Health Testing A Cane Corso

Currently our parent breed club (CCAA) recommends that hips, elbows, cardiac, patellas, and genetic testing for DSRA and NCL be checked. Hips can be checked through PennHip or OFA. Elbows, cardiac, and patellas can be checked by OFA.

Any breeder should be more than willing to provide proof of health testing. If the health testing was done through OFA and the dogs registered name is known then buyers can search the OFA database themselves to find the health testing results. PennHip results can be added to the OFA database by breeders. All of Cinder’s health testing is public and available on the OFA database under her registered name “Brown Haven’s Born Of Fire Born Of The Sea”.

PennHip can be done anytime after 16 weeks although I recommend waiting as the dogs have to be put under. OFA prelims can be done before two years and the OFA finals have to be done after 2 years old. It’s best for breeders to wait until their Cane Corso is 2 years old so they can do OFA and PennHip at the same time and only have to anesthetize the dog once.

OFA cardiac can be done by auscultation only or auscultation and an echocardiogram. I highly recommend going the echo route. It is much more costly but more Corsos are popping up everyday with heart issues. We shouldn’t wait till this is a problem in our breed to test for it.

Another very important health test to mention is the DSRA genetic test. DSRA is dental skeletal retinal anomaly genetic disease that can be easily avoided by a test to rule out breeding two carriers. The test can be bought through Vetgen. All Cane Corso breeders should be testing for this.

Titling A Cane Corso

There are many avenues to explore with your Cane Corso. They are a versatile breed that can excel in most sports. We compete in Rally, Obedience, Coursing, Barn Hunt, Conformation, Tricks, and Temperament Testing. We are starting to train in Agility and Scent Work.

Any Corso sold on AKC Limited Registration can still compete in any of these events except Conformation. A prospect sold on AKC Full Registration can compete in Conformation. I highly recommend owners get their Corsos involved. These dogs love to work for their people.

Rally is a fun version of Obedience. You can talk to and encourage your dog while completing the course. Rally Novice is a great way for Cane Corso owners to get involved with some basic obedience.

Coursing can include FastCAT and CAT. FastCAT is a straight 100 yard sprint where the dogs chase a lure. This can tell you how fast your Corso can run. Cinder averaged 25.05mph in 2021 and ranked as the 13th fastest Corso. CAT is a 300 or 600 yard course depending on the dog. The dog must complete the course within 2 minutes. In order to earn their CA title the dog must have 3 qualifying runs.

Barn Hunt has a beginner instinct test that can be done to see if this is an event that would interest your Corso. If it is, than the Barn Hunt Novice title can be pursued. In this, one tube is hidden with the rat that the dog must locate and indicate. The dog has to tunnel and climb at some point and this must be completed within 2 minutes.

Most people when they think of temperament testing they think of the Canine Good Citizen. This can be taken even further by pursuing the Advanced (CGCA) and Urban (CGCU) versions. To take it step further, the ATTS offers an even more advanced temperament test which we will be taking in Oct 2022 to try and earn our TT title.