Italy, America and the breed…

An account of my recent trip to Italy.
2001

Michael Ertaskiran

I have just recently returned from Italy where I attended the AICC summit meeting/debate, and the 4th annual AICC show. I would like to discuss the show and some of the problems facing the breed. Let me start by commending the AICC show committee which did a fantastic job in choosing a great site, in addition too handling a very large entry (107 dogs) both professionally and efficiently. A cordiale salute to AICC president and judge Renzo Carosio who on a very hot day critiqued and evaluated 97 dogs, which took almost 7 hours. I would like to thank him for allowing me to apprentice under him during these evaluations. I hope to employ the vast knowledge I gained that day to educate our American judges in the future. Many people where upset during the recent Cherry Blossom show, during Renzo’s judging that only two EXCELLENT evaluations where handed out to non-champions, and that dogs where excused from the ring for unacceptable color patterns (including champions), and dogs were penalized for to much white. These people will be happy to know that the same standards were upheld at the AICC show. I believe there were only 9 or 10 EXCELLENT evaluations received out of almost 100 dogs. Dogs were excused from the ring for inappropriate color patterns (influence from other breeds) and dogs were penalized for excessive white. The Best of breed dog was a 7 and a half-year-old male out of the veteran’s class. The Best bitch was a 7-year-old champion bitch. What this tells me is as in America the older stock is superior to the younger dogs. I for one was very disappointed in the class dogs at our Nationals; this show had a very similar feel for me. The problems on both sides of the ocean are identical in nature, if not exact in detail. Here we have a problem with long muzzles, and parallel axis of the skull (although both faults are evident in Italy) there they have problems with muzzles that are to short, excessive convergence of the axis of the skull, and the excessive undershot bite. This is commonly referred to as "Boxer type," in Italy. Here we have problems with incorrect color patterns i.e. black and tan, blue and tan, and brindling where a Rotty would have points or markings. There the color patterns are that of excessive white on the legs, feet, chest, stomach, neck, chin, muzzle and head. There is the Rotty problem in Italy as well, although not as evident as here. Another common phenomenon is the complete lack of homogeny on both sides of the ocean, the 100 dogs at this show and the 50 or so that I visited in private kennels were all over the spectrum. It went from Boxer to Labrador and everywhere in between. There were big dogs, small dogs, even dogs with chicken pox (some of you will be able to figure out what the last sentence means) I saw 4 dogs entered in the show that were bigger than any dog I have seen in America, these dogs were the size of small English mastiffs. As we all know everything I just mentioned is right here on American shores as well. Another common problem is the judging at the shows, here most judges flat out don’t know the breed, and don’t care to learn it. They make their selections based on movement and presentation alone. Some of the top-winning dogs in America have serious and sometimes disqualifying faults. Particularly when it comes to correct head type. Either the judges are not qualified to recognized these faults or do not choose to recognize them. In Italy I believe it is more politically motivated, how can it be that a dog is selected as World Champion twice when he has very serious faults such as excessive convergence, excessive white, excessive undershot, excessive shortening of the nose pipe and a rigid posterior when there where other more deserving subjects participating in the show? The common link is these two judges where both SACC members. SACC judges are the primary proponents of the "Boxer type" Cane Corso that is now thriving in Italy. Vandoni and Perricone were both involved with the recovery and subsequent recognition by ENCI. They saw in person Basir, Dauno, Bulan, Bezerillo and in later years Boris David, Rasputan, Aykra and Argo. How do you justify the selection of the current World Champion in comparison to these dogs? Moreover, refer to the iconography surrounding the Cane Corso; you do not see in the works of Hackert and Pinelli this mezzo-boxer type depicted.

I was very disappointed to learn that the SACC propaganda machine was out in full force concerning the American dogs in their conversations with ENCI. The SACC direction board told ENCI that the American dogs where nothing more than Doberman cross’s and that there are no real Cane Corso’s in America. I find the Doberman reference hysterical since I have a tape of the 1992 ENCI certification in Empoli where a very prominent SACC breeder is furious because ENCI refused to enroll his obvious Doberman cross into the LIR (open book) I say obvious Doberman cross because ENCI must have thought so too, other wise they would have enrolled the dog. What was more disappointing was that the average Cane Corso enthusiast in Italy happens to share this opinion. Everyone I spoke to was very nice and polite, but they honestly don’t have a very high opinion of the dogs in America. I believe that if they saw our top dogs, like the remaining Best of Breed class at the Cherry Blossom they would change their minds. I have proposed to Tony Scandy and Renzo Carosio that a delegation of the best dogs here in the States go to Italy next year and participate in an AICC show along side the Italian dogs. We should invite all of the ENCI director’s board and judges, SACC director’s board and members, any breeders of note and the general Cane Corso passionate. Let them see for themselves our finest up close and personal. I believe they will be impressed. The myths surrounding our dog’s needs to be dissolved, and this is the way to do it. This trip will also serve to give the American passionate an opportunity to learn about the Italian dogs, maybe visit some kennels and see for themselves what if any the differences are.