Cane Corso Temperament
The Cane Corso temperament is one of the most important factors a breeder should consider when determining whether the dog is breeding quality or not. Unfortunately, a lot of breeders do not care and are breeding dogs with weak nerve. Almost daily now, I am seeing owners struggling with issues with their Corso being scared of the everything. This is not a training issue this is rooted in genetics. This is not normal and should never be accepted as normal within this breed. This breed should be confident, but not unjustly aggressive either. Below is a fantastic article on the working dog temperament and absolutely worth the read.
Structure should provide a strong, correct vehicle by which the working temperament can be best operative, but aesthetic elegance and other visual considerations should never supplant the deeper realities of the working temperament.
The dog who can, without upsetment, without fear, without signs of nervous tension, flight reaction, worry, whining, etc., accept its entire universe all of its environment with every characteristic of heat, cold, noise, population, surprise, etc. is a dog of strong nerve. Nerve is a sine qua non for the working dog.
Nerve is the ability to roll with the punches. Unexpected changes in the pup’s environment will not shake its calm and youthful curiosity if these are housed in a strong nervous system to begin with. Loud noises (thunder, fire engines, gun shot, etc.) do not make it cringe, whine, or run for shelter. As it grows, the puppy with sound nerve will emerge as a confident dog, willing to please its owner. Panic is unknown to this dog and fear does not bring a bite reaction. Nerve is the critical factor in working dog temperament. Because of its significance in the whole working temperament, NO excuse should be tolerated when it is lacking. A dog without nerve or with weak nerve should not be bred. Breeders who deliberately breed weak-nerved animals (because they are pretty, because they have a nice top line or super angulation, because they have a proper tail set, etc.) are selling short the future of the breed
The canine nervous system provides the deep inner core of calmness and confidence upon which all the working dog’s strength depends. Without it, there can be no reliability in work and no matter how much training is put into the dog; it will not be a great working dog if it lacks steadiness and soundness of nerve.
-Theresa Mancuso