Italian Molosser Breeds
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Mastino Napolitano was the first Italian molossoid dog to be recognized. In quite many years people thought this was the only Italian Molosser. The breed was presented as direct descender from the Canis pugnax.
If You see pictures from the late fourties You will discover that the breed is identic with the dogs on the old black & white pictures of Cane Corso. There was a local variety of Cane Corso in the Napoli area. These were the heavy-type used for guarding. In their area these dogs were called U Cane E Presa, U Molosso or Cane Curs.
Then the breeding of the modern version started. The founders of the breed preferred very heavy dogs with lots of wrinkles. Naturally the original "Mastino" also appeared in the litters. They were given to farmers in the neighbourhood. Last time I was in Italy i saw a dog from these bloodlines; the wonderful female Zuma.
Photo by Chr. Ferraro
Probably many Mastino enthusiast will disagree, but take a look at the ENCI Mastino standard from 1962, You will see two synonyms for the breed name: "Cane Di Presa" and "Cane Corso"...
Another variety of Cane Corso is the
Branchiero Siciliano. These dogs were imported to Sicily and isolated and
therefore inbreeded they became slightly different
from the Cane Corso. The main difference between the
breeds is that the Branchiero has "pelo raso" (smooth hair without
underwool) and the Cane Corso has "pelo di vacca" (cow hair - which
means short hair and has underwool). In my concern the Branchiero is to be
considered as a breed of its own. Though closely related to the Cane Corso they
still are too different. Just like the different versions of the Belgian
Shepherd (Groenendal, Malinois, Lakenois)
Photo by Mr. A. Visentin
Another Molosser from Siciliy is the "Cane Di
Manerra". There is very little information on this breed. Some people
believe that it descends form the Mastino Abruzzese, and developed to an
indipendend breed on the lands of Sicily. They are very impressive dogs and
typical molossoid type with massive head and bone structure. There still is a
small number of original Cane Di Manerra, and first step has been taken to save
the breed.
U Vuccerisco, was thought to be exsinct. But I just
heard that a survey has recently been made and that there is a population of a
few hundred Vuccerisci left in Sicily. The Vuccerisco was a buthcher dog in
Sicily. Nobody knows the exact origin of this breed but it is belived to be an
independend breed that came from either the greek molossian dogs
or the Canis Pugnax, maybe mixed with other breeds that later
were imported to the island. I have no pictures of the Vuccerisco but I have
just been told that they look a lot like Cane Corso, being somewhat smaller.
Mr. Visentin has informed me that there is a local
Cane Corso bloodline in Calabria called "U Bucciriscu", but I have no
further information. I have been told that the Calabrian Cane Corsos are a bit
smaller than the modern version of the breed. Hopefully in the summer of '98,
I'm going to Calabria to see these dogs. In Calabria there also is a wonderful
large sheperd dog called Pastore Silano: (The
black dog on the picture).
Sardegna has two breeds. This is the Dogo Sardo. A
small molosser used for protection of sheeps and as guarding dog.
As far as I know the Sardenians have a good population of these dogs. They are only breeded as woreking dogs. And as far as I know the Sardenians will not sell their dogs to people from outside Sardenia. It is belived that the Dogo Sardo is a mix of Pastore Fonnese and Canis Pugnax.
Still on the Sardenia Island there is another breed called Mastino Fonnese or Pastore Fonnese. These dogs are more likely to be herding dogs than molossers. They are excellent shepherds and extreemly protective. No wolf or sheepthieves will have any luck when a Pastore Fonnese is protecting.
It is very interesting that this breed was the last to
be repported as being used as wardog. This happened in the year of 1912 in a
war in Libya against the "Senussi" revolt. The only other information
I have on these dogs is that the breed is in no danger of exstinction. They are
very agressive and protective. Like the Dogo Sardo it is only breeded for
working dog and the breeders do not sell to outside Sardenia.
In Abruzzo The most common herding dog was the Mastino Abruzzese. Some people say that this breed is the same as the Pastore Maremmano. But people from the Abruzzo area say that the Mastino Abruzzese was larger and more massive than the Maremma. I have heard someone saying that the original breed is exctinct. But this is not the case-- I saw one in August but the pictures unfortunately didn't become good.
In Italy, dogs of this size has untill recently been breeded only as working dogs. there are the here mentioned breeds but also important mixes have been made in full purpose.
The "Mezzocorso" is a mix of Cane Corso and
Mastino Abruzzese. This mix is particular designed for a better herding dog
than the Cane Corso, and a more protective dog than the Mastino Abruzzese.
The "Mezzosangue", is a mix of Cane Corso and Segucio. This mix was mixed by hunters to improve the Cane Corso, tracking qualities. A hunter who couldnt afford both a segucio for the tracking and a Corso for the killing of the game could this way have an exccelent hunting dog. A similar mix is the "Mezzolevriero" which is a mix of Cane Corso and Levriero. Another great hunting dog, and faster than the Cane Corso.
Another very important Italian breed which is in no
way a molosser is the Volpino Italiano. This red coated Spitshund, looks a
little like a fox (The name volpino in fact does mean "little fox")
Dogs from this breed were on every farm as a ratkiller and as the watchdog that
alarmed the bigger dogs on the farm or the farmer himself.
While I
was in Italy last time, I took this picture of Zuma. The "half" dog
in the foreground is a Volpino. Next time I go to Italy I'll try to get a
better picture of the Volpino. On the right is a B&W picture of an
"old time" Cane Corso together with a Volpino
If You are interested in the other Italian breeds, we suggest that You visit the ENCI (Italian Kennel Club) homepage. They have a special section with all the recognized Italian breeds.
If anyone reading these pages has additional information, we would very much appreciate You sharing it with us - Everything is welcome - please mail it to us
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