I love your web site, very informative. A few questions concerning the upcoming litters. How many litters do you have per year.? How many litters in total have each of these bitches produced? How old are these two breeding bitches? THe dogs are truly beautiful, and your love of the animals shows in the care you've taken and information provided. What do you base distinction of "pet" versus "show" quality in your pups? What color pups do these breeding matches typically produce? Any vets in the New England area that you know that are familiar with cane corsos? (I read that at least one of your pups   was sent to Mass...) Any particular health problems peculiar to the breed? Thank you in advance for any information you can provide...
-T. L.

T. L.,
Thanks for the inquiry and interest in the Colosseum Shadows line of Cane Corso! I'm glad you liked the CSCC website. Let me try and answer your questions...

"A few questions concerning the upcoming litters. How many litters do you have per year? How many litters in total have each of these bitches produced? How old are these two breeding bitches?"

PEPE IS NEARLY 5 YEARS. DOLCE IS 2 1/2 YEARS. BETWEEN THE TWO I HAVE PRODUCED 5 LITTERS. THEY ARE BRED ONCE PER YEAR -SO COLOSSEUM SHADOWS PRODUCES ONLY 2 EXCLUSIVE LITTERS PER YEAR -DEFINATELY NOT A PUPPY MILL.

"The dogs are truly beautiful, and your love of the animals shows in the care you've taken and information provided. What do you base distinction of "pet" versus "show" quality in your pups?"

IF THERE ARE ANY SERIOUS OR DISQUALIFYING CONFORMATION FAULTS (SUCH AS AN EXCESSIVE UNDERBITE OR AN UNEVEN BITE, OR POOR HEAD/MUZZLE TYPE), THE PUP IS A "PET" QUALITY. IF THE PUP CONFORMS TO THE STANDARD FOR THE BREED AND IS SHOWABLE, IT IS "SHOW" QUALITY.

"What color pups do these breeding matches typically produce?"

75% TO 90% OF THEIR LITTERS ARE CHESTNUT-BRINDLE, AND THERE ARE USUALLY 1 OR 2 BLACK-BRINDLES AND/OR RED-BRINDLES IN EACH LITTER AS WELL (CHESTNUT-BRINDLE IS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED RED-BRINDLE FOR REGISTRATION PURPOSES).

"Any vets in the New England area that you know that are familiar with cane corsos? (I read that at least one of your pups was sent to Mass...)"

I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE MYSELF AND HAVE NO IDEA WHICH VETS THERE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE BREED.

"Any particular health problems peculiar to the breed?"

THERE ARE NO HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT ARE PECULIAR TO THE BREED AS ANY HEALTH ISSUES THEY MAY PRESENT ARE ALSO PRESENTABLE IN OTHER BREEDS, SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING 3 POSSIBILITIES...

"CHERRY EYE" OR EYE ENTROPIA IS A POSSIBILITY THOUGH ONE THAT HAS NEVER PRESENTED ITSELF IN MY BLOODLINE. NOT TOO MANY OF THE OTHER CORSO BREEDERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS AND THE FEW THAT HAVE HAVE ONLY SEEN A FEW CASES I THINK, SO THIS IS RELATIVELY RARE I BELIEVE...

CRIPPLING DUE TO HIP DYSPLAYSIA IS ANOTHER POSSIBILITY AND NOT SO UNCOMMON IN SOME LINES. I MAY WELL BE THE ONLY CANE CORSO BREEDER WHO HAS YET TO PRODUCE A CRIPPLED CANE CORSO. I KNOW OF NO OTHER BREEDER WHO CAN MAKE THAT CLAIM AS I KNOW OF SEVERAL WHO HAVE, WITH OFA CERTIFIED DOGS, PRODUCED AND SOLD PUPS THAT SHOWED SIGNS OF CRIPPLING BEFORE THEY WERE A YEAR OLD AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE DYSPLAYSIA. THIS IS INFORMATION I HAVE RECEIVED FROM SOME OF MY CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED ADDITIONAL CANE CORSOS FROM OTHER BREEDERS. TO DATE, COLOSSEUM SHADOWS HAS YET TO PRODUCE A SINGLE CRIPPLED CORSO AND THIS IS SOMETHING I AM QUITE PROUD OF...

GENERALIZED DEMODEK MANGE IS SOMETHING I KNOW SOME OTHER BREEDERS HAVE HAD SOME STRUGGLES WITH, BUT LIKE THE EYE PROBLEMS, THIS ISN'T A COMMON PROBLEM FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN & HEARD. HERE AGAIN, GENERALIZED DEMODEK MANGE IS SOMETHING I HAVE YET TO SEE IN MY LINE.

"Thank you in advance for any information you can provide...
-T. L."

YOU'RE WELCOME, T. L. I HOPE THIS HELPS...
-Randy

Hello! I saw your information and the link to your page on www.allthingsdog.com. I read your page with great interest. I have been seriously considering getting a Rottweiler for about a year now. However after reading your page I think the Cane Corso is more beautiful, grander, and it seems would have a better temperament than a Rottweiler.
I live in Florida, and saw that you ship the puppies, or should I say "new family members", to other parts of the U.S. via plane. Initially my question is the cost of a Female Cane Corso, though I would consider a male as well. I do not plan to show or breed the dog so physical perfection is not nearly as important to me as would be its personality.
If you would tell me the costs for a Cane Corso I would appreciate it.

Thank you,
Tim G.

Tim, thanks for writing!
They are a beautiful breed aren't they :-) And the good news is that their temperaments and personalities are every bit as great as their looks! My vet, Dr. James Nunn, who has been in practice for 23 years now and has handled countless Rotties told me that he considers "all Rotties unstable until proven otherwise!" He said that he's never quite sure what they're thinking or feeling because he's been surprised too many times by too many of them that acted like they were friends for awhile and then in a flash were turning on him. He said that he much prefers the open personalities of my Cane Corsos. That's a very nice thing to hear an experienced vet say about your kid's backyard playmates! In this centuries-old working breed we find that in any given litter, the personalities and temperament of each of the pups is very similar. There are no wide swings in temperament above or below the "norm" line as you see with some of the more popular working breeds such as the Rottie and G.Shepherd (this problem in those breeds is a tribute to over-selective breeding to overly narrow show standards I believe). So in this regard you will do well no matter the "flashiness" of your chosen Corso's physique.

To answer your question about cost...
Price for pups is $1800 unless there are any disqualifying faults which would preclude them from showing or conforming to the Cane Corso standard (such as a pronounced underbite or overbite; any white in places other than chest, neck, and toes; etc [of all the Cane Corso produced here at TheCOLOSSEUM, there haven't been any of the latter faults, and only very few of the former {pronounced underbites}. There have been no other disqualifying faults either as the rest have been showable]). The few Corso we produce that fall outside the Cane Corso standard are priced at $1000.
A deposit of $500 is required to reserve your pup and the list is formed in the order the deposits are received. Once your decision is made, I highly recommend placing your deposit using your major credit card, or wiring it to me with Paypal's inexpensive money transfer service to avoid having someone else squeeze in line ahead of you:

Delivery is $250. Ear crops optionally available at $200.

I'm glad you found and enjoyed my website Tim! I have some very happy & satisfied Colosseum Shadows Cane Corso owners out there who would love to share their experience with you. Let me know if you'd like to speak with them and I'll e-mail you their phone #'s.

Sincerely,
Randall C. Todd
COLOSSEUM SHADOWS™
CANE CORSO
@}~~{~~~~
Tucson, Arizona


Deposits accepted with VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover card, or direct electronic funds transfer

Steve,

You'll find the answers to your questions regarding pricing, shipping, and temperament at the COLOSSEUM SHADOWS website (link provided in my signature block below).
My guarantee is the standard 48 hour warranty that the dog comes to you in good health and free from illness or disease, along with a two year warranty against genetic disorders including crippling hip dysplasia. This is a replacement or refund warranty and one I proudly say has never been tested yet. Of all Corsos produced & placed by COLOSSEUM SHADOWS, there have been -0- reports of any crippled dogs (a track-record some other Corso breeders only wish they could tout). I have taken back one dog though -due to my customer's two-year old son's allergic reaction to the pup less than two days after they received her. I took her back though the situation fell outside the warranty. It was simply the right thing to do.
Steve, check out the info on my website and let me know if I can be of further assistance to you...

Sincerely,
Randall C. Todd
COLOSSEUM SHADOWS
~ CANE CORSO ~
@}~~{~~~~
Tucson, Arizona
ph: 520-297-4554
ItalianCaneCorso.com


Deposits accepted with VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover card, or direct electronic funds transfer

Randall,
thank you for your prompt response. You web site is terrific and it is easy to see you are a credit to the breed. I am a 49 yr old divorced male. I have had dogs all of my life except the past 5 years since my divorce (ex-wife got the Golden). I have had a Boxer, Golden, GSD, and Bassett. I am currently researching the Dob, Rott, and Cane. I presently live in a townhouse with a yard (not fenced) but once married, I will be building a new house on 2-5 acres. I am a IT Consultant and work from home. I am interested in a puppy in the May/June time frame as I live outside of Chicago and the weather will be better. I am an active individual (jogging, walking, Mt. Climbing in Maine,etc) so the dog would get plenty of exercise and time.
I am interested in a male. Not the biggest just the best, and temperment and health are most important to me. Do you have a neuter clause? Do the Canes slobber? What is their intelligence level compared to a Dobe or Golden. What is the life span? I would enroll hm in puppy Kindergarten and add'l obedience classes. Physically I am strong enough to handle the dog ( Ex-Marine Officer) and am looking for a companion. If you require more info, please reply back. Also, what is the price range?
Regards,
Steve Axxxxxxx

I am interested in a puppy in the May/June time frame as I live outside of Chicago and the weather will be better.

>> Steve, I do have the year's 2nd & last litter planned for that timeframe.

I am an active individual (jogging, walking, Mt. Climbing in Maine,etc) so the dog would get plenty of exercise and time.

>> Sounds like Cane Corso heaven :-)

I am interested in a male. Not the biggest just the best, and temperment and health are most important to me.

>> You sound like me here.

Do you have a neuter clause?

>> No, but for the few Corsos I sell that have conformation faults (or on the rare occasion I sell a quality conforming showable Corso at a discounted price) I check the box "not for breeding" on that dog's registration application which tells the registrar "the papers stop here". In other words, you will be able to register that particular Cane Corso and get its registration papers, but if it's ever bred, none of the pups it produces will be allowed to be registered and receive their "papers".

Do the Canes slobber?

>> Not when they're in the house or at rest like most other molossers do, but when you're playing ball and they get hot and winded, the Cane Corso will get a frothy foamy lip. This can also happen when they're really intensely chewing on one of their chew toys.

What is their intelligence level compared to a Dobe or Golden.

>> Different... Not different "level", but different "type". I suppose the intelligence level may be the same -- I am speaking of "mentality type" rather than "intelligence level". Different breed types process thought differently -they "think" different in order to perform their different specialized jobs. For example the shepherd type's focus is more "concentrated" which gives them their quickness of response under the direct command of a shepherd or handler which enables them to efficiently move a herd of sheep or cattle to a specific place required by the shepherd. A Molosser's focus isn't concentrated but "diffused". They're trying to pay attention to 20 different things at once...they pay attention to every little distraction of noise or motion to enable it to perform its main task of "guarding" or "watch-dog". The Molosser has spent centuries independently thinking for itself -relying on its own instincs and intelligence in the performance of its duty as guardian of herds & flocks, family & farm. This has given the molosser a more independent nature which has in turn brought it the mistaken & misplaced tag of "stubborn" by those who have no concept of breed "mentality differentiation". It's not a question of intelligence level, just different thought processes -different jobs. I believe the molossers, thru the centuries of the development of their independant "thinking", have also developed an edge over the shepherds in the abiliy to be discriminating in their dealings with people. I have a strong feeling the numbers would reveal a lot more unnecessary shepherd bites on both strangers AND family than those mistakenly administered by members of the molosser family -especially around the food bowl -and especially involving children. An exception may be the Rottweiler, which is considered "molosser", and is a breed known to administer a lot of "accidental" bites. But I believe it might be instructive to note here that the Rottie is a breed that developed from molosser/SHEPHERD crosses whereas the Cane Corso (also considered molosser) came from molosser lines that had been injected with some coursing hound.

What is the life span?

>> 10 years.

I would enroll hm in puppy Kindergarten and add'l obedience classes.

>> That is very good!

Physically I am strong enough to handle the dog (Ex-Marine Officer) and am looking for a companion. If you require more info, please reply back.

>> If you're serious Steve, give me a call so I can get to know you and your situation better. Also, if you're interested in my mid-year litter, you'll want to make your reservaion thru deposit soon, as the list starts filling up early around here.

Also, what is the price range?

>> That's posted on the COLOSSEUM SHADOWS Cane Corso website in the "More Questions? More Info" section under "Some General Questions". Your question here makes me hope you haven't missed some of the better, more informative pages on the CSCC website... Conforming Corsos from COLOSSEUM SHADOWS are $1800...$200 for the optional ear crops (compare that to 5 other Cane Corso breeder's price of $2500-$3000 per pup WITHOUT ear crops [I'm personally aware of a pup that was sold for $5,000 last year!!]). Most vets [the few that do ear crops -and most of them aren't familiar with the Corso crop] charge around $350 to do a pups ears. That works out to about $3,500 per litter and may have something to do with why the breeders have decided to let you have that bill). You can compare the prices - then you can compare the Corsos. Mine are not only 2nd to none, but my customers who have purchased COLOSSEUM SHADOWS Corsos and then gone and obtained 2nd Corsos from other CC breeders have, each and every one without exception, said mine were better to look at, with better movement, and had a LOT more drive -and that they have no reservation nor hesitation about recommending me to those who inquire about where they can get one. I am extremely proud of that fact and it gives me even more pride in my dogs!
Give me a call when you're ready Steve. Again, if you're looking at the mid-year litter, I wouldn't wait too long...

Sincerely,
Randall C. Todd
COLOSSEUM SHADOWS
~ CANE CORSO ~
@}~~{~~~~ Tucson, Arizona
ph: 520-297-4554
ItalianCaneCorso.com

Deposits accepted with VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover card, or direct electronic funds transfer