This smart, trainable, and of noble bearing, the assertive and confident Cane Corso is a peerless protector. The Corso’s lineage goes back to ancient Roman times, and the breed’s name roughly translates from the Latin as “bodyguard-dog.”. This breed is making its presence felt in the show ring in recent years.
The coat is short, stiff, shiny, adherent and dense with a light undercoat that becomes thicker in cold weather. The colours are varied with acceptable colours being black, lighter and darker shades of grey, lighter and darker shades of fawn, and red. Brindling is allowed on all of these colours. Solid fawn and red, including lighter and darker shades, have a black or grey mask. The mask does not go beyond the eyes. There may be a white patch on the chest, throat, chin, backs of the pasterns, and on the toes.
It’s important to maintain what the standard requires. Use Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo at a ratio of 1:5 (1-part shampoo to 5 parts water). This shampoo with its natural henna will add that shiny coat required yet not soften the coat. For Fawns, blacks and even brindles to enhance the coat colour use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo. The toning qualities will make black, blacker by removing any “warm/red” tones. With make fawns more even coloured again by toning the colour. The same applies to enhancing the brindle patterning. Use at the same ratio of 1:5.
The head and expression of the Corso are hallmarks of the breed. For this sensitive area use, Plush Puppy Let’s Face It – is what the dog showing world has needed for way too long. Another one of the famous Plush Puppy products with the latest technology and the highest amounts of naturally sourced ingredients has developed a product that is a must! This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed for faces. It’s no tear formula with the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro-Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean soothes, adds moisture, aids healing, and anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Can be used in and around ears also with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows easy of rinsing yet complete cleaning.
To maintain that “stiff” feel to the coat don’t use a conditioner. This softens the coat. To keep the coat healthy and shiny use Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil. Blended from essential plant oils for calming and healing qualities. An innovative organic formula where old meets new with wheat germ oil, calendula oil, and evening primrose oil, etc. This helps maintains coat hydration, minimise scurf and doesn’t soften the texture. Add 1 teaspoon to 4 litres/1 gallon of warm water and mix through the coat or sponge liberally onto the coat. LEAVE IN. DO NOT RINSE
Even as this breed is short-coated, we always suggest blow/force drying. This helps to shed any loose hairs and maintain the coat at its best. When drying use Plush Puppy FAST Blow Dry Spray that combines the latest active ingredients together to dramatically reduce drying time, adds moisture and conditions while protecting the coat. It contains a recently discovered ingredient from the Australian Native Flame Tree that makes dry or old coat feel and look perfect. It also protects the coat from damage from sun and heat. It contains a slight hold ingredient for better coat management and a special active ingredient. On this short coat produces the most amazing shine. FAST is probably the most technically advanced formula in the Plush Puppy Range to date.
On show days Plush Puppy Wonder Wash is handy with this breed. This self-rinse shampoo foams and doesn’t stay there looking at you hoping your elbow grease will make it work. This really does the trick. Spray, foam up with fingers and then towel dry off
Plush Puppy Odour Muncher does more than just smell good. It is a deodoriser as well as a fragrance, eating up the nasty odour and leaving a good fresh smell that won’t asphyxiate the dog or the judge.
Last of all a light spray of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb will leave that shine as a finishing touch.
With these handy hints, we know that your Corso will look the part and impress the judge. In the group, he will stand proud and represent the breed.