain a ‘Certificate
of Work Attitude Level 1’ or CAL 1
by passing these tests:
Behaviour towards
inoffensive strangers;
Indifference to
gun shot; and
Defense of the
handler;
is a SACC
prerequisite for a Corso Italiano to be conferred championship title in Italy.
Danilo Giorgio mentioned that he had judged approximately 40
Corsi in CAL 1 recent to 3rd August 1997, date of his article. Not
only all the Corsi judged had shiningly exceeded the tests, but once completed
and verified further for combativeness, he found 90% of these CAL 1 certified
Corsi immediately entered into combative mode when just stimulated. They bitten
firmly and strongly the sleeve and shook the decoy. He believes that Corso
Italiano, as a dog, is reflexive, balanced, and fast with its own timing for
reaction not dictated by threshold of low excitability but from knowing and
estimating the situations and always with control.
The more amazing and extraordinary thing is that all Corsi
were able to be quickly brought back to control, stopped the aggression and
therefore the combative mode, and return to their indifference and natural
behavior. This was to the great surprise of the decoy and the judge assisting
Danilo Giorgio.
CAL 1 is not an ENCI prerequisite now for a Corso Italiano
to be conferred championship in Italy since SACC ceased to be recognized as the
parent Corso Italiano breed club in Italy.
Together with the Corso Italiano’s formidable memory and
being easily trainable, the above components of Corso Italiano’s character
hopefully defines the ‘personality of the
Corso Italiano breed’.
As concept and definition of the breed, a complete breed standard must not only
describe the physical features but the characters and aptitudes of the
breed as well.
The ‘Behaviour and Temperament’ section of
ENCI Cane Corso Italiano breed standard clearly stated this:
‘Intelligent, active and even-minded, he is
unequalled watch and protection dog. Docile and affectionate with the owner,
loving with children and with family, if necessary he becomes a terrible and
brave protector of people, house and property. He is easily trained’.
In these aspects, the broadly defined American Cane Corso standards have, for the behavior and temperament of
the American Cane Corso, either stated that “Temperament: The Cane Corso is very intelligent. He should appear self
confident and alert. He should never be shy or vicious. Indifference to
strangers should not be considered shy or vicious” or just completely
ignore mentioning anything.
References:
‘IL Cane Corso: Ritratto del molosso
d’italia tra storia, morfologia e lavoro’ by Anna & Giancarlo Malavasi, published 1998 by
Editoriale Olimpia;
‘IL Cabe Corso: Origini e prospettiv del molosso italiaco’
by F. Casolino & S. Gandolfi, published 1996 by Mursia;
‘La Mappa Carateriale Ed Utilizzo Del Cane Corso, Sua
Socializzione E Addestramento’ by Danilo Giorgio, published in Periodico
della SACC, #3 August 1997.
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