Branchiero Siciliano

The Branchiero Siciliano, (Sicilian Branchiero, Cane de Branco), is a breed native to Italy and dating back beyond the Roman era. There is speculation that the breed was introduced into Sicily by the Romans. Since the breeds inception, it has functioned as a cattle and farm guardian and as a butcher's dog. The Italian name for the breed 'IL Cane de Macellaio' translates literally to 'butcher's dog'. 

The 1948 'Book of the Dog' speaks of this old butcher's dog and cattle guardian breed type and specifically of the Branchiero Siciliano, "Even today, dogs of this old type may be found here and there, some recognized as distinct breeds and others lost in the obscurity of unorthodoxy; readily to mind, comes the Branchiero of Sicily, a now rare, short-faced cattle dog."

It is from the Branchiero Siciliano that the Cane Corso derives. During the Great Italian Wars of 1494 - 1559, (which coincides with Spain's American conquest), the native Siciliano Branchiero was nearly decimated during these wars; and was crossed with Spanish Alano belonging to occupied Spanish forces in Italy, as well as French alaunt stock belonging to French occupying forces in northern Italy, to produce the Cane Corso. Despite regional differences, these alaunts were all of true alaunt type...the genotype was the same; the same as the alaunt of 550 BC that was meek with cattle but fought tigers. The perfect basis for a defender of livestock and home and a superb war dog. This is why the alaunt was the choice dog for these functions all over Europe.

"In the second half of the 16th century, Spain's Philip II ruled over the original empire on which the sun never set. In Europe alone, he held power over Portugal, the Netherlands, and about half of Italy (including Sicily, the Duchy of Milan, and the Kingdom of Naples). ..."

Today the Branchiero Siciliano is often considered the same breed as the Cane Corso yet with a different coat being the only separation. However, history tells us that the Branchiero was the foundation of the Cane Corso and as such is in fact not the same breed, but is a direct ancestor of the Cane Corso.