The Cane Corso originates from Italy. There it’s believed that these dogs guarded farms in ancient Rome. By now, you have probably already heard of the Cane Corso grey. But while many believe that this is a separate dog breed, it’s not. This is just a stunningly beautiful color variation of the classic Cane Corso.
Origin also explains which characteristics were particularly important to breeders. As a guard and herding dog, they had to be strong, but also obedient. It is also suspected that the Cane Corso has also been used as a hunting dog throughout its history. In any case, it is a working dog. Today, the Cane Corso is recognized by the American Kennel Club.
If you want to learn more about the gorgeous Cane Corso grey, keep on reading.
What is a gray Cane Corso?
The gray Cane Corso is greatly sought after and valued by many since it is unique to the Cane Corso puppy. While gray Siberian Huskies are available, no other Molosser breed is available in either black or gray.
Gray Corsos have a recessive dilute gene that prevents the formation of eumelanin, making them more difficult to breed than black Corsos. Gray puppies would result from two black Corso parents carrying the same recessive gene.
These adorable gray Corso puppies don’t necessarily stay that way as they grow older. They may lighten or darken as they age. When a puppy’s coat changes over time, it can appear gray when it was born, but it may eventually turn brindle over time. Take a look at your puppy’s parents to get an idea of what he is going to look like.
Appearance of the Cane Corso grey
First of all, the strong stature of the dogs stands out. The body is extremely defined and muscular. Occasionally, the animals are therefore called powerhouses. Owners should actually prepare for this dog to bring a lot of physical strength. The biting force is also considerable, it reaches a high value with up to 600 PSI.
Adult males reach a height of withers of 64 to 68 cm, females are slightly smaller at 60 to 64 cm. The weight of an adult dog is 40-50 kg, so it is not too heavy for the size, as is the case with other Molosser breeds.
In addition, it is noticeable that the Cane Corso has a balanced, natural physique. No special features have been bred that restrict the animal in any way. The guard dogs are usually attributed to medium-sized breeds. The coat is short according to breed standards and shows a matt shine in most animals.
The Cane Corso grey obviously has a grey colored coat. But this color can vary from a very light grey, to more of a faded black.
Personality of the Cane Corso Grey
The Cane Corso is classified as a potentially dangerous breed. This assessment is controversial. We don’t believe that any dog breed is aggressive by nature. Instead, a lot of people train their Cane Corsos in the wrong way to make them a threat to others. If your Cane Corso grey is appropriately socialized, you will have no issues.
The animals have always been kept to protect the house and yard. This also includes the dogs standing protectively in front of their master or mistress in case of doubt. Now it is up to their owners to train the animal in ways that are both ethical and appropriate.
The Cane Corso is therefore not a dog for beginners. Nor is it an aggressive race. On the contrary, the breed has a high stimulus threshold and is very loving. This means that a dog tolerates many external influences.
In addition, the animals are considered very balanced in nature. The breeding history as a working dog is very evident in their personality. The Italian working dog is looking for and needs employment.
Training and Exercise
As already indicated, the dog needs to be busy. They appreciate a garden and a lot of room to jump around. They also love to spend their time in nature. And Cane Corsos can also take place in different dog sports.
The education of the strong animals should definitely start early. The puppy has to learn what tasks he has in the family.
Traininf of the dog is definitely a task for an experienced dog owner. It may make sense to consult a dog trainer. If you want to buy a Cane Corso, you should pay attention to a serious breeding. Puppies from appropriate breeding cost at least $1,500. Often the price is even higher.
Compatibility with other dogs is evaluated differently. Here it is best to go according to the individual character. If you buy a Cane Corso for the first time, it is best to concentrate fully on this animal first.
Health
The health of the Cane Corso grey is the same as of the regular Cane Corso. These are generally health dogs. Due to the history as a working dog, the animals are generally robust. For example, they like to be outdoors even in cooler weather, but then need appropriate exercise.
As with almost all larger dog breeds, diseases related to the joints occasionally occur. In particular hip and elbow dysplasia. But if you do some testing, you can find out if your puppy is predestined to develop this disease. A visit to the veterinarian provides clarity here.
In addition, this breed also often suffers from different eye problems.
The life expectancy of the dog breed is 10 to 12 years. However, this is only an average. In general, the breed is still quite variable, at least in terms of its systematic breeding. This means that variations occur, for example, in terms of height, physique and weight. The same applies to possible diseases.
You can also read our other articles on the Cane Corso breed and their mixes:
Other Cane Corso colors
Black
In the Cane Corso breed, black is one of the most sought-after and commonly occurring colors. Melanin, a pigment that produces a solid black color, is genetically dominant in the Cane Corso. However, finding a puppy that matches the AKC breed standard might be difficult. Because black absorbs heat more quickly than other colors, the undercoat of the black Corso is frequently less dense than that of other colors, making the black Corso more sensitive to overheating.
With its brown eyes burning from within a solid black coat, the black Cane Corso is definitely frightening, but it’s just as gentle and friendly as any other colored Cane Corso. Fortunately, invaders are unaware of this, thus its fearsome appearance makes it an excellent watchdog or personal protector.
Fawn
The fawn Cane Corso is one of the most eye-catching breeds, with its rich undercoat, black or gray mask, and creamy-colored coat. Even better, every shade of fawn, from light cream to brownish tan, is accepted by the AKC standard Cane Corso colors. The dog’s black mask must not cover the dog’s eyes, although white markings on the throat, chin, chest, or pasterns are permitted.
The fawn-colored Cane Corso has been around since the third or fourth century and is thought to have been utilized for hunting due to their light-colored coats, which made them difficult to notice in the foliage of their native Italy.
Red
Red Cane Corsos are less common than fawn Cane Corsos, but they share the same black or grey mask. Aside from the black mask, some red Corso puppies are born with a black or blue saddle mark that fades as the dog grows older.
Red Corsos come in a wide range of different colors, with some as pale as champagne and others as dark as mahogany. While the pigment responsible for all hues of red Corso is the same, the genetic pathway it takes determines the particular hue.
Brindle Black
The black brindle black brindle Cane Corso is a beautiful animal. Corso’s base color is either red or brown, with tiger stripes that are mostly black. This is a typical color for the breed and does not suggest a hereditary defect.
These lighter-colored dogs, like the fawn, were frequently used for hunting in Italy. This color is known in Italy as tigrato, which means “tiger-like,” and just as no two tigers have the same stripe patterns, so does the brindle pattern vary greatly from dog to dog.
Gray brindle
These Cane Corsos have a brown base color with gray or blue stripes, similar to the black brindle. The grey brindle is less frequent than the gray Corso, but it is quite straightforward to breed for, and two grey brindle parents will produce a litter with at least 50% grey brindle puppies.
Grey brindle was the color of choice for the traditional Italian cowboy, as opposed to the fawn Corsos that were favored for hunting. The grey brindle Corsos were better able to ambush unsuspecting predators by blending in with the environment, assisting the cowboy in protecting his herd of semi-wild horses.
Grey brindle Corsos with gray noses are more likely to have brindling on the tips of their muzzles than black brindle Corsos. The gray Corso, like the other brindle Corsos, lives longer than its solid-colored cousins.
Chestnut Brindle
The chestnut brindle is similar to the black brindle in appearance but is significantly less common. The chestnut brindle Corso, like the gray brindle, has a brown or red base with reddish-brown stripes. Because at least one gene important for coat color is situated on a sex chromosome, chestnut brindle is more difficult to breed for than some of the other hues. This indicates that the color of a puppy’s coat is impacted by its gender as well as the color of its parents.
Blue
There’s a lot of discussion about whether the blue Cane Corso exists or is just a legend. Despite the fact that neither the FCI nor the AKC recognize blue coloration in their breed criteria, there are still breeders that advertise blue Corso puppies for sale. The misconception over blue Cane Corsos appears to stem from the breed standards, which refer to the Cane Corso’s diluted black pigment as grey rather than blue. As a result, a blue Cane Corso is simply a gray Corso with a different name.
Because a recessive mutation in the melanophilin (MLPH) gene causes the gray Cane Corso’s coat hue, these dogs are more susceptible to skin disorders including mange and Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA).
Formentino
Because the Formentino Cane Corso has such a distinct appearance, some breeders may try to persuade you that it is a separate breed. The term “Formentino,” sometimes known as blue fawn, comes from Italy and refers to the hue of fermented wheat. The Formentino Corso has a carbon-colored coat with a blue nose and mask, as well as gray patches across his shoulders and back, and is a dilution of the fawn color.
The Formentino coat has a dilute tint, similar to the blue or gray coat, making Formentino Corsos more susceptible to skin diseases. Furthermore, because they lack the brindle pattern associated with a longer lifespan, the Fomentino has a shorter life expectancy of 8 years, compared to its brindle cousins’ 10-year lifespan.
Chocolate or liver
Although these chocolate or liver-colored Cane Corsos are gorgeous, they are not acceptable to kennel associations. They may look like AKC-approved red Cane Corsos, but the lack of pigmentation in their noses and the skin surrounding their eyes tells the difference. Some people claim that these uncommon Cane Corso colors are less healthy than regular Corsos since they were bred for their unusual coloring rather than for health or temperament. Non-standard colorations do occur, and they aren’t always indicative of cross-breeding.
Isabella
With some breeds, this odd, almost lilac color is prized, but in Cane Corsos, it is regarded as a significant flaw. These dogs, sometimes known as tawny, have a reddish tinge to their noses, lips, and eyelids and, like the chocolate Corso, have green or blue eyes. Isabella Corsos are more prone to infections than other dilute shades, including Color Dilution Alopecia, which can cause hair loss and skin irritation.
Straw
Straw Cane Corsos are a unique, creamy-colored dog with black or grey pigment evident on the back and sides. The straw tint is thought to have resulted from a long-ago crossbreeding of the Cane Corso with the Abruzzese Sheepdog.
These canines were previously known as “straw stack dogs,” and their job was to keep an eye on the straw stack, which held hay, fodder, and wheat. During the cold winters, it was also a spot where animals might find sanctuary. For this job, people chose straw-colored dogs “because old people thought a straw-colored dog’s character was ‘flammable’ like the straw.”
Despite its lengthy history, straw is not included as a permissible hue in the AKC’s breed standard, despite the fact that it was quite highly esteemed before the standard was published. Despite their white appearance, straw Corsos do not suffer from albinism-related health issues.