The Cane Corso is a nice and powerful dog. They look a bit scary, however they still make great companions. What is also impressive are the many Cane Corso colors. By the way, what is the rarest color of Cane Corso? Well, let us discuss it here.
About the Cane Corso
The Cane Corso is a working dog that was accepted by the AKC. But, despite their relatively recent acceptance, these Cane Corso dogs and their ancestors have been around as guardians and companions for some decades. These Cane Corso dogs grow up to be quite large, and have a muscular, athletic physique. They are very intelligent, energetic, and loyal to their families. So, it is crucial to train and socialize them well from a young age to reduce the risk of territorial aggression. Cane Corso dogs have a short, dense, straight coat. The thickness and coarse feel of their own fur keeps them water resistant. In the winter, they are going to grow a warm, thick undercoat.
What is the Rarest Cane Corso Color?
Typically, the rarest Cane Corso colors are those caused by the dilute gene. It is because the dilute gene is recessive. Therefore, fawn and grey coloring will not show if your dog just receives one copy of the dilute gene. Instead, they are going to be expressed as black or red.
Here are some rarest Cane Corso colors:
- Fawn
- Grey
- Chocolate
- Liver
- Isabella
- Straw
Several breeders will plan their breeding to try reaching dilute coloring in their puppies. But at other times, recessive genes are able to go unnoticed over generations, thus a dilute puppy could appear seemingly at random in a litter.
Either way, fame will impact the availability of these Cane Corso puppies. Marketing dilute shades as rare is frequently a way to drive up their value and demand with new owners. In some cases, it is a sign of a disreputable breeder. The higher demand is for these recessive colors, then the harder it can be to discover these puppies.
What is the Most Common Cane Corso Color?
You have to know that the most common Cane Corso colors are those that are caused by dominant genes. This is because a puppy only needs to receive one dominant gene to express that color. For your information, black and red are dominant shades. But black Cane Corso is still more common than solid red Cane Corso. It is because to express as solid red without any melanin in the coat, the dogs need to receive two copies of the recessive red gene.
Another factor which can influence how common a color is, is their popularity. Of course, this will be able to change over time. Being famous or popular can mean that more breeders are purposefully breeding for those shades. However, it may also mean that there is a higher demand for those colors. So, because black is such a famous color, you might discover yourself on waiting lists to get a black puppy, despite its prevalence over other colors.
A List of the Cane Corso Colors Acceptable By the American Kennel Club
Need to know that all dog fur colors come from two basic pigments: eumelanin (black) and pheomelanin (red). Puppies inherit genes from their parents that will impact these base pigments to produce different shades and patterns. However, that does not mean that Cane Corso can come in all possible colors.
Here are some colors acceptable by the American Kennel Club:
Black
Black is one of the most famous and most common Cane Corso colors. The genes that cause a solid black coat are dominant, therefore they are more likely to express than colors with recessive genes acting on the same base pigment. Black Cane Corso are extremely popular, because lots of owners believe this increases the fierce appearance of their dog. However, in the summer, Cane Corso with this coloring may need special care, as their black fur will become really hot in the sun.
Fawn
Fawn is sometimes referred to as cinnamon, tan, or sable. This coloring is caused by a dilute gene that acts on red pigment. Dilute genes are recessive. Thus, puppies need to receive a copy from both parents to show up as fawn. Also, several fawn Cane Corso may have a black or grey mask on their face. Usually, their coloring will be uniform over their entire bodies, however some may have slightly darker pigmentation over certain areas.
Grey
Like Fawn, grey coloring is also caused by dilute genes. However, instead of acting on the base red pigment, they dilute black pigment. Also, grey is often called blue or silver. Therefore, several breeders will market their grey Corso puppies with these terms to make them seem more unique. It is also not unusual to see these dogs with small patches of white fur, mainly on their chest, chin, throat, and toes. Shades of grey will vary in their intensity, like the fawn coloring.
Red
Red Cane Corso dogs will have a black or grey mask. The genes that cause red fur are dominant, so a puppy just needs to receive one copy of the gene to express this color. However, red Cane Corso can still vary in its intensity. Therefore, red Cane Corso can range from a brighter orange to a deep, rusty red.
Brindle
This kind of color is caused by an irregular pattern of contrasting eumelanin and pheomelanin. It makes a striped pattern on your dog’s fur. The distribution of this pattern and the exact placement of each pigment will vary from one brindle Corso to the next. So, each one will be unique. Also, some may have a black or grey mask, or white patches.
Formentino
Gray masked cane Corso with a light fawn overlay is regarded as Formentino. This is another best Cane Corso color acceptable by AKC. Typically, Formentino Cane Corso puppies will receive a red/fawn gene from each parent. Combined with a dilute gene, you will be able to find that their masks are grey. Need to know that the Formentino Cane Corso coats are one of the rare Cane Corso colors.
