If you are a dog lover, chances are you have seen a Straw Cane Corso in a magazine or on television. While it’s a beautiful, lightweight shade of fawn, it’s not true fawn or formentino. The breed is essentially white with pigmentations on its face. This color is rare and some breeders charge up to $5,000 for one specimen. But what is it?
The genes that make a Cane Corso’s hair black or grey determine its coat color. It’s a matter of genetics, as darker colors are more dominant. However, a Cane Corso’s coat color can also be influenced by a recessive gene called brindle dilute. This gene results in a dog with darker patches on a lighter background, a pattern that’s also known as brindle.
The veterinary profession has studied this problem for decades. While some breeders breed for color, the truth is that many of these dogs have health issues that are caused by being overweight. It is no wonder, then, that they are prone to ear infections and joint problems. However, this is not true for all Straw Cane corsos. Researchers from the Veterinary Institute have done studies to determine the health risks associated different colors of Cane Corsos.
Despite the fact that they’re known for their large size, the traditional Cane Corso is still a powerful and imposing breed. The withers of male Cane Corsos are 25 to 27 inches, while the withers of females are 22 to 25 inches. Their weight is proportional to their height, and they range from ninety to one hundred and twenty pounds. Cane Corsos are remarkably loyal and protective of their family, even if they have to guard against strangers.
A Cane Corso can be a true Cane Corso, but a straw Cane Corso has the masking power of a true Cane Corso. This is less problematic for European Cane Corso judges than the out-of-standard colour. The straw Cane Corso is still a perfectly acceptable pet, but its appearance isn’t enough to get a good breeder’s title.
The straw Corso is not an atypical cross, but a throwback of a past color. It may have been created by crossbreeding straw Corsos and the Maremma or Abruzzese shedog, Italy’s answer the Great Pyrenees. Farmers in the meridionale prized straw Corsos, so a cross between these two breeds was sought after in the 1980s.
A Cane Corso should be brushed and conditioned to receive baths. Begin by teaching your dog the “Bath” command. Then, praise your dog for a successful bath. He will quickly learn to respect your authority over his or her earwax and will respond positively to your firm voice. But while brushing may seem like a small thing, this is an important step in forming a bond with your new dog.
Two pigments, phaeomelanin and eumelanin, determine the color of a Cane Corso. The first is the default color. The latter can be diluted to create a brown, fawn or blue/gray coat. Phaeomelanin, a subtler pigment, affects the coat’s color. Its color also reflects the breed’s owner’s personality.