Cane Corso
BreedDog
Large Italian mastiff-type breed bred for guarding and protection. AKC Working Group. Intelligent, loyal, and imposing with a strong protective instinct.
Trait profiles
Heritable traits and their typical frequency in this breed population.
Extension (MC1R)
E
Em (black mask) is extremely common and typical in Cane Corso. Fawn and gray Corsos almost always have black mask.
Black (CBD103)
K
Dominant black (KB) and brindle (kbr) both common and standard.
Agouti (ASIP)
A
Fawn (Ay) is standard and common. Tan points (at) occur in some tri/ghost tan lines.
Dilute (MLPH)
D
Blue (dd) is AKC accepted. "Formentino" (blue fawn) is a recognized Cane Corso color.
Spotting (MITF)
S
Small white patches on chest and toes are acceptable but large white markings are non-standard. Piebald pattern is non-standard.
Intensity (MFSD12)
I
Affects fawn intensity from pale straw to deep red fawn.
Brown (TYRP1)
B
Chocolate (bb) exists in some Cane Corso lines but is not an AKC recognized color.
Merle (PMEL)
M
Merle introduced via crossbreeding. NOT in AKC Cane Corso standard. 2.9K monthly searches for "merle cane corso."
Long Hair (FGF5)
L
Cane Corso is short-coated. Long hair locus absent.
Harlequin (PSMB7)
H
Harlequin locus absent in Cane Corso.
Morph names & registry status
Breed-specific naming conventions and recognition status across major registries.
Fawn
CommonAy/- with ky/ky. Ranges from light fawn to deep red fawn. AKC standard. Almost always with black mask (Em).
Brindle
Commonkbr/- pattern. AKC standard. Can be black brindle, blue brindle, etc.
Gray
Commondd on black base. AKC calls this "gray" in Cane Corso. AKC standard color. The Formentino (blue fawn) = dd + Ay -- see combo morph.
Formentino
Common"Formentino" is the Cane Corso-specific name for dd + Ay (dilute fawn). AKC standard. Pale fawn body with blue/grey mask and grey nose. A distinctly Italian breed term.
Chocolate
Not a recognized Cane Corso color.
Black and Tan
Black with tan points ("ghost tan"). Non-standard but occurs in the breed.
Tri
Tan points pattern. Non-standard in AKC Cane Corso standard.
Unknown
bb dd. Not a recognized Cane Corso color.
Unknown
Significant white markings. Non-standard in Cane Corso. Small white spots (chest, toes) acceptable but not extensive pied pattern.
Unknown
Merle on blue base. Not in AKC standard. Produced via crossbreeding.
Unknown
dd + at/at. Not in AKC standard.
Unknown
Chocolate is not standard; merle is not standard.
Unknown
Merle + tan points. Not in AKC standard.
Merle
NOT in AKC Cane Corso standard. Produced via crossbreeding. 2.9K monthly searches. Registered in some alternative registries (ICCF, etc.).