Neo and Corso... one and the same dog.
This is a letter written in 1990 by Fernando Casolino to Antonio Morsiani, I
Bologna, 30.03.1990
Dear Dr. Morsiani, Flavio Bruno, with this supplement of researches, I believe has completed for the most part, the card regarding the employment of the Cane Corso in the history of the agricultural/pastoral civilization of our south (meridione) with some transient brushstroke on the customs and the folcklore of those populations. It would therefore need to be to added to the other news that I have sent you after the Foggia show. As always, information originate from the lively voice of our people, from old breeders-farmers, from noble and ancient lineages where trace is found in some file; from Bishoprics, Parishes and Convents; from breeders, butchers, carrettieri, rural guards, tax collectors, guards and bandits. Speaking of these two last categories, with the decree of 30 nov. 1750, Charles III, the cops are now prohibited the use of the Cane Corso for the pursuit of the “wanted for serious crimes”. Only about twenty years ago these news, now harvested with so much work, overcoming some distrust and with patient interviews, were matter of fact, they were an integral part of the ways the dogs were utilized in our lands. The rapid social and economic transformations that almost suddenly and unexpectedly came upon us after the last war make them seem centuries old. Yet there are still areas, few actually, where the time almost stood still and the uses and the customs, the trials of the job and the activities continue with their traditional rhythm and the Cani Corsi are utilized for the same necessities, for the same demands, for the same "whims" of man. Can seem unbelievable! The fact, however, remains that, the prevailing utilization of the Cane Corso has always been and it is today still that of the watch dog and of the defense. The stalls and the modern breeding of the cattle have entirely almost abolished the pasture and the wild or semi-wild state of the herds, but the custody has always been necessary, because the crook is transformed and motorized but it still exists and in the farms of Puglia today it is said still that the stolen heads of livestock are no longer recoverable once gone beyond S. Ferdinando of Puglia. Here is where, after being chained up for an entire day, the Corso dogs are kept, especially at night, in the fenced areas, by the entrances of the police stations, vigilant and aggressive, The overseeing, the management of the pasture and the seasonal travel with the herds, are almost a memory. The meaning of the name, and without resorting to provincial roots, is to convey us really the idea of strong, athletic, sturdy, ready for action. After all, it is also a compliment for the person with these attributes that, often they also denote superior virility. Personally I am convinced and I have always defended the thesis of the Latin etymology as the simplest and rational: cohors, cors: escort, protector, guardian, defender. There is also in existence a very private and exclusive denomination that was especially due to the Jesuits and the Franciscan (monks) for the Corso guardian of convents in Lucania and in southern Campania (Irpinia): "Dogo Di Puglia" perhaps to distinguish it, for his qualities as a hunter as well as guardian, from the other “cane da presa”, the one more known in the Neapolitan area, the larger sized dog being referred to by the same name, Cane Corso. The late Count Bonatti made me read something on this matter, fruit of his searches in Neapolitan files. He would have even desired that the breed should be recognized/confirmed with this subtitle. We would have been out however of every consolidated tradition! In truth, before 1948 the denomination was unique both for the larger and for the lighter size: Cane Corso.
In the area around Naples it represented a local distinction: Cane e’ presa. After 1948, some would have wanted it called: Italian Mastiff. The experts decided to call it: Neapolitan Mastiff. After all the same GUAGLIONE of Villanova patriarch of the breeding of Scanziani was a Cane Corso of the heaviest type, very dry and with light dewlap. The present types of the Neapolitan Mastiff show the characters of an exasperated selection, different from the native morphological characteristics. I would not like to be condemned for heresy, nor to lack respect toward the history of one of affirmed and glorious Italian breed, even if the facts are these. I consider this monologue an amusing, pleasant humorous remark. Every other vague consideration in the historical-literary supposition and perhaps biological. I salute you and yours with much affectionate respect.
Fernando CASOLINO
