Bienvenue sur le site du Club de Race officiel du Chien Corse Cursinu affilié auprès de la Société Centrale Canine

RETOUR Cliquez ici Other pages in English The Cursinu Standard - - - - - Avec nos remerciements à Carlos Moreno Pérez, Raquel Seijo Fernández et Cristina Mclaren pour la traduction en Anglais

INTRODUCTION Inhabiting the island since the 16th century, Corsican dogs have always been working dogs. Up until the early 20th century the Corsican dog was used to herd and guard flocks, and Corsicans -eminently countryfolk back in the day- entrusted them with their pens and habitats. They were also used as hunting dogs. There is something essential about Corsican dogs: their multitalented nature. Later on, the decline of the agricultural and pastoral worlds and the enthusiasm for the so-called specialized breeds have taken this primitive dog to the verge of extinction. This dog is called "cursinu" nowadays. It was not until Veru's 1988 hunting fair that many concerned people, supported by Corsica's Regional Nature Park and hunting federations on the island, set out to safeguard this real component of Corsica's animal heritage. Scanned original report from the debate held in 1988 by Veru's fair Committee (in French) The following year, the Association de sauvegarde du chien corse [the Corsican dog protection association] was founded. It sought to fulfil the following goals: -To set the characteristics and status of the breed. -To encourage and guide breeding. -To encourage use. -To progressively establish its standard. -To attain official recognition for this breed from French kennel clubs and similar institutions. June 1993: PhD Viva of Martine Rigaud's thesis U cursinu at the University of Nantes' Department of Medicine. 1994: The number of registered dogs reached 535; 219 of them were identified, measured and photographed. From 1988 to 2003: Mostre (i.e. actions and presentations to put the breed in the public eye) and use campaigns carried out at country and animal fairs. See picture February 2003: Official animal-husbandry assessment in Altiani with Jacques Goubie and lecturer Bernard Denis. See gallery July 2003: Official recognition of the Cursinu breed by the French Kennel Club. January 2004: First breed standard, written with the help of Raymond Triquet, finally registered at the French Kennel Club. These dates represent the fruits of everything that has been done and achieved so far. It could have never come to be but for the owners' commitment and passion and the support of the Corsican society as a whole. They have opened the door for the cursinu to be officially recognised as a breed in its own right. In 2004 the Association de sauvegarde du chien corse [Corsican dog protection association] changed its statutes and name. It became Le club du cursinu [The Cursinu Club]. Finally, in May 2004, the French Kennel Club affiliation commission announced its affiliate status.