In Medievil times kings had kennels of mastiffs that were bred to suit the king ~We intend to suit the court and the court is you!

Cane Corso AKA Italian mastiff 

 Italian authorities believe that the Cane Corso is one of two breeds which stem directly from the Roman Molossur. It is said that, in ancient times, the historic Molossus gave rise to two quite different breeds. One dog was very massive and became the progenitor of the Neapolitan Mastiff. The other was a taller, lighter and less cumbersome dog, known for his quickness and agility. From this very athletic Molossus sprang today's Cane Corso.

In medieval times, the Cane Corso was used as a big game hunter. His power, courage and agility made him especially valuable on wild boar. It is also reported that he was used on stag and bear. Italian fanciers of the breed say, proudly, the Corso is "the only true coursing mastiff."

With the decline in big game hunting, the Corso found a home with Italian farmers. He was often used as a drover, moving animals to market or to the slaughterhouse. On the farm, he protected protect livestock from both human thieves and animal predators. He also doubled admirably as a guard dog for the home. Indeed, to this day he can still be seen throughout rural Italy performing these old duties.

The breed first came into the United States around 1987 or so when it was first brought to the Sottile family in North Jersey. It was there, and at the dog shows, that I first came to admire the breed for it's elegant look, it's trainability, and it's loyalty to it's owners. It wasn't until last few years that I was able to acquire my first Cane Corso and instantly fell in love. I found the breed extremely loyal, intelligent, and very attentive. Also, Cane Corsos don't seem to suffer from the various ailments that affect other large breeds.

The standard for the Cane Corso is a dog with massive bone. His body length is a little longer than tall. The chest is broad and deep, while the hindquarters are moderately angulated and very muscular. The Cane Corso's tail is docked to one-third of its natural length. "Most important is that the dog appears balanced and athletic," the standard states.

The breed has a short dense coat which comes in a wide range of colors. The standard allows "black, black-red, chestnut, fawn, blue or any of these colors with brindling." White markings may appear on the chest, neck, chin and the tips of the toes. White on any other part of the body, including the face, is a disqualification. Eye color corresponds to coat color and may range from black to hazel.Despite the breed's size, they make excellent housedogs. The Cane Corso definitely needs socialization, and it is strongly urge that owners obedience train their dogs. Properly raised and trained, the breed is suspicious of strangers, but wonderful with the family. When raised correctly, the dog should be submissive to all members of the family.This breed gets along with children very well and will protect a child to the death.The Cane Corso will be an intricate part of our Italian Daniffs.

Catahoula Leopard dog (Mastiff X Red Wolf)

The Louisiana catahoula Leopard Dog, also known as a catahoula Leopard Dog, catahoula Cur, and/or catahoula hog Dog, is one of, if not the oldest breed found in the United States. First recorded in 1686, near the Parish of catahoula, in Louisiana, these amazingly handsome, fearless, tireless, hardworking dogs with spotted leopard like spots and white/pale blue eyes, were immediately considered worth their weight in gold. The word "Catahoula" is believed to be a corrupted version of the Choctaw Indian word for "beautiful, clear water"...aptly describing their striking white/pale blue "glass" eyes. Believed to be descendents of Hernando de Sotos' Spanish war dogs (Great Danes and Other Mastiffs), abandoned 100 years earlier, the theory is; they were captured and bred with "dogs" thought to be domesticated red wolves; belonging to the Choctaw Indians in the catahoula Lake region of Louisiana. We have worked VERY hard to find the largest 'MASTIFF TYPE' Catahoulas to add to our Italian Daniff program !

Great Dane AKA German Mastiff
Great Danes had many duties, including guarding castles, pulling carts and participating in battles alongside their worrier ancestors. 

*Great Danes were not developed in Denmark, as the name implies, but in Germany where they are known as German Mastiffs. Large mastiff-like dogs were known in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations and were probably brought to Germany. During the Middle Ages, the German Mastiff was developed to hunt boar. Since these Mastiffs were such impressive looking animals, medieval aristocrats liked to use them to guard their castles. Great Danes were ranked 27th out of 154 dog breeds in 2004 AKC registrations.

Known as the ‘Apollo of Dogs’, this adorable German Mastiff breed is more likely to be seen snuggled up on a couch, huge legs stretched out, or crammed in the back of a car on the way to an outing with the family. Needless to say this, lovable breed has been man’s best friend for centuries, so it’s no wonder they are considered one of the best-natured breeds by many. Danes are great family dogs and love children! The Great Dane AKA German Mastiff will also be an intricate part of our Italian Daniff Program.

~We Pledge to bring you a Mastiff worthy of a KING~

worthy of being a Legend ~

Aedh Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. ~Yeats 

 Heaven Sent's Juliet of Shakespeare(Juliet)

AKC registered Great Dane

Sir Nitro of Rome (Keno)

registered

Cane Corso Italiano 

La Bella Luna 

AKC registered Great Dane

Blue Merle 

  4 months old ~pic coming soon ~~

~Coming soon ~

solid blue male

NALC registered Catahoula 

{far to the mastiff end ,cousin to Panheads White Wolf}

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 for more on mastiffs in medieval times

click here! 

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