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The 2026 Cane Corso Specialty Show is set to provide a platform to promote professional breeding, breed preservation and internationally recognised standards in Nigeria’s emerging canine industry, the organisers have said.
The event, organised by the Cane Corso Kennel Club, Nigeria (CCKC), is scheduled to be held in Ibadan on October 1 and Abuja on October 3, bringing together breeders, owners, exhibitors and enthusiasts from across the country.
President of CCKC, Tito Osarumwense Obazee, said specialty dog shows were important tools for improving breeding programmes because they enabled breeders to have their dogs independently evaluated against recognised breed standards by qualified judges.
According to him, the assessment covers critical attributes including structure, movement, temperament, breed type, overall balance and soundness.
He, however, stressed that participation in shows alone could not determine breeding quality, noting that health testing, pedigree evaluation, temperament, genetic diversity and responsible selection must also form part of the breeding process.
“As the mother club for the Cane Corso breed in Nigeria and the official FCI Breed Club in Nigeria, the Cane Corso Kennel Club, Nigeria uses specialty shows as part of its broader commitment to promoting responsible breeding and preservation of the correct Cane Corso,” Obazee said.
He said the forthcoming show would go beyond competition and trophies to provide breeders with an opportunity to assess their breeding programmes, compare their dogs with others and receive independent professional evaluations.
“For spectators, it is also educational. They will have the opportunity to see different Cane Corsos, interact with breeders and learn more about responsible ownership, breeding, breed standards and preservation,” he said.
Obazee added that the club was seeking partnerships with corporate organisations, businesses, kennels and individuals committed to responsible dog ownership, ethical breeding and the development of Nigeria’s canine industry.
He said such partnerships would not only offer sponsors brand visibility and promotional opportunities but would also contribute to breeder education, organised canine activities and responsible ownership.
Chief Executive Officer, Silagreen International Agro Development Limited, Michael Akinruli, described the events as platforms for education, standard-setting and networking among breeders across the country.
He called for collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, the media and the public to develop a credible and professional dog-breeding culture in Nigeria.
Akinruli said CCKC was the Nigerian club certified and affiliated with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the global canine organisation, as well as the Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana (ENCI).
He said the affiliation meant that the club’s breeding standards, judging and show protocols were aligned with recognised international practices.
General Secretary of CCKC, Olukunle Oladepo, said the specialty show would help breeders measure the progress of their breeding programmes against the internationally recognised Cane Corso standard.
He explained that unlike an all-breed dog show, which features several breeds, a specialty show focuses exclusively on one breed, allowing for a deeper assessment of its defining characteristics.
“This allows for a much deeper assessment of the breed. Dogs are evaluated with particular attention to the characteristics that define a correct Cane Corso, including breed type, proportions, head, construction, movement, temperament and overall functionality,” Oladepo said.
He said the objective was not simply to determine the winning dog, but to help breeders understand how closely their breeding programmes were aligning with the correct Cane Corso standard.
Oladepo said CCKC promotes ethical breeding through education, proper registration, pedigree documentation, responsible breeding practices, health awareness and adherence to the official breed standard.
He added that the club encouraged breeders to focus on preserving the essential qualities of the Cane Corso, including correct type, sound structure, stable temperament, functionality and genetic health, rather than prioritising the quantity or commercial production of puppies.
“Through Specialty Shows, seminars, breeder education and club regulations, CCKC is creating an environment where breeders can continually evaluate and improve their breeding programmes.
“Our objective is to build a strong and sustainable future for the Cane Corso in Nigeria, where quality, health, temperament and preservation of the breed standard take priority over quantity or commercial interest,” he said.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Council of Breed Associations (COBA), Omoniyi Ewete, said the organisation was founded in 2019 and registered as a non-profit organisation with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
He said COBA served as an umbrella body for breed clubs in Nigeria and was internationally recognised as a national kennel club affiliated with the FCI, American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club.
According to him, COBA oversees dog registration, pedigree issuance and licensing of breed clubs in Nigeria, while also certifying purebred and non-purebred dogs in line with global breeding standards.
