Italian Molossers and Neapolitan mastiffs were used to make the modern cane corso.
Originally, the breed was descended from Italian Molossers, which are large Roman war dogs that interbred with native Italian dogs. However, the original cane corso breed nearly went extinct during the first and second World Wars. As a result, Neapolitan mastiffs, another breed descended from Roman war dogs, were used to help the cane corso restoration program.
Thus, the modern cane corso breed is largely descended from both Italian Molossers and Neapolitan mastiffs.
Thanks to its lineage, the cane corso is still known as a fierce yet loyal and affectionate breed to this day. The dog was traditionally kept as a farm dog, but it’s considered a great family pet and protector these days.
