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Cursinu – The All-Round Talent from Corsica

Until the 1950s, the Cursing was only available on the French island of Corsica off the coast of Italy. The Corsicans used their dogs for hunting, herding livestock, and defending their home and yard since the island has always been an easy target for pirates and political disputes. In Germany, there are hardly any owners to be found since the Cursing is not a companion dog, but a pure working dog.

The Brindle Pig Packer without Molosser Characteristics

Cursinus combine characteristics of Great Danes and Retrievers, although they look more like Retrievers because of their well-fitting skin. Bitches reach a height at the withers of between 46 and 55 cm, males measure up to 58 cm at the withers. A specific weight is not specified, they usually weigh around 25 kilograms.

Characteristics of the Corsican Dog according to the SCC

  • The head should not appear molossoid, but as in the wolf, the skull and muzzle taper towards the tip. The stop and eyebrows are only moderately developed on the flat skull.
  • The muzzle is relatively slim and the lips are tight. The color of the large nose is always black.
  • Because the neck is particularly short, it sometimes appears as if the dog is pulling its head back between its shoulders. No dewlap stands out on the throat.
  • Slightly slanted eyes with brown irises convey a faithful and serious expression. They are oval rather than almond-shaped.
  • Rose ears and drop ears are accepted. They start high up, reach around the corner of the eye, and are rounded at the tips.
  • The back is straight and merges into a short, well-muscled croup. The lower profile line is not raised too much but is still slim. The ribs do not reach below the elbows.
  • The fore and hind legs are long and very muscular. They stand vertically and are supported by long rabbit feet. The hind paws are slightly longer than the front paws. The claws are usually black, lighter on white paws.
  • There are breeding lines with a long tail and those with a shorter tails. The short tail reaches about to the knee joint. Congenital bobbed tails and missing tails do occur, but these dogs should not be used for breeding.

Coat and colors of the Corsican working dog

The length of the coat varies by a few centimeters within the breed. It is worn short to medium-length and appears fringed on some Corsicans, but should never be bristly.

Accepted colorations and peculiarities

  • All shades of brown up to black-brown are permitted.
  • Most Curtis is brindle, but there are also solid colors with a stitch.
  • Charbonnage staining is accepted. As with the sable coloring, each hair in this coloration is darker at the tip than at the base, giving the coat the appearance of having been brushed with paint. Brown with a black tinge is a common Charbonnage coloration.
  • On the face, the fur should be well-colored dark. Also, visibly separated masks with lighter coat colors are accepted.
  • White markings are only accepted on the chest and feet.

Confusingly similar: Retrievers, Great Danes, and Cursinus

  • Chesapeake Bay Retrievers also only come in brown, but have a more teddy-like coat.
  • The Cane Corso is clearly identifiable as a Molosser, but its physique is similar to that of the Corsican in some respects.
  • For laypeople, the Perro Majorero can only be distinguished from the Cursing by its coat color and the rose ears worn backward.
  • The tail and ears of the Cao Fila de Sao Miguel (Saint Miguel Cattle Dog) are traditionally docked. This practice is forbidden in Germany. Without docking, they are most easily distinguished from Corsican dogs by their black head color.
  • The Cao de Castro Laboreiro is also very similar to the Cursi, but it is larger and weighs up to 40 kilograms.

The Protector of the Corsicans: History of Corvinus

Cursinus are working dogs without a specific task: they are always used as they are needed. In Corsica, the breed developed before the 13th century, when they were already being used to defend against pirates and to herd livestock. They successfully hunt small and large games and easily hold heavy prey with their powerful jaws.

The past of the Saupacker

So-called pig packers are considered the ancestors of many modern Great Danes and Retrievers. Used as butchers and for hunting, the dogs were bred to take on opponents larger than themselves. There is no FCI standard for the breed, but France’s Société Centrale Canine governing body for dog breeding has since Officially been listed in 2003.

The essence of the Cursinus: quick-tempered companion and work assistant

Cursinus are proud dogs that are loyal but not submissive. When given the opportunity to exercise, they show their exuberant strength and like to push their limits. The boisterous working dogs are rather unsuitable for city dwellers with office jobs or families with small children. They feel most comfortable with active single owners and shared apartments with residents who are experienced with dogs.

Can the Cursing be kept as a companion dog?

  • If the breed is not sufficiently employed, they become aggressive and destructive.
  • They really need a lot of exercise and should suit their nature as a working dogs in a demanding field.
  • Retrieval games and walks alone are not enough to keep them busy.

Characteristics of the breed at a glance

  • Intelligent
  • obedient
  • cocky
  • Distrustful of strangers
  • Instinctively defend home and owner
  • Does not get along with other dogs or small animals
  • Easily trainable
  • Cursinus growl, bare their teeth, or bark when they do not trust humans or animals or when their owner is threatened. If they don’t like something, they show it very clearly.

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