CANE CORSO

[pandita]

Hello, I just came across this site and signed up. I have a five/six year old mastiff and am wondering if it would be safe to take her from Montreal to SF and back by air. If I go it will be this spring for a few weeks, so the climate should not be too bad. I'm concerned the elevation might bother her ears, the temp. may change too much, or she might be too uncomfortable in cargo. She is about 120 lbs and has no health issues. My brother in law took my sister's golden retriever (Toro is about the same size as my Gianna) a few years back all the way from Maine to Cali by car cause he didn't think it was safe for the dog when they moved. That is out of the question for me, cause I no longer own a car, and don't feel like spending a whole week of driving. If anyone has any information or advice to share, please let me know. Thanks!

[Phyrie]

Why take her at all? Flying is NOT the travel method of choice for a dog, especially a large one, like yours, which will be confined to the cargo space. Unless there is some important reason she must go (i.e. she's seeing a veterinary specialist or something like that) I would leave her behind.

[lynners]

While I would advise against travelling by air with your pet also, if you do decide to bring her, keep in mind that Montreal is toying with the idea of BSL and cane corsos are often mistaken for pitties.

[Phyrie]

I think she's FROM Montreal, and going on vacation to SF. At least, that's how I read it...

[lynners]

Blerg, you're right Phyrie. That'll teach me for eating Cadbury cream eggs for dinner...

[Phyrie]

LOL!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Lynners, you are a hoot!

[snifferspommom]

Ah, another good laugh!!

[pandita]

I want to take her cause it would cost a fortune to put her in a kennel. Last time it was a grand, and I can't afford it this time. Plus she hated it, since it probably reminded her of the SPCA I picked her up from when she was miserable, all gaunt, and runny nosed when she was a year old. My mom is there in California and misses her. We both know she would have so much fun hiking with us and playing with the other dogs in the neighborhood. My sister (where I would be visiting) lives in a place which is much more large breed friendly and earthy than where I live in Montreal. If it is dangerous, there is no way I will do it. I love her like my child. I just figured someone might have done it before, or found a less costly, and healthy alternative instead. Thanks for the comments.

[Phyrie]

I can understand you wanting to take her with you, but to subject her to two cross country planes trips in as many weeks is not a great idea.

I did a quick search and I can't find a direct flight either, which means your dog would have to de-plane and re-plane. And the trip is at least 12 hours long. It just doesn't sound like a good idea, does it?

Maybe you could search for a private sitter, or find a less expensive kennel. Just to soothe you a bit, your dog isn't "reminded" of the shelter she was rescued from. Dogs' minds don't dwell on that kind of thing. If your dog is a happy, well-adjusted animal, she will remain so, even if she's boarded for a few weeks.

I hope find a good solution that works out for you, and your dog.

[iheartmydog]

I'm not one for having my dog travel by air. So we've always done roadtrips with them and they love it! Oh and i think Cane Corsos are one of the breeds labeled under "Pit bulls". Pit bull isnt a breed, its a term used to describe a dog with gameness in the fighting ring. There are around 20 breeds under that term. Thats why i hate it when my shelter says "this dog is pure pit so we cant adopt him out to a family all ages" (its law here) Even though the dog looks like a mini hippo! The dog was more of an American bully, american staffordshire terrier mix.

[iheartmydog]

If you do end up going with a sitter. Make sure she is expeirenced with big breeds, i would have her take her out on a walk (let the sitter hold the leash) so you can see if she would do good with the dog. I would quiz her on What to do. Like if she is pulling on the leash, what would you do? Proper awnser should be stop and wait for the dog to loosen the leash. A tight leash means we arent going anywhere.

[pandita]

Holy...I didn't know she was under the dog fighting circle list. I mean she is dominant, but not a killer.

[Leah&Henry]

Cane Corsos were not bred to be fighting dogs. They are known as the Italian mastiff and were used in Italy to hunt large game and as a protection dog. I think what iheartmydog is referring to is the list of "pitbull type" dogs that are usually subjected to breed specific legislation. The thinking behind "pitbull type" breeds, or even mixes, is that if it looks like a pitbull, its not allowed. When looking for a house to rent with my boxer, the 7th most popular dog breed in the US, I ran into problems with landlords thinking he was "pitbull type." It doesn't mean your dog is a killer. And its unfair to group all pit bulls as killers. There is the American Pit Bull Terrier which is considered "pure" although it it not recognized by the CKC or AKC. There are many responsible APBT breeders that focus on develping a dog that excels in weight pulling, sledding and Schutzhund and moving away from the fighting dog stigma.

[lynners]

Another note on the breed specific legislation thing: San Fran just requires all pitties to be speutered. Again, I know she's not a pittie, but she's a breed that is often mistaken for one. San Fran's law is worded similarly as Ontario's bull s**t law, in that any dog physically resembling a pit bull type dog also falls within the legislation.

I'm not sure if your dog is fixed, but if she isn't, this is just another reason not to bring your dog on vacation with you.