Cursinu

The Cursinu is the native dog of Corsica — a general-purpose island dog that herded, hunted and guarded rather than specialising in any of the three.

History

It is recorded on Corsica from at least the sixteenth century, kept by farmers and shepherds who needed one dog that could do everything. It declined sharply in the twentieth century as the island's agriculture changed, and a breeders' association assembled the remaining dogs and won French recognition in 2003.

Temperament

The breed is known for being versatile, attached to its own household and reserved with strangers, alert without being noisy, and independent in the way farm dogs are.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise and a job of some kind. It trains well for an owner it respects and less well for one it does not. The short coat is easy.

Health

Generally robust; nothing is widely documented as specific to the breed. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.