History of the Cane Corso The cane corso originated in Italy and can be traced back to ancient times. The molossus, a now extinct mastiff-type dog, is an ancestor of the cane corso and similar mastiff-type dogs. Throughout its early history, the cane corso acted as a guard dog, war dog, and skilled hunter of various game (including very large game). Its name is derived from the Italian word for dog, cane, and the Latin term cohors, which means “protector” or “guardian.” A significant decline of the cane corso breed was brought on by World Wars I and II, but small numbers of the dogs still existed. During the 1970s, cane corso enthusiasts sparked a revival of the breed. The first cane corso dogs arrived in the U.S. in 1988. The breed was admitted to the AKC miscellaneous class in 2007 and received full recognition into the AKC working group in 2010. ​Only the best at Shorkie Cattery, you get Shorkie Puppies for sale at affordable prices.