A BIT OF BACKGROUND

How We Got Started

Josh and Mel Strand met in the Army in 2003 while stationed in Korea. Josh's father and grandfather operated a training kennel in Duluth Minnesota and Josh was involved with dogs of dogs from many types since birth. As animal lovers, Josh and Mel explored Korea together, visiting zoos and pet shops and going as far as naming a pet spider in the barracks. They also each had fish tanks in their rooms, against Army regulations. Josh was personally involved with American Bulldogs, Doberman, Rottweilers and Pitbulls before the Army. Mel owned German Shepherd dogs in both Mexico and the United States. Josh discovered the Cane Corso by accident in 1998, mistaking it for a blue Rottweiler (more on that later).  Upon exiting the Army in 2006 they jumped on the chance to buy a male from imported parents. While working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Arizona, that male was bitten by a rattlesnake. It was at this time Josh and Mel made the decision to move back to North Carolina and save not only their first Corso's lineage, but also what study taught them was correct for the breed, a different direction from what was increasingly being offered in the United States. After six years of collaborating litters with other breeders, they bred their first litter in 2014, the amazing A litter. Since that time, they have had limited breedings at the rate of one per year or two.