Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew of any Cane Corso breeders that they would recommend in or around Illinois. I live in the city in Chicago and would appreciate any input. I'm not against traveling though, as I would much rather travel for a healthy pup than find someone close and get an unhealthy pup.
Good luck!! We have purchased two corsos and so far have had terrible luck with finding a quality breeder. The first one is no longer in business- we ended up with an alpha male who has an unpredictable temperament. Luckily I live on a farm and found a trainer who taught me how to deal with this strong-willed guardian, who is a valued member of the family.
The second breeder we purchased a pup from is in New Mexico and is an AKC Breeder of Merit. This breeder outlines her contract on the website, but refused to give my daughter her entire 10 page contract until after she received a non-refundable $500 deposit. The contract voids her health guarantee unless you give the dog a specific brand of supplement and voids the temperament guarantee if you don't buy a specific training video. The contract reads more like a lease than a purchase agreement because of all the ways that she lists in which she can reclaim the dog. The pup we purchased was already 5 months old and arrived infested with spaghetti-sized roundworms and a lack of socialization. Needless to say, this breeder did not offer to pay for the deworming.
My advice: BEFORE making a deposit you should do the following:
1. Visit the kennel. If we had done this for our first pup, we would have seen other dogs with temperament issues at the kennel and gone elsewhere to purchase a puppy.
2. Call other breeders in the area (or even outside the area). After we had already paid the deposit we learned a great deal about the "Breeder of Merit" from other breeders, including the fact that she is on the ICCF Suspension list and that she has sold several dogs with epilepsy. None of these breeders were badmouthing her. In fact, their information painted her in a better light than our actual experience. However, if we had had these conversations BEFORE making the deposit, we would have a different dog.
3. Insist on seeing the entire contract BEFORE making a deposit. If the breeder will not provide the purchase agreement before receiving money, RUN to another breeder!!
4. Attend events and talk to the handlers. They know the breeders personally and by the quality of dogs that they produce.
5. Don't trust references provided by the breeder. The breeder will only give you the names of people who will say good things.
6. Do buy a Cane Corso!!!! And do talk to a trainer that has experience with guardian breeds, better yet, a trainer who has experience with Corsos. Even the most docile are strong-willed, intelligent animals who need a firm hand and lots of love. In return, you will get devotion, companionship, and protection. Even with the problems I've had, it is the only breed I will have in the future. Maybe the third time around, I'll have a good experience with a breeder.
