The Cane Corso (pronounced ) is a large dog breed of Southern Italian origins that is used for personal protection, tracking, law enforcement, and as a guard dog. The Cane Corso is a large Italian Molosser, which is closely related to the Neapolitan Mastiff. In name and form the Cane Corso predates its cousin the Neapolitan Mastiff. The Cane Corso (pronounced ) is a large dog breed of Southern Italian origins that is used for personal protection, tracking, law enforcement, and as a guard dog. The Cane Corso is a large Italian Molosser, which is closely related to the Neapolitan Mastiff. In name and form the Cane Corso predates its cousin the Neapolitan Mastiff. It is well muscled and less bulky than most other Mastiff breeds.