Neo VS Corsi Vs Presas

[milos_mommy]

I know we don't have a ton of molosser people here, but:

Does anyone have experience with multiple or all of these breeds? Either firsthand or knowing them through a club, etc?

I don't know if I'll ever one own. But a neo has been a dream dog for a long time. I've only met a few and only worked with one, who was pretty watered down (dog park material, although I don't doubt she'd back up her bark in protective mode, she may have just been VERY well socialized and trained). I loved her, but I'm not sure I'd love most neos as much.

I think I've also always thought of neos as a little less "intense" than the other two, and I'm not sure if that's accurate. I've met a few Corsi, but all young dogs. Presas are not existant around here as Diane Whipple was from here they don't have a nice reputation, at all.

This would be a long way into the future, but any input or comparisons between the breeds? I'd be looking for a dog to participate in bitework or even other sports with, but with a stable personality. He wouldn't have to come along to my block party, but I'd like him to be comfortable when family visits. I wouldn't mind separating the dog for a party or if kid's rowdy friends come over, but I also don't want a dog that's going to stress every time strangers come into the house, or that wants to eat my FIL.

 

[amberdyan]

This is just one dog, but I went to my grandma's everyday after from ages 10-15 and her neighbor had a Neo (and an English Mastiff. Big dogs in that house, lol) that I would walk for them a few times a week. I was introduced to him properly and would have called him a sweet, docile dog. Once I was in the backyard with him and a man climbed over their 6 foot fence because he had accidentally thrown his disc golf Frisbee over it. Ton backed him up against the fence barking and now matter how hard I tried to call him off, he wouldn't budge and just barked as the guy panicked. His owner heard him barking, came out and called him off like it was nothing. I have no doubt that if that man would have run he would have been bitten.

He was gentle with children and I don't remember him having much prey drive. I don't think I would have called him "intense" but she put a lot of time into training him when he was a puppy and he knew quite a few protection commands and positions. He wasn't into other dogs or people outside his known group, but wasn't crazy aggressive. He wouldn't have started a fight with a dog, but he would have ended it. He wasn't very energetic and when he ran it reminded me of a bear, lol. Basically he was bombproof unless you tried to invade his yard/house or the space of a person he was with. Pretty sure she never leash trained him, he just didn't care to pull, lol. He would occasionally get really playful with this Sister and it was hilarious because he was not super agile and grunted when playing. I really loved him. He was very healthy, but passed away when he was 9 from a heart issue.

 

[crazedACD]

These breeds seem to attract..."different" breeders, so keep that in mind .

I've only personally known one Neo, a coworker owned her, she was laid back and unaggressive. She would come to the vet clinic or be boarded and was just chill. Probably wouldn't have the drive for protection sports. The woman also had a Great Dane that was fear aggressive but the Neo was stable.

Haven't worked around much for Presas, have seen them in passing and they seem intense.. would probably do well in protection sports but may be too sharp around kids.

Cane Corsos... okay. What I've read in the breed description and what I've met from a breeder that exhibits them is very very different. I always seemed to run into this lady and her husband in classes, at shows, barn hunt. Some of her dogs are not very social and no touchy.. she was working on comp ob with one but couldn't do the stand for exam in class. The ones she showed in confo were OK, but dog aggressive. At barn hunt she had red ribbons on the leashes, and then was complaining/she was nervous about the judge being in the ring while the dogs barn hunted. At class one time, she had a couple come with a dog they wanted to rehome so she could evaluate it (Cane Corso not from her breeding). It was bad reactive and no touchy. I don't feel that they are terribly stable dogs. Maybe from a really good breeder that knows what they are breeding...

What about Dogue de Bordeaux or Boerboels? I've liked these breeds a lot better in public compared to the other three.

 

[milos_mommy]

I've never met a boerbol but I'm not big on Dogue de Bordeaux. I like them, but I think they're one of the most mellow mastiffs, they also have a shockingly short lifespan even compared to other giant breeds. I think it's pretty rare for them to live even to 7 or 8. And not that Neos have great health but I think French mastiffs have the worst health of the mastiffs.

I'm not all that concerned with a dog that doesn't want to be touched in public/in the ring/by strangers. I know some breeds (Filas) are actually excused from being touched by judges in rings dude to their breeding. I'm wondering if this woman's dogs have any kind of bite history or severe warning signs or if they're just uncomfortable and it's preventative?

 

[Laurelin]

I really have been unimpressed with all three breeds. I like boerboel and bullmastiffs a lot better. The boerboels are a lot of dog but still very athletic for a mastiff. I don't have too much direct experience outside of my cousin's but he's been a big challenge. Gorgeous dog though. Absolutely massive though.

If I got a mastiff, I'd get a bullmastiff. I've loved the ones I've met and there's a lady here that runs them in agility and they're really fast and athletic for their size. Not sure about protection sports (not my thing at all), but they're neat dogs.

DDBs have a lot of health issues and a short lifespan. Presas and corsi are taking over the 'badass dog' role here and so seemed to be owned by a lot of shady characters. I have seen some really really wonky movement in corsos especially. The neos have all been show dogs and just tons of wrinkles. I just can't envision them being very functional dogs.

 

[milos_mommy]

Bullmastiffs are an interesting suggestion. I definitely like them...I've only known a few but nice dogs. SO's aunt used to breed/show them and actually has preserved sperm from her favorite dog. They'd definitely be easier to find in rescue, but I've just never felt a connection to them. I think I'm not thrilled with their bulkiness (which I suppose sounds strange when I'm so in love with Neos).

Honestly, if it came down to me consider a bullmastiff because a neo or corso didn't work out, I'd probably start looking more at rotties or danes. Then bullmastiffs I've known just haven't been very drivey in a PP kind of way, but my experience is limited.

 

[frostfell]

I am a HUGE HUGE Cane Corso fan and can not recommend them enough for a good protection dog. Unfortunately most of the breed has become pretty shy and nervy and doesnt have the ability to distinguish real threats from fake, and no socialization will give a dog that kind of brains if he doesnt have them. IF you can find a good breeder in your area, they are the best dogs ever.

 

[milos_mommy]

Frostfell, do you know of any breeders you like? You can PM me if you want, I'd really like to make a few contacts so I can maybe meet some dogs and learn more.

 

[sassafras]

I've only met a few Corsi through work and they were not stable dogs at all.

 

[DanL]

Old post, but I can contribute some...

I've seen all 3 breeds at protection training clubs I've belonged to. Neo was the worst, simply wouldn't bite. The guy had 2 of them and he been (trying) to work them for a while and they didn't pick up on it at all.

Corso- same sort of thing. They might be protective at home but on the field they had to be fed the sleeve and didn't want to hold on.

Presa- there is one at my current club and he's pretty impressive. He goes about 140lbs and bites hard. The handler can barely hold onto him when he's ready to go.

These dogs require a different kind of training than a GSD or Mal does for protection. They don't have a lot of prey drive and are more defensive breeds so you have to bring the prey drive out more and still allow them to use their defensive instincts. You'd want to look for lines that have been doing the kind of work you are looking at, as not all will take to this kind of job, though with the right trainer, it can be done.

Have you looked at American Bulldogs? They come from mastiff lines, though they are not a true mastiff. Our girl Nola is really taking to bitework, she's as impressive as any of the young working line GSD's at our club that are around her age. I had no idea how she'd do, we went to the club just to see if she had any interest, and now she can't wait to go to training. As soon as I pull out the harness she runs right to the truck and waits for me. Shes a firecracker on the training field, and is pretty mellow at home, though she does require a lot of exercise and play time. Males can get 130lbs and 27" so they are good sized dogs. We've already decided that when Gunnar passes (hopefully not for a long time) our next dog will be a male AB from the same breeder we got Nola from.

 

[pinkspore]

We have a handful of Cane Corsos that come to doggy daycare. The biggest has a tendency to try to push people into the pool, but aside from that they're really quite stable and lovable. A couple have come to lure coursing fun runs too.

We haven't had any Presas or Neos come to daycare at all. I did hear a compelling argument recently that Neos were originally livestock guardian dogs and this was sort of lost in translation when they were first imported.

 

[AgentButtface]

I have a female Presa. She's big, strong, can put on a good show of protecting her area and looks scary. She might bite you if you cornered her and fell on top of her, whilst shoving a body part into her mouth and forcing it closed with your hand. She's a chicken and doesn't have the personality to follow up on her looks and bark. She'd be a nip and run away type dog if anything. The other Presas I've met have been stable, but to be fair it's been a small number.

Corsos seem to be a mixed bag, either awesomely friendly or terribly fearful.

I've met 3 Neos, all older and all rescue dogs. Like drooly lumps of play-doh. Stubborn, slow-moving and aloof. They weren't aggressive, but I could see them defending a home if needed.