The Cane Corso, or Italian Mastiff, is a large Italian breed of dog highly valued in Italy as a companion and guard dog. Cane Corso were used to guard property, livestock, and families, and some continue to be used for this purpose today. Historically it has also been used by night watchmen, keepers, and, in the past, by carters and drovers.

These dogs are docile and affectionate to their owners, loving with children and family, and easily trained. Its average life span is around 9 years. They traditionally had their ears cropped and their tails docked, but this has slowly fallen out of favour due to shifting laws.

The Cane Corso is a descendant of the old Roman molosser. Its name derives from cane da corso, an old term for those catch dogs used in rural activities for cattle and swine, as distinct from cane da camera which indicates the catch dog kept as a bodyguard.

The breed declined in the 20th century as southern Italian rural farm life changed, but a group of enthusiasts began recovery activities designed to bring the dog back from near extinction in the late 1970s. The Italian Kennel Club (ENCI) then officially recognised the Cane Corso as the 14th registered Italian dog breed by 1994.