Bienvenue sur le site du  Club de Race officiel du Chien Corse Cursinu affilié auprès de la Société Centrale Canine |
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STANDARD SCC (2003)  ORIGIN: Corsica, France. UTILIZATION: This breed is by definition the old-time versitile breed. It was originally a sheepdog and can still be used as such.It can also be used to find and guide free-range livestock such as pigs and cows. The decline in the agricultural, pastoral and farming worlds encouraged the use of cursinus among hunters (in hunting wild boar, fox, hare). FCI CLASSIFICATION:-Group 5: Spitz and primitive type dog. -Section 7: Primitive type hunting dogs. - Without working trial. HISTORY OVERVIEW: There are records and illustrations bearing witness to the existence of the Corsican dog as far back as at least the 16th century. Up until the early 20th century, Corsicans used the cursinu as a sheep watchdog. But ever since then, and depending on men's needs, they have served a number of purposes, namely hunting. Their versatility and the fact that they have always lived on the island contributed to their development in Corsica until the 1950s. After a decline due to the arrival of and competition with continental breeds, cursinus were preferred once again from the 1980s onwards, especially as hunting dogs. The Association de sauvegarde du chien corse [the Corsican dog protection association] was created in 1989. The breed was recognised by the French Kennel Club in 2003. GENERAL APPEARANCE: It's a country, sturdy, rustic dog. It is medium-sized and of average build. Short neck. IMPORTANT SIZE AND PROPORTION: The depth of the chest is practically half the height at the withers. The length of the body, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, is usually the same as the height at the withers. Topline of muzzle is half as long as topline of head (the average being 47%). BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: The cursinu is an obedient and loyal dog, and attached to its master, a very proud dog that is suspicious and weary of strangers. This intelligent, calm and balanced dog can adapt to a number of situations. Quiet at home, it is full of energy and vitality when in action. Extensive livestock breeding made it a magnificent dog not just to watch over sheep and cattle but also to find and bring back animals that had strayed off. It is a fast hunter with an excellent sense of smell. Its chase is usually short, lasting from one to two hours, accompanied by short high-pitched barks. The fact that it returns spontaneously to the place where it was released is very appreciated by its owners. HEAD: The head belongs to a dog of the Lupoid type, defined by P. Mégnin.CRANIAL REGION: Skull: The skull is more or less flat, and its width is, on average, at the level of the zygomatic arches, about 10 cm (approximately 4 inches) in females and 11 cm (approximately 4.5 inches) in males. The lines of the skull and muzzle are divergent towards the front. The profile of the muzzle is straight or slightly convex. The superciliary arches are hardly marked. Stop: Slightly defined at an open angle of 150 to 160 degrees. FACIAL REGION: Nose: Wide, black, open nostrils. Muzzle: It has the shape of a truncated pyramid, its upper profile is straight. The muzzle is relatively thin. Lips: Thin, tense, tight, well-pigmented. The upper lip does not cover the lower lip. Cheeks: Lean, muscular. Eyes: Oval, from hazel to dark brown. Slanting. Ears: Set usually above eye level but sometimes at eye level. They may be floppy or semi-floppy (V-shaped when raised or rose-shaped when folded). Triangular, average length, they can reach the inner corner of the eye when drawn forward. NECK: It is short, which may sometimes give the impression that the head is tucked between the shoulders. It is muscular, with the shape of a truncated cone. The skin is tight: there is no dewlap. BODY: Powerful and fit.Topline: Straight. Withers: Large and well marked. Neckline hardly pronounced. Back: Straight profile and powerful musculature. Loins: Short. Croup: Slightly sloping, short and muscular. Chest: Broad and deep. It does not come down below the tip of the elbow: the distance from the sternum to the ground is noticeably equal to half its height at the withers. The ribs are moderately rounded. Underline: Harmonious: the belly is lifted but not excessively. The ribcage is short. TAIL: The tail is long (tip below the hock) or average length (tip at the hock). It is always thick, well covered with hair. At rest, it can be hanging or rolled up. In action, it rolls over the back or the croup, and sometimes up to the hip. The curling can be partial or total, and it can even get a tight ring shape. LIMBS: regular, powerful musculature.FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders: Oblique and muscular. Elbows: Located at the lower part of the chest. Forearms: Vertical when viewed both in profile and from the front. Carpus: Robust. Metacarpus: Moderately oblique. Forefeet: Hare feet; tight toes. Black nails, depigmented if the toe is white. Firm and dark pads. HINDQUARTERS: The hindlimbs, when viewed from behind, are vertical. Thighs: Average obliquity, well muscled. Stifle: Well marked and parallel to the medial body plane. Legs: Long, moderately muscular. Hocks: Lean and moderately angulated. Metatarsus: When viewed in profile, almost vertical. Hindfeet: Hare feet, a little bit more elongated than the forefeet. Same characteristics regarding nails and pads. A dewclaw is usually found. GAIT / MOVEMENT: Regular and flexible at regular pace and when trotting. Cursinu's gallop is short, jerky, hopping, perfectly suited to uneven grounds such as the bushy grounds of the Mediterranean. SKIN: Thick, close fitting. COATHAIR: Thick with hair, short or medium length; in some dogs, some patches of long hair may be found. COLOUR: The colour is brindle in all shades of fawn. Cursinus can be fawn, fawn with black marks, black with fawn marks; a mask is also acceptable. A limited variation in colour is accepted: white spots are located on chest and edge of the paws. SIZE: Height at the withers:- from 46 to 55 cm (approximately 18 to 21 inches) for females, (tolerance included). - from 46 to 58 cm (approximately 18 to 23 inches) for males, (tolerance included). FAULTS: any departure from the above described features should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: apart from genetic faults, the following will be considered as disqualifying:- aggressive and fearful dog - molossoid-type head - short hair - absence of tail - any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural anomalies shall be disqualified. Note: Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. |
