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Cane Corso: The New 'status Dog' After XL Bully Ban?
A year since new laws restricted the keeping of Xl Bullies in Scotland, there are concerns that another breed is becoming the new "status dog".
The Cane Corso is an Italian breed of mastiff. Weighing up to 50kg, they can have a bite force of 700 psi – stronger than a lion's, which is 600 psi.
Traditionally, they served as guards and are believed to be descendants of Molossian war dogs from Ancient Rome.
Unlike the XL Bully, there are currently no restrictions on owning a Cane Corso in the UK.
There have been a number of high profile dog attacks involving the breed over the years. Getty ImagesThere have been several high-profile attacks involving the breed over the years.
Former Love Island winner Jack Fincham was handed a six-week prison sentence for dangerous dog offences after his black Cane Corso Elvis bit a runner.
Last October, a ten-year-old girl was taken to hospital after a Cane Corso attacked her on Maukinfauld Road, Parkhead in Glasgow.
In May 2022, a Cane Corso named Diesel was ordered to attack a man in a car in Bishopbriggs. The dog dragged the victim out of the vehicle by his arm.
Before the XL Bully ban came into force, the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) opposed it and warned the legislation targeting a specific dog type was not the most effective way to protect the public.
There is no Kennel Club standard of the breed – which means XL Bullies have to be identified by size, weight and certain characteristics and can be misidentified.
The charity said the ban would not prevent potentially out-of-control and dangerous dogs from getting into the wrong hands or breeders from creating another aggressive and powerful crossbreed.
The Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals dog welfare expert and dog control lead Dr Samantha Gaines also warned "attention would shift onto another large, powerful breed" making the Cane Corso a "status dog".
There is also no Kennel Club standard for the Cane Corso breed.
There are currently no plans to restrict the Cane Corso, but the Scottish Government said legislation is in place to protect the public from dangerous dogs.
A spokesperson said: "Responsible dog ownership is required for all breeds of dog to help keep communities safe.
"There are a range of laws that can be used to encourage responsible dog ownership in Scotland including the dog control notice regime operated by local authorities. We are working with relevant authorities to help keep communities safe within the existing legal framework."
The Scottish SPCA said it is fully supportive of laws to protect the public but is "deeply concerned" about the rise in dog control incidents.
A spokesperson said: "We know that any breed of dog can be potentially out of control and dangerous in the wrong hands. We need action and solutions that protect the public as well as safeguarding animal welfare but banning dogs because of the way they look isn't the answer.
"We do not want to have the same conversation about plans to ban yet another type of dog.
"Instead, we will continue to call on the Scottish Government to work closely with the Scottish Sentencing Council when it comes to properly punishing anyone found guilty of owning a dog that has been involved in an attack.
"We will continue to call on the police and courts in Scotland to properly enforce existing legislation through jail sentences and automatic bans on dog ownership."
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Dog Trainer's Ominous Warning About Cane Corso Breed As Love Island Star Jailed
Reality TV star Jack Fincham was jailed yesterday (January 29) after it was revealed his dog had bit a runner.
The Love Island star, who won the show alongside Dani Dyer in 2018, was sentenced to six weeks in prison after his black Cane Corso, named Elvis, attacked a runner. However, the 32-year-old was released within hours after appealing his sentence.
The incident happened in September 2022 in Swanley, Kent, and came after the dog also attacked a woman in Grays, Essex, last year too.
The news comes on the heels of a warning issued by a dog trainer about the breed on TikTok, cautioning people to be wary around "protective dogs".
Speaking via his American Standard Dog Training account, the trainer, known as @americanstandardk9 on the site, shared his insights with his 3.7 million followers. His video began with a Cane Corso dog barking, as he said: "Do you know what he's barking at folks? My wife, who he loves.
"But that's typical Corsos. Highly defensive, might bite first and ask questions later, even when it's just your lovely wife coming back from a day out on the town with my little daughter."
As the dog wagged its tail, the trainer continued: "Do you see that tail going now? Now he knows who he's dealing with. But that's what we say when you have a protective type of dog, you have a guardian dog, you've got to be careful how to approach your own home."
He painted a vivid picture of a hypothetical situation where his wife returns from an evening with friends, having forgotten her keys, and opts to enter through the back door instead of the front. "We could have a problem and we'll be waking up to something else," he cautioned.
Wrapping up his message, he advised: "So, I'm just telling you to be careful. You've got to be very mindful of the type of breed you're bringing home and the type of training you're doing in and around your home or the lack of training.
"You can have incidents happen, even with your own loving pet. Something to think about."
The video racked up 1.9million likes, as many people took note of his warning. One person said: "I love this video. He doesn't even need to explain the obvious. He is literally explaining that if you get breeds like that, just know what they are packing. We just need to educate ourselves!"
While another added: "This vaguely explains, why my Mom got bitten by my dog. Incidents do happen."
A third wrote: "My dad has a Corso pit mix, and she has no problem with us opening the door unannounced during the day, but at night, you have to call her name so she knows who's in the house, then she won't growl."
Love Island Star Freed In Dangerous Dog Case
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Jack Fincham won the ITV reality contest Love Island in 2018 with former partner Dani Dyer [PA Media]
Former Love Island winner Jack Fincham has been released from prison within hours of being sentenced for dangerous dog offences.
The 32-year-old's black cane corso bit a runner in September 2022 in Swanley, Kent, and attacked a woman in Grays, Essex, last year.
Fincham, of Swanley, pleaded guilty to two counts of being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog and was sentenced to six weeks in prison at Southend Magistrates' Court.
But the court admin office told the BBC he had been released on the same day, because he had appealed his sentence.
Fincham worked as a pen salesman, but won the popular ITV dating show in 2018 after coupling up with Dani Dyer.
The pair split up nine months later.
Prosecutor Erin Peck said the runner, Robert Sudell, initially accepted an apology over the incident and Fincham was going to be cautioned and would engage in a responsible dog ownership course. He was told at the time that his dog - named Elvis - must be muzzled.
But he was instead prosecuted after the second incident in Grays in June last year.
Essex Police said a woman in her 40s reported that the dog grabbed her leg in Culford Road. She was uninjured.
On Wednesday, Fincham was ordered to pay £3,680 in total, including a £2,000 contribution to kennelling costs, a fine of £961 and £200 compensation to Mr Sudell.
Richard Cooper, for Fincham, said his client had "no savings".
But presiding magistrate Anne Wade said he could pay in instalments starting at £400 per month.
She made an order that the dog must be muzzled in public places, be kept on a lead and not be left alone with anyone under the age of 16.
Fincham was subject to a suspended sentence for an unrelated driving matter at the time of the incident in Swanley - and Ms Wade said this order was being taken into account in her sentencing.
"The dog was in a public place not abiding by the conditions to be muzzled and kept on a lead," added Ms Wade.
Sgt Alex Watkins of Essex Police said Fincham was given the chance to rectify his behaviour on both occasions but "failed to do so".
"I thank both victims for their courage during this investigation," he said.
Immediate releaseFincham gave a thumbs up as he was led to the cells after being sentenced, and a woman wept from the public gallery.
However, he was released after his defence team lodged the appeal.
He was told he must report to Grays police station every Friday and would need to appear at Basildon Crown Court for a bail application hearing.
It is rare for a defendant to be bailed pending an appeal on the same day they have been sentenced, the BBC understands.
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