The corso gait.

[Ben Curtis]

As I have stated many times in my previous posts. Leo is my first Corso. I am so in love with this breed, and the subtle differences from other breeds I have owned crack me up.

Today I'd like to point out Leo's gait. He walks with so much more attitude than any other dog I have ever seen. I love his little hip swing as he walks. When we were picking out names. It was between Leonidas and Mojo. Leo won the vote, but after seeing the way he walks, Mojo may have been more appropriate.

Then there is the way he runs. I don't ever remember getting the same kind of enjoyment out of watching a dog run before. I am not sure how I would describe it either. My daughter compared him to a deer, the way that he bounds. I defiantly see the similarities I also never remember a dog running fast just because he enjoys running fast. Leo loves running in the snow. Especially when its light and fluffy, and the snow is spraying up around him. You can see the absolute joy in his face when he is at his top speed.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Ben

 

[mx5055]

Bella walks the same way...lots of attitude! And when she is running free it is a joy to watch...she sometimes reminds me of a lion/leopard....some kind of big cat. One of my favorite moves she does is when we are outside at night in the yard and it's dark, and I can't see where she is (my yard is terraced). Anyway, all I have to do is snap my fingers, and within seconds I hear this kind of "silent rushing" sound (yea I know...kind of a contradiction, but I have no other way to describe it) and she is right at my side staring up at me intently. The way she does this at night made me slowly come to realize that while I may think she is doing her own thing and not paying any attention to me, she is actually very in tune to exactly where I am and what I'm doing.

 

[Ben Curtis]

Leo does this thing we call the dance. He has done it since he was a little pup. When he wants to go out he will go to the front door and give a little bark. If we do not respond quick enough that is when the dance comes out. It is a very hard thing to explain. He sort of leaps his hind legs up in the air, and hooks them back around in a circle. As his hind legs come around he leaps his front legs up around following his back legs. He basically doing a leaping 720. It is quite hilarious We have been trying to get it on video, but have not had any luck. He is getting so big now, the move now incorporates crashing into the wall, kennel, bench, or whom ever is in the area.

I am guessing this is a unique Leo thing, but this breed never ceases to amaze me.

 

[mx5055]

lol Yea, I fall more in love with Bella everyday. What does Leo do when you tell him no? Bella is usually very responsive when I tell her no about something (cause it's so rare that I do...lol). One situation though is kind of comical...She is not allowed upstairs...that is the cat's domain, and I have been very firm with her about this, and she hates it! Unfortunately, I live in a 3 story house, with only one bathroom, and it is upstairs, so frequently during the day I have to go upstairs and Bella is told "no", and if she is looking rebellious at all, I add the command "down" or "stay". This upsets her no end....as soon as I am out of sight I hear the most horrible crying and whining....it sounds like she is being tortured. Then, lol...this is the part that really makes me laugh...there will be a couple moments of quiet, and then it sounds like a truck has crashed into my living room! She runs around picking up all her toys, throwing them in the air, tossing them all over the place...just taking her frustration out on them. When she hears me coming down the stairs she throws herself on the floor in a submissive pose and stays that way until she gets a belly rub. Since like I said there is only one bathroom and it's on the top floor, we got through this scenario many many times a day, and it never varies...cracks me up! And, this is from a dog who sleeps alone in her crate at night, all through the night with never a cry or a whine!! Yeah, I love her and her little peculiarlarites

 

[Ben Curtis]

Just last night Leo was chewing on one of his favorite bones. This is a real bone that is rather solid and weight around 4 or 5 pounds. When he was done with it he just threw it across the room. He could have just left it on the floor, but he just had to throw it. It was quite noticeable because of the sound the bone makes on our floors. My wife and I both laughed, and then discovered in our conversation that this is something he does quite often. It is almost like he is telling his bone, I'm done, take that!

He also will sometime throw his toys in the air and try to catch them, or even across the room and play fetch by himself. This happens when he is not getting attention. One of these days he is going to throw that bone at the TV and it will be a costly game of solo fetch.

 

[Russ Williams]

Hank loves to run. We also have a very fit Rat Terrier that is lightning fast. She gives Hank a hell of a workout. She has also taught him some amazing agility with quick flying turns and proper "catch up" angles. I have never seen a dog this big also be this graceful.

 

[JoRoJr]

Lol I love watching my rottie and corsos running in the yard too. And I think its funny you wanted to name him mojo because we picked that name for our new corso puppy cause i like the way it sounds and I thought it was not a very common dog name, but I guess not lol

 

[SavingGrace]

Gracie plays fetch with herself in the backyard if there's no one able to play with her at that second. I'll watch her from the kitchen window and there she is! Tossing her ball up into the air and catching it and then throwing it out in front of her so that she can go fetch it. She also LOVES to run as fast as she can, which I try to limit because one of her hips isn't great, but honestly - she's so happy doing it, it's like her hip doesn't bother her at all. She also makes the whine/cry sound when we're in the car. She loves car rides, always gets real excited about them, but as soon as we start driving she does this whiney/crying sound (similar to when her ball gets stuck under the bed and she needs us to help her get it) which is hysterical to me. Then we pull up next to another car at a redlight and she pulls out her big girl bark - I laugh and tell her "You were just crying a minute ago tough girl!"

 

[SavingGrace]

Corso=Best Breed Ever

 

[jcook]

corso=best breed ever

agreed!

 

[jersey girl]

There is something so beautiful watching a corso move. I love standing on the deck and watching Crickett run around the yard. When she sees or hears something she stands still and leans foward...ears and tail up...she looks so pretty when she does that. She also loves the snow and will jump around trying the eat the falling snowflakes...it cracks me up. Love this breed.

 

[Skiner]

Leo does this thing we call the dance. He has done it since he was a little pup. When he wants to go out he will go to the front door and give a little bark. If we do not respond quick enough that is when the dance comes out. It is a very hard thing to explain. He sort of leaps his hind legs up in the air, and hooks them back around in a circle. As his hind legs come around he leaps his front legs up around following his back legs. He basically doing a leaping 720. It is quite hilarious We have been trying to get it on video, but have not had any luck. He is getting so big now, the move now incorporates crashing into the wall, kennel, bench, or whom ever is in the area.

I am guessing this is a unique Leo thing, but this breed never ceases to amaze me.

No it's not unique to Leo. LOL! My Bear does that too! He'll do about two full circles then he stops all of a sudden, cocks his head to the side, looks at you with that "look", then starts to wag his "nub"! It's halarious!!! He surprises me everyday! He'll also do this thing that I call the " Crip Walk". I'll go over to pet him, (this happens when he's feeling really submissive) and then he'll s-l-o-w-l-y start to try and lay down on his back so I can rub his big chest. (he loves that) but when he's trying to do this, he hunches his shoulders and starts moving in slow-motion before he gets on the floor and turns over on his back. By the time i'm finally rubbing his belly, we'll have walked about a couple yards or so!
CC's are so funny! And as "heavy-boned" as they are, how they have the ability to change direction on a dime while running is truly amazing!!!!
Corso's are just awesome...

 

[Ben Curtis]

Skinner, you described Leo's "the dance" perfectly. They are funny beasts.