06/06/2026
❤️ A Post From My Heart ❤️
Since having O'Maya, my Cane Corso, and now Fawn, also a Cane Corso, I've noticed a huge increase in people wanting one of these incredible dogs 🤷
They truly are beautiful dogs, but like so many breeds today, they are being let down by irresponsible breeding & bad ownership 😢.
No health testing. No consideration for temperament. No concern for genetics. We are seeing dogs bred with hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye problems, heart conditions, cherry eye, patella issues, DRSA and much more. Then there are the "designer colours" and made-up names used to market puppies. There is no such thing as a Champagne Merle Cane Corso!
As someone who spends a lot of time advocating for this breed, it breaks my heart to see what is happening.
The Cane Corso was almost extinct during the 1970s until a small group of dedicated enthusiasts worked tirelessly to rebuild the breed in Italy. They put some truly outstanding dogs on the ground and preserved a remarkable working breed 😍.
Sadly, today they seem to be becoming more of a fashion statement 💃.
These dogs were bred to work 💪. They are highly intelligent, powerful, athletic dogs with strong prey drive, strong guardian instincts and a jaw pressure estimated at around 700 PSI. They are not a breed that can simply be left to "grow up" and figure life out for themselves.
If they are not taught from a young age how to navigate the world safely and confidently, they will often end up paying the price for our mistakes.
Dogs only know what we teach them. They only know how to be dogs.
When that adorable wrinkly 8-week-old Cane Corso puppy comes home, training starts that day. Boundaries start that day. Socialisation starts that day.
What some people see as a calm puppy is often a bottle of pop being shaken every single day. Eventually, the lid comes off and boom... the dog explodes 🤯 💥.
Our rescues are full of Cane Corsos. Most arrive between 12 and 18 months old.
"They got too big."
"They've become aggressive."
"They don't like strangers."
"They don't like other dogs."
But this is a guardian breed. They are not naturally social butterflies. They are bred to assess situations, to protect and to be suspicious when necessary. Our job isn't to make them love everyone; our job is to teach them confidence, neutrality and self-control so they can safely ignore the things around them.
You need mental strength, consistency, patience and the physical ability to meet their needs. They need purpose. They need guidance. They have huge emotions, huge feelings and their learning never stops.....ever!
People used to say how "rude" O'Maya was 🌈.
Perfect 😍
She didn't care about anyone outside her family. She ignored strangers, ignored dogs, ignored the world around her and simply plodded through life in her own wonderfully aloof way, always by my side because we had an unbreakable bond.
That wasn't luck 💚.
That was years of hard work, professional training and consistency. Four months before she passed away, we were still working with professional trainers.
Now it's Fawn's turn 🐾.
At 16 weeks old, she absolutely does not go off lead. She has fantastic recall on a long line, but I would never risk putting her in a situation she isn't ready for 💥.
Distractions happen 🐾🐝🐦🐿. The world changes in a split second for a dog. Why risk a negative experience because I let her down?
What many people don't see are the 5am walks. The evening training sessions in empty car parks. Sitting listening to fireworks, trains and buses. Walking alongside shop walls. Practising downs around distractions. Carrying her "magic box" everywhere because it gives her confidence and security 😍.
I don't skip training because I'm tired, because it's raining, because my legs hurt or because I'd rather sit and watch television.
No excuses here 😍.
Because all dogs deserve better than excuses.
I know some truly incredible Cane Corso experts. People who have lived with this breed for 20, 30 and even 40 years. They still attend classes. They still bring in professional trainers week in, week out 👏.
So if you're thinking about getting a Cane Corso because they're beautiful, impressive, cute puppies or because they look good on social media, please stop and do your research first.
🐾Find a reputable breeder.
🐾Ask about health testing.
🐾Ask about temperament.
🐾Meet the parents.
🐾Speak to experienced owners.
Understand what this breed was created to do.
Because a well-bred, well-trained Cane Corso is one of the most loyal, intelligent and devoted companions you could ever hope to have.
But they are not an accessory.
They are not a status symbol.
And they absolutely deserve owners who are willing to put in the work every single day 👏.
Rant over 🤣🤣.
M xx
