Getting Started In
Performance + WORKING Events
First and foremost, it is important to determine if a performance event is a good fit for you and your Cane Corso. Things to consider are you and your dog’s personalities and what a realistic time commitment is for you.
This following is a list, with basic descriptions, of the most popular available sports. It is simply a place to start and don’t be afraid to check out different venues to see for yourself. The AKC website all has a great tool for exploring dog sports: www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/get-started-in-dog-sports-and-events/.
Obedience + Rally: The next step up from regular home-obedience, but with a similar beginning skill set. Dog and handler work as a team, dog complies willingly and happily with the handler as they execute various exercises. Rally is very similar, but involves the handler reading and executing exercises on various signs. Rally, specifically, can be good for dogs that are not super social with dogs or people.
Minimum time commitment: approximately 3-4 hours a week. Example: 1 class per week and a little training at home.
Rally is a great starting point because a dog with reasonable in-home obedience has most of the skills already and you can talk to your dog during the trial for the beginning level.
Organization:
AKC
https://images.akc.org/pdf/events/GOCET1.pdf
https://www.akc.org/sports/rally/
https://www.akc.org/sports/obedience/
A sample of available titles: RN, RI, RA, RE (Rally); BN, CD, GN, CGX, GO, UD, UDX (Obedience); CGC, CGCA, CGCU can also be earned along the way (https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/).
Some of the protection sport venues also offer obedience-only titles.
Agility: An obstacle course for dogs, in which the dog races around the course, guided by you that is suitable for most temperament types. If your dog lacks confidence and/or is fearful of strangers, this can be a great confidence builder. Great for handlers who seek some action and aren’t afraid to look a little silly at times.
Minimum time commitment: approximately 2-3 hours a week. Example: 1 class per week and some training at home.
Organization:
AKC
https://www.akc.org/events/agility/
A sample of available titles: NAP, NJP,NFP, NA, NAJ, NF, OAP, OJP, OFP, OA, OAJ, OF, AXP, AJP, XFP, AX, AXJ, XF.
Therapy Work: Most often conducted in a hospital, nursing home or school where the dog is pet and loved on by many different people to provide comfort and companionship. Dogs must be social, confident and level headed. Self control can be difficult for high energy dogs, so your more laid-back dogs are generally a better fit. Great for people who love to have their dogs admired, are patient and enjoy being around other people.
Minimum time commitment: approximately 1-2 hours a week. Example: 1 class per week and a little training at home. Once your dog is certified, the actual therapy visit schedule is up to you.
Organization:
AKC
https://www.akc.org/sports/title-recognition-program/therapy-dog-program/
TDI
https://www.tdi-dog.org/About.aspx
A sample of available titles: TDI and THD. CGC, CGCA, CGCU can also be earned along the way (https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/).
Dock Diving: Dogs jump off a dock into water. Great for dogs who are highly toy-motivated and love water. Excellent for handlers who like excitement and don’t mind getting wet.
Minimum time commitment: seasonal in some states, average is about 1 or 2 classes per month, usually more in the beginning to get your dog used to the idea.
Organization:
North American Diving Dogs
Dock Dogs
Splash Dogs
Ultimate Air Dogs
A sample of available titles: Various and they differ among organizations.
Lure Coursing: Dogs chase a lure, which is generally a plastic bag that waves enticingly in the wind, pulled around a course. Great for active dogs, especially those with high prey drive. Excellent for handlers who like excitement and lack time.
Minimum time commitment: no training necessary!
Organizations:
AKC
https://www.apps.akc.org/classic/events/coursing_ability_test/
Local clubs may also offer lure coursing
A sample of available titles: CA, CAA CAX, CAX2
Protection Sports: Demanding competitive sport with many different venues. All venues test more than just a dog’s ability to protect; dogs must show high levels of obedience, demonstrate agility, and in some, show scenting abilities. Breakdown of the different sport's specifics may be found in an additional document. Dogs MUST be stable and confident, highly motivated and agile. Dogs that often show signs of nervousness or fear aggression are not suitable; please do not mistake these for protectiveness or drive. Great for competitive, detail oriented people.
Minimum time commitment: 10-15 hours per week. Example: Club training twice a week, training on your own 2-3 times a week.
Organizations:
IGP (formerly IPO and Schutzhund): DVG, WDA, USCA
MondioRing: USMRA
FrenchRing: NARA
Others: PSA, NADF
A sample of available titles: IGP1-3, MR1-3, FR1-3, PSA1-3, NADF1-3
Nose Work: Detection style competition in which a dog searches, finds and indicates a scent. Great for dogs that are food-motivated and handlers seeking a low-impact sport and enjoy watching their dogs work.
Minimum time commitment: approximately 1-2 hours a week. Example: 1 class per week and a little training at home.
Organization:
AKC
http://www.akc.org/sports/akc-scent-work/
NASCW
A sample of available titles: NW1-3
Barn Hunt: Dogs locate rats that are safely enclosed in aerated tubes hidden in a straw/hay bale maze. Good for dogs that are independent and natural “critterers” and handlers that just want to get out and do something and especially enjoy watching their dog “hunting”.
Minimum time commitment: no training necessary!
Organizations:
AKC
http://www.akc.org/sports/title-recognition-program/barn-hunt/
Barn Hunt Association
A sample of available titles: RATI, RATN, RATO, RATS, RATM
Flyball: A team relay race with jumps and a ball retrieve. Great for dogs that are highly toy (especially ball) motivated, fast and social with other dogs. Since this is a team sport and the dogs are run in succession and next to other teams, dogs that are fearful or aggressive toward other dogs may have a difficult time. Great for handlers who enjoy working in a team and are looking for excitement and the thrill of a relay style race.
Minimum time commitment: approximately 2-3 hours a week. Example: 1 class per week and some training at home.
Organization:
NAFA
A sample of available titles: FD, FDX, FDCh, FDCh-S, FDCh-G, FM, FMX, FMCh, ONYX
Once you determine which sport is best for you and your Cane Corso, the next thing to do is to seek out people in your area with experience in training and competing in your chosen venue. Internet searches are a good start but, if possible, word of mouth recommendations are best, even if those recommendations come from online forums.
Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts or substitutes for just going out and finding the right training group fit; this can be a trial and error process. Dog sport is about dogs, but it is also a hobby that you both should enjoy, so don’t underestimate the social aspect. Not to say that it is always fun; depending on your sport, it can be difficult and frustrating at times, but it should always be an enriching process for both of you.
This following is a list, with basic descriptions, of the most popular available sports. It is simply a place to start and don’t be afraid to check out different venues to see for yourself. The AKC website all has a great tool for exploring dog sports: www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/get-started-in-dog-sports-and-events/.
Obedience + Rally: The next step up from regular home-obedience, but with a similar beginning skill set. Dog and handler work as a team, dog complies willingly and happily with the handler as they execute various exercises. Rally is very similar, but involves the handler reading and executing exercises on various signs. Rally, specifically, can be good for dogs that are not super social with dogs or people.
Minimum time commitment: approximately 3-4 hours a week. Example: 1 class per week and a little training at home.
Rally is a great starting point because a dog with reasonable in-home obedience has most of the skills already and you can talk to your dog during the trial for the beginning level.
Organization:
AKC
https://images.akc.org/pdf/events/GOCET1.pdf
https://www.akc.org/sports/rally/
https://www.akc.org/sports/obedience/
A sample of available titles: RN, RI, RA, RE (Rally); BN, CD, GN, CGX, GO, UD, UDX (Obedience); CGC, CGCA, CGCU can also be earned along the way (https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/).
Some of the protection sport venues also offer obedience-only titles.
Agility: An obstacle course for dogs, in which the dog races around the course, guided by you that is suitable for most temperament types. If your dog lacks confidence and/or is fearful of strangers, this can be a great confidence builder. Great for handlers who seek some action and aren’t afraid to look a little silly at times.
Minimum time commitment: approximately 2-3 hours a week. Example: 1 class per week and some training at home.
Organization:
AKC
https://www.akc.org/events/agility/
A sample of available titles: NAP, NJP,NFP, NA, NAJ, NF, OAP, OJP, OFP, OA, OAJ, OF, AXP, AJP, XFP, AX, AXJ, XF.
Therapy Work: Most often conducted in a hospital, nursing home or school where the dog is pet and loved on by many different people to provide comfort and companionship. Dogs must be social, confident and level headed. Self control can be difficult for high energy dogs, so your more laid-back dogs are generally a better fit. Great for people who love to have their dogs admired, are patient and enjoy being around other people.
Minimum time commitment: approximately 1-2 hours a week. Example: 1 class per week and a little training at home. Once your dog is certified, the actual therapy visit schedule is up to you.
Organization:
AKC
https://www.akc.org/sports/title-recognition-program/therapy-dog-program/
TDI
https://www.tdi-dog.org/About.aspx
A sample of available titles: TDI and THD. CGC, CGCA, CGCU can also be earned along the way (https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/).
Dock Diving: Dogs jump off a dock into water. Great for dogs who are highly toy-motivated and love water. Excellent for handlers who like excitement and don’t mind getting wet.
Minimum time commitment: seasonal in some states, average is about 1 or 2 classes per month, usually more in the beginning to get your dog used to the idea.
Organization:
North American Diving Dogs
Dock Dogs
Splash Dogs
Ultimate Air Dogs
A sample of available titles: Various and they differ among organizations.
Lure Coursing: Dogs chase a lure, which is generally a plastic bag that waves enticingly in the wind, pulled around a course. Great for active dogs, especially those with high prey drive. Excellent for handlers who like excitement and lack time.
Minimum time commitment: no training necessary!
Organizations:
AKC
https://www.apps.akc.org/classic/events/coursing_ability_test/
Local clubs may also offer lure coursing
A sample of available titles: CA, CAA CAX, CAX2
Protection Sports: Demanding competitive sport with many different venues. All venues test more than just a dog’s ability to protect; dogs must show high levels of obedience, demonstrate agility, and in some, show scenting abilities. Breakdown of the different sport's specifics may be found in an additional document. Dogs MUST be stable and confident, highly motivated and agile. Dogs that often show signs of nervousness or fear aggression are not suitable; please do not mistake these for protectiveness or drive. Great for competitive, detail oriented people.
Minimum time commitment: 10-15 hours per week. Example: Club training twice a week, training on your own 2-3 times a week.
Organizations:
IGP (formerly IPO and Schutzhund): DVG, WDA, USCA
MondioRing: USMRA
FrenchRing: NARA
Others: PSA, NADF
A sample of available titles: IGP1-3, MR1-3, FR1-3, PSA1-3, NADF1-3
Nose Work: Detection style competition in which a dog searches, finds and indicates a scent. Great for dogs that are food-motivated and handlers seeking a low-impact sport and enjoy watching their dogs work.
Minimum time commitment: approximately 1-2 hours a week. Example: 1 class per week and a little training at home.
Organization:
AKC
http://www.akc.org/sports/akc-scent-work/
NASCW
A sample of available titles: NW1-3
Barn Hunt: Dogs locate rats that are safely enclosed in aerated tubes hidden in a straw/hay bale maze. Good for dogs that are independent and natural “critterers” and handlers that just want to get out and do something and especially enjoy watching their dog “hunting”.
Minimum time commitment: no training necessary!
Organizations:
AKC
http://www.akc.org/sports/title-recognition-program/barn-hunt/
Barn Hunt Association
A sample of available titles: RATI, RATN, RATO, RATS, RATM
Flyball: A team relay race with jumps and a ball retrieve. Great for dogs that are highly toy (especially ball) motivated, fast and social with other dogs. Since this is a team sport and the dogs are run in succession and next to other teams, dogs that are fearful or aggressive toward other dogs may have a difficult time. Great for handlers who enjoy working in a team and are looking for excitement and the thrill of a relay style race.
Minimum time commitment: approximately 2-3 hours a week. Example: 1 class per week and some training at home.
Organization:
NAFA
A sample of available titles: FD, FDX, FDCh, FDCh-S, FDCh-G, FM, FMX, FMCh, ONYX
Once you determine which sport is best for you and your Cane Corso, the next thing to do is to seek out people in your area with experience in training and competing in your chosen venue. Internet searches are a good start but, if possible, word of mouth recommendations are best, even if those recommendations come from online forums.
Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts or substitutes for just going out and finding the right training group fit; this can be a trial and error process. Dog sport is about dogs, but it is also a hobby that you both should enjoy, so don’t underestimate the social aspect. Not to say that it is always fun; depending on your sport, it can be difficult and frustrating at times, but it should always be an enriching process for both of you.
Some other helpful articles and FAQs:
How to Select a Working Cane Corso Puppy
This is a multifaceted question with many variables. This article deals with broad strokes and generalizations, but please keep in mind, as with most things there are exceptions to every rule. This article assumes the buyer is loosely familiar with the sport they want to pursue but doesn’t have in depth or practical knowledge of training extensively in the sport or trialing.
Blasphemy Disclaimer
If your love for Agility is greater than your love for the Cane Corso, get a Border Collie. If your love for IPO is greater than your love for the Cane Corso, get a German Shepherd. If your love for French Ring is greater than your love for the Cane Corso, get a Malinois. This is an amazing breed that can do and excel at many things. It is also extremely rewarding to live and work with, but getting one with the sole purpose of excelling in a sport is both a disservice to you and your time, and possibly the breed.
Get Help
Before your puppy is even a twinkle in the bitch’s eye, finding someone experienced in both the breed and your chosen pursuit is invaluable. Your local sport club may be a good place to start, provided they are open minded and accepting of alternate breeds. Preferably, the people you seek input from will have titled and worked extensively with a Cane Corso (or similar breed) in the sport. Find a breeder that has produced dogs that have been successful in the sport, hopefully this person will also have some experience in the sport you are interested in. Mainly, this person must be someone who is earnest and you can trust.
Parents
The most important thing in picking your working/performance puppy is to pick good parents. Parents that exhibit the traits you are looking for and, ideally, have produced the traits you are looking for. This may sound simple, but it is certainly not easy. Unfortunately, there is no fool proof method of parents’ guaranteed workability outside of having a trained eye and personal observation.
Titles
Titles are a great start, but difficult to find in this breed. Since, for this specific context, consistency in reproduction is what is most important, the fact that multi generational titling is extremely rare at this point in the Cane Corso can make it very difficult. To further complicate things, not all titles are created equally. This is true for all breeds. Titles from the internationally recognized sports such as: IPO (Schutzhund), French Ring and Mondio Ring hold the most weight, as do the nationally recognized sports of Agility, Obedience, PSA and NADF. Be wary and do more research if the breeder is touting titles from an organization you have never heard of and/or is not recognized nationally or by the breed club. Especially where protection sports are concerned, there a hundred and one back yard protection tournaments out there; though they can be very fun, few hold much legitimacy. Same thing goes for being aware of titles vs. certificates. Titles in protection sports from one of the above organizations are difficult to attain, which is why we can place some value on them being at least a base line of competency. If basing decisions on titles, looking at actual scores and video is imperative.
Observation and Interaction
Because of the above mentioned difficulties surrounding working/performance titled Cane Corsos, there is no substitute to meeting the parents and/or any close relatives of the dogs you are considering. Video can also be very helpful, though be aware that they may be edited. A highlight reel can make a weak dog look strong, actual trial footage is usually the most helpful as is video of the dog just being itself in different social situations (taking a walk down a city street for example). If possible, having your mentor in your chosen sport watch with you is a huge bonus.
If you are able to take the time to meet the dogs, consider if they exhibit the traits you are seeking. Interact with them if at all possible. Are they shy, sociable, nervous, defensive? Can you pet them? What is their energy level like? Do they like food? Do they like toys? How do they respond to being corrected? How do they act in unfamiliar places? Spend as much time as you can with them. Since your pursuit of sport will require you spending countless hours together, consider if the interaction with the relatives is what you hope for and enjoy with your own dog.
Health
Sound structure is imperative. Health testing, though in no way fail safe, is a valuable tool. Sports are physically demanding, a dog’s durability can obviously impact his quality of life but also your time on the field. Orthopedically hip and elbow soundness are important as is the spine. Cardiac health should not be overlooked. Also ask about common instances of seizure, gastric torsion or bloat in the family and be aware of any and teeth problems, especially if you are considering a bite sport.
Looking at the Litter
There are a few generally-accepted concepts that apply in picking a working puppy. As stated earlier, there are most definitely exceptions, that may change based on how you specifically like to train, but we will focus on what is primarily important to most.
Confidence
A good worker is almost always a confident dog. He isn’t too concerned with new things, and if he startles, recovers very quickly. He is balanced between being self-referenced and pack driven. A confidant dog can work independently of you and can take the pressures he will inevitably encounter in the sport.
Ask yourself: Is the puppy shy? Defensive? Sociable? Environmentally sound? How does he respond to loud noises? Strange objects? Unfamiliar places and surfaces? If you manage to frighten or startle him, how does he recover? If you make him physically uncomfortable, how forgiving is he? How does he react to being handled and touched? How is he around his littermates or other dogs?
Drives
Drives have goals. This is what makes them invaluable training tools. Just because a puppy shows a lot of crazy energy does NOT make it a high drive puppy, it merely makes it a high-energy puppy. If the dog is lacking in drive, training will be difficult because your dog will lack motivation. The drives you seek out will have to do with your training style. Do you like to work with food? A tug? A ball? If you are pursuing a bite sport, the dog should have a baseline desire to have things in his mouth, clamp down and hold on.
Assess drives by asking the following: Is he interested in food? How would you gauge his interest? Is he lazy? If you throw food on the ground does he search extensively even after it is gone? Does he lose interest in it quickly? Can the puppy focus on a toy? Will he go after a ball? Chase a rag if you make it move? Is he very interested in toys? Does he use his paws to try and grasp things or does he use his mouth? What does he do with something he wins? Hold it? Carry it around? Shake it? Take it to the ground and try to destroy it? Is he possessive?
Puppies change constantly and at an alarming rate from birth until about 4-6 months. This is why it is imperative to trust your breeder! A puppy on any given day may show you everything you ever wanted and more, but if he doesn’t show it consistently it's not that valuable of an evaluation. If you can see the litter more than once, that would be ideal, but if you cannot, you must trust your breeder to not only report accurately, but to also know what they are looking at to a certain extent. Puppy evaluation tests (such as the Volhard test) are neat tools, but only show you a snapshot in time, so always keep the bigger picture in mind.
Do not overlook your gut feeling. As mentioned before, should you choose to pursue a sport, you will be spending A LOT of time with your dog, liking each other is imperative. If you have picked good parents and the litter is consistent, picking the puppy you personally like the most isn’t the worst thing you could do.
This is a multifaceted question with many variables. This article deals with broad strokes and generalizations, but please keep in mind, as with most things there are exceptions to every rule. This article assumes the buyer is loosely familiar with the sport they want to pursue but doesn’t have in depth or practical knowledge of training extensively in the sport or trialing.
Blasphemy Disclaimer
If your love for Agility is greater than your love for the Cane Corso, get a Border Collie. If your love for IPO is greater than your love for the Cane Corso, get a German Shepherd. If your love for French Ring is greater than your love for the Cane Corso, get a Malinois. This is an amazing breed that can do and excel at many things. It is also extremely rewarding to live and work with, but getting one with the sole purpose of excelling in a sport is both a disservice to you and your time, and possibly the breed.
Get Help
Before your puppy is even a twinkle in the bitch’s eye, finding someone experienced in both the breed and your chosen pursuit is invaluable. Your local sport club may be a good place to start, provided they are open minded and accepting of alternate breeds. Preferably, the people you seek input from will have titled and worked extensively with a Cane Corso (or similar breed) in the sport. Find a breeder that has produced dogs that have been successful in the sport, hopefully this person will also have some experience in the sport you are interested in. Mainly, this person must be someone who is earnest and you can trust.
Parents
The most important thing in picking your working/performance puppy is to pick good parents. Parents that exhibit the traits you are looking for and, ideally, have produced the traits you are looking for. This may sound simple, but it is certainly not easy. Unfortunately, there is no fool proof method of parents’ guaranteed workability outside of having a trained eye and personal observation.
Titles
Titles are a great start, but difficult to find in this breed. Since, for this specific context, consistency in reproduction is what is most important, the fact that multi generational titling is extremely rare at this point in the Cane Corso can make it very difficult. To further complicate things, not all titles are created equally. This is true for all breeds. Titles from the internationally recognized sports such as: IPO (Schutzhund), French Ring and Mondio Ring hold the most weight, as do the nationally recognized sports of Agility, Obedience, PSA and NADF. Be wary and do more research if the breeder is touting titles from an organization you have never heard of and/or is not recognized nationally or by the breed club. Especially where protection sports are concerned, there a hundred and one back yard protection tournaments out there; though they can be very fun, few hold much legitimacy. Same thing goes for being aware of titles vs. certificates. Titles in protection sports from one of the above organizations are difficult to attain, which is why we can place some value on them being at least a base line of competency. If basing decisions on titles, looking at actual scores and video is imperative.
Observation and Interaction
Because of the above mentioned difficulties surrounding working/performance titled Cane Corsos, there is no substitute to meeting the parents and/or any close relatives of the dogs you are considering. Video can also be very helpful, though be aware that they may be edited. A highlight reel can make a weak dog look strong, actual trial footage is usually the most helpful as is video of the dog just being itself in different social situations (taking a walk down a city street for example). If possible, having your mentor in your chosen sport watch with you is a huge bonus.
If you are able to take the time to meet the dogs, consider if they exhibit the traits you are seeking. Interact with them if at all possible. Are they shy, sociable, nervous, defensive? Can you pet them? What is their energy level like? Do they like food? Do they like toys? How do they respond to being corrected? How do they act in unfamiliar places? Spend as much time as you can with them. Since your pursuit of sport will require you spending countless hours together, consider if the interaction with the relatives is what you hope for and enjoy with your own dog.
Health
Sound structure is imperative. Health testing, though in no way fail safe, is a valuable tool. Sports are physically demanding, a dog’s durability can obviously impact his quality of life but also your time on the field. Orthopedically hip and elbow soundness are important as is the spine. Cardiac health should not be overlooked. Also ask about common instances of seizure, gastric torsion or bloat in the family and be aware of any and teeth problems, especially if you are considering a bite sport.
Looking at the Litter
There are a few generally-accepted concepts that apply in picking a working puppy. As stated earlier, there are most definitely exceptions, that may change based on how you specifically like to train, but we will focus on what is primarily important to most.
Confidence
A good worker is almost always a confident dog. He isn’t too concerned with new things, and if he startles, recovers very quickly. He is balanced between being self-referenced and pack driven. A confidant dog can work independently of you and can take the pressures he will inevitably encounter in the sport.
Ask yourself: Is the puppy shy? Defensive? Sociable? Environmentally sound? How does he respond to loud noises? Strange objects? Unfamiliar places and surfaces? If you manage to frighten or startle him, how does he recover? If you make him physically uncomfortable, how forgiving is he? How does he react to being handled and touched? How is he around his littermates or other dogs?
Drives
Drives have goals. This is what makes them invaluable training tools. Just because a puppy shows a lot of crazy energy does NOT make it a high drive puppy, it merely makes it a high-energy puppy. If the dog is lacking in drive, training will be difficult because your dog will lack motivation. The drives you seek out will have to do with your training style. Do you like to work with food? A tug? A ball? If you are pursuing a bite sport, the dog should have a baseline desire to have things in his mouth, clamp down and hold on.
Assess drives by asking the following: Is he interested in food? How would you gauge his interest? Is he lazy? If you throw food on the ground does he search extensively even after it is gone? Does he lose interest in it quickly? Can the puppy focus on a toy? Will he go after a ball? Chase a rag if you make it move? Is he very interested in toys? Does he use his paws to try and grasp things or does he use his mouth? What does he do with something he wins? Hold it? Carry it around? Shake it? Take it to the ground and try to destroy it? Is he possessive?
Puppies change constantly and at an alarming rate from birth until about 4-6 months. This is why it is imperative to trust your breeder! A puppy on any given day may show you everything you ever wanted and more, but if he doesn’t show it consistently it's not that valuable of an evaluation. If you can see the litter more than once, that would be ideal, but if you cannot, you must trust your breeder to not only report accurately, but to also know what they are looking at to a certain extent. Puppy evaluation tests (such as the Volhard test) are neat tools, but only show you a snapshot in time, so always keep the bigger picture in mind.
Do not overlook your gut feeling. As mentioned before, should you choose to pursue a sport, you will be spending A LOT of time with your dog, liking each other is imperative. If you have picked good parents and the litter is consistent, picking the puppy you personally like the most isn’t the worst thing you could do.
Titling Etiquette
The Cane Corso has enough of a hard time earning respect from the working and performance community. Listing titles properly is just another way for us to show that we are serious competitors, with good dogs, worthy of that respect.
- Listing multiple titles: When your dog is the proud recipient of many titles, you do not need to list all titles earned. With most, the upper levels titles already imply the others were earned, because they are necessary to move onto the next title. Ex: "Dog's Name CD, CDX, UD, RN, RA, RE" or "Dog's Name FR1, FR2, FR3". Yes, it looks fancy to have all those letters, but really this should just read "Dog's Name UD, RE" or "Dog's Name FR3", nice and clean.
- Listing the BH: Dabbling in AKC, I understand that many who train mostly in AKC may not have ever heard of a BH. The desire for clarity prompts some to list it as an "IPO BH". This is not correct. The only IPO titles are IPO 1-3, yes the BH companion dog test is in the IPO rule book, but it is not strictly-speaking an IPO title.
- Optional titling found in the IPO rule book: In 2012, the most current FCI IPO rule book was released. It listed some new titling options such as Obedience, Tracking and/or Protection only. There used to be an obedience and protection only title called a SchutzhundA, so I understand the confusion, especially since there are some organizations that still erroneously list this, but the SchutzhundA, no longer exists. The IPO1A (or IPO2A or IPO3A) is not a thing. It is not a title that exists in the FCI's IPO rule book. There are several titles outlined in the IPO rule book at all levels available. Of these, you can select individual phases or some combination thereof. They have their own names: Apr1-3 (Ob and protection), Upr 1-3 (Ob), Fpr1-3 (tracking) and Spr1-3 (protection).
- Titles that are made up locally or "borrowed" from existing venues. It is generally frowned upon to list "titles" that are not available through national organizations (AKC, UKC, IPO, NARA, etc.).
The Cane Corso has enough of a hard time earning respect from the working and performance community. Listing titles properly is just another way for us to show that we are serious competitors, with good dogs, worthy of that respect.
Breed Suitability Tests for the Cane Corso
In theory, this always sounds like a great idea! Having a special "Corso Test" or working title required to show or breed sounds like a wonderful way to ensure that proper temperament and working ability are considered and valued by breeders, but unfortunately, as with many things the reality is a little different.
1 - Mandatory working titles and tests have historically not served the breeds that implement them.
2 - No one can even agree on what a suitable test would even be for a Cane Corso.
The only way to protect a breed's future is through breeders themselves knowing what they are looking at, communicating with other breeders with similar goals and spending time doing things with their animals so they may evaluate them day to day.
Tests like CGC, TT and (A)CAL, again, can be great tools, but they have their limitations. Though IPO and other inter/nationally recognized venues may also have some small drawbacks, especially for our breed, they are intrinsically difficult and very demanding and will, by this virtue, teach you that much more about your dogs, since the way to learn about one’s dogs is to spend time doing things with them. No mandatory testing can replace this, nor will it ever force anyone who doesn’t want to do it do so.
In theory, this always sounds like a great idea! Having a special "Corso Test" or working title required to show or breed sounds like a wonderful way to ensure that proper temperament and working ability are considered and valued by breeders, but unfortunately, as with many things the reality is a little different.
1 - Mandatory working titles and tests have historically not served the breeds that implement them.
- The German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman, Boxer, etc. have required either working titles (Schutzhund/IPO) or very similar breed tests (ZTP, BST, etc) for many years, yet as a whole, their working ability isn't vastly improved. This is because when these tests are mandatory, people invested in inferior stock will find ways to pass their dogs by either watering down the test, or changing the criteria to pass. This is a top GSD in Germany recently: https://en.working-dog.com/dogs-details/1019846/Ballack-von-der-Brucknerallee. This dog supposedly has an IPO3, but you will be hard pressed to find the video of it online. You will however find countless videos of him running around a show ring and this one video of his breed test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRBi7gym-Ms (@ 18:15). Does this look like a dog worthy of an IPO3? Compare to him to this dog’s performance in an actual IPO3 championship trial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmgRkgqfaWw.
- In contrast, the Malinois is a dog that has no such mandatory testing, yet as a breed it continues to advance and surpass all other working dogs where health and ability are concerned. Since 2005, the AWDF (National all-breed) Championship has been all but dominated by Malinois in 1st place. This breed is becoming better and better without any mandatory breed testing simply because the community of working Malinois breeders focus on utility above all else.
2 - No one can even agree on what a suitable test would even be for a Cane Corso.
- Temperament testing like the TT and (A)CAL are wonderful tools, but no one can agree under what conditions they should be administered. In theory, they should test natural ability and disposition and thus require no training, but this is rarely the case. These tests are simple, dogs of almost all temperament types can be trained to pass. Since there is no way of guaranteeing dogs are not trained to the test, if one is going to glean information about a dog’s worth from a test, it must be more difficult and complex.
- IPO and other inter/nationally recognized venues (Mondio Ring, French Ring, etc.) are fantastic sports that can test a dog’s character and expose a dog’s faults. At the top, IPO demands stability, nerves, drive, and biddability, all the things that make a good working dog. It is recognized worldwide and has a large governing body that ensures all trials are held under the same rules. Unfortunately, many people fail to understand this and see IPO merely as a “test for herders” or as a stylized routine. They do not see the scope that this venue can offer.
- In contrast, "Corso specific" tests can often be gimmicky, there are no regulations to ensure procedure, they have very little credence, often giving them a very distinct “back yard” feel and sometimes questionable legitimacy.
The only way to protect a breed's future is through breeders themselves knowing what they are looking at, communicating with other breeders with similar goals and spending time doing things with their animals so they may evaluate them day to day.
Tests like CGC, TT and (A)CAL, again, can be great tools, but they have their limitations. Though IPO and other inter/nationally recognized venues may also have some small drawbacks, especially for our breed, they are intrinsically difficult and very demanding and will, by this virtue, teach you that much more about your dogs, since the way to learn about one’s dogs is to spend time doing things with them. No mandatory testing can replace this, nor will it ever force anyone who doesn’t want to do it do so.
Submitted by Annie Wildmoser