For the love of the Cane Corso – Primo Paws

When a son whispers to his father, “Daddy, this is it”, and the father accepts the decision, one thing is certain. The father trusts the son. And that is how the story of Primo Paws started. For every dog owner, lover, or breeder, trust is one thing that influences life with a furry friend. So, no matter how aesthetically pleasing a dog may look, everyone desires one that can be trusted for its purpose.  Cane Corso Italiano, often called the Cane Corso, is one such dog that will always deliver on its purpose. The good news is that one doesn’t need to travel outside Ghana to get world-class quality.

The Father-Son relationship

Often, a father inculcates a lot of what he is or aspires to be in their son. However, in these times, children influence parents in unimaginable ways. Many reasons account for this, but the acceptance of children as capable of spotting beauty, elegance, and opportunity appears unparalleled. When Lebene Adjoyi’s son introduced him to the Cane Corso, his intrigue with the dog soared. He set out on a quest to know more about the dog. While at it, he found an impressive array of characteristics that placed the Cane Corso at the fore of what he needed in a dog.

According to Lebene Adjoyi, the drive to create a home for these impressive canines came from getting to know them.  

“Our drive for the breed stems from its majestic & expressive look, muscular build, powerful bite, guard instincts, intelligence, strong-willed temperament, confidence, and loyalty to their owners.”

Starting Primo Paws

For an advertising executive who is also into the sales and marketing of automobile services, raising this not-so-common breed in Ghana was an avenue to stand out and excel. The next phase was assessing the interest of his family in the breed. For Lebene, he didn’t seek to have dogs in a Kennel. He wanted dogs that were an integral part of his family. The family’s role in ensuring the dogs thrived was a vital piece of the puzzle Primo Paws was fixing.  Once the love for the breed was an item of unison, Primo Paws was ready to do business.

Starting with creating an ideal home for the Cane Corso in Ghana, Primo Paws invested in the infrastructure needed to ensure these beautiful dogs would thrive. In 2022, the move to bring dogs to Primo Paws started. Cane Corso’s were imported from all over the world. Primo Paws sought to bring in the best from Italy, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Hungary, and Russia.  

“All with the aim of improving on the breed, meeting the breed standard and having strong pedigree bloodlines for selective pairing during mating”.

We are breeding show-winning dogs at Primo Paws.

To be fulfilled as a Dog breeder is to see your dogs excel in different homes and dog shows. Primo Paws ‘ breeding program has gained notoriety as an awesome specimen for Cane Corso. Therefore, when three of their dogs won in different classes at the August Classic Dog Show at the Dworwulu Astro Turf in Accra, the entire team saw the reward for their hard work.

In 2023, a 13-month-old Cane Corso topped the August Classic Dog Show in Accra as Best in Show. In 2024, the same dog emerged as Best in Show at ACDS 24. This dog named Primo Paws Alpha stood out amongst many dogs. With an impressive physique, great temperament, and great socialisation, he wowed the judges at ACDS 24.

Bred to guard and protect, with a high drive for excellence, Primo Paws Alpha is one of the dogs born and raised by Primo Paws kennel right here in Ghana. He didn’t just win the ultimate at ACDS 24; he also won in several other categories. He Placed 1st as Best of Breed (BOB – ACDS 24), Best in Group (BIG), Best in Show – Locally Born & Bred, and also placed second in Best in Show for the West African Ring.

Two other dogs from Primo Paws also came tops at the August Classic Dog Show. Primo Paws Jelemi scored excellent points on the judge’s score sheet and came out as 1st in the Best Cane Corso Italiano puppy class. Another dog from the Kennel, Perla Del Parma Selena, scored very promising on the judge’s score sheet and also came 1st in the baby class.

The above wins are a testament to the kennel’s penchant for producing quality. According to Lebene, the kennel prioritises the “Temperament, health tests, bloodline, Owners, pedigree lineage, majestic looks and the program intended for the dog”. By program, he means the purpose of breeding a particular dog. The same is also considered when selecting dogs for mating. The desire is to always “create” puppies that will perfectly serve their intended purpose for the kennel and owners.

Going into ACDS

A cursory look at Primo Paws Alpha reveals a beauty with an athletic physique. He, therefore, came into the show as one with the looks. However, being a well-trained dog, the work around the dog show ring, his social nature, and his energy for competition brought him to the fore. Prior to the show, Primo Paws Alpha was given more training sessions and socialised more, and his improvement per training session suggested he was the dog to look out for. The dog was trained by the Kennel and handled by the owner, Lebene Adjoyi.  

Q and A with Lebene Adjoyi

Thesavannaonline: What does this win mean for you personally and for your breeding program?

Lebene Adjoyi: It’s a win for the Cane Corso family in general, a win to also place Primo Paws on the minds of dog lovers and the map. It is an opportunity to train and compete in international shows. It clearly shows Primo Paws is on the right breeding program for a locally born and bred to win BIS for two consecutive years, 2023 and 2024. It gives us the motivation to continue to improve on the breed. The future is bright.

Thesavannaonline: How does this achievement impact the breed’s reputation and your future breeding plans?

Lebene Adjoyi: It clearly gives hope to people who want to own a purebred Cane Corso to drive to Primo Paws for quality show dogs. It is a motivation to continue to improve the breed in Ghana and show the world Ghana has quality Cane Corso, too.

Thesavannaonline: What are your plans for this winning dog?

Lebene Adjoyi: Compete on an international platform and improve the breed by carefully selecting females during mating sessions. We aim to win an international medal, especially on the European stage.

Thesavannaonline: How do you plan to build on this success for your breeding program?

Lebene Adjoyi: Compete with him on international platforms and improve on the breed with the females I select during mating. An improvement in his offspring will be the way to go.

Thesavannaonline: What advice would you give to someone new to breeding and interested in showing dogs?

Lebene Adjoyi: The love for dogs and the improvement of the breed should be greater than anything else. Reading more about the breed will guide the person to excellence. Being on the podium doesn’t come easily, and every breeder should put in the hard work to push their kennel on the international stage.

Thesavannaonline: Are there any common misconceptions about breeding or showing that you would like to address?

Lebene Adjoyi: People think breeding is all about making money from puppy sales, but there is more to it. There is a union/family to belong to, KUG, where one can learn more about breeding and dog care. It is a union full of networking and having fun with our furry friends. Following the dog standard should be the ultimate aim of every breeder or dog lover.

Thesavannaonline: Has your kennel won any awards in the past? If yes, which categories and competitions?

Lebene Adjoyi: We have won some awards since venturing into the business of breeding. We came 2nd as BIS – Puppy Class in 2022 – (All breed Show, Dzorwulu – Ghana)

BIS – Cane Corso Specialty Show – Aburi – Ghana

BIS – ACDS 2023

BIS – ACDS 2024

Looking to buy a Cane Corso in Ghana?

Primo Paws is a relatively young kennel in Ghana; however, the quality of puppies at the Kennel is amazing. The Kennel offers competitive pricing when it comes to owning a Cane Corso. Also, Primo Paws has a dog for whatever purpose you want to use the Puppies.

They are located at Appolonia in Oyibi, Accra.

You can contact them on WhatsApp or by regular calls at +233204532364.

For a sneak peek into the daily activities, offers, and available puppies, you can follow them on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by searching Primo Paws.

About the Cane Corso

The Cane Corso, also known as the Italian Mastiff, is a powerful and athletic breed. It is known for its muscular build, strong protective instincts, and loyalty to its family. The Cane Corso requires early socialization and consistent, firm training to ensure it grows up to be a well-behaved companion. This breed is suitable for experienced dog owners who can provide the necessary exercise, mental stimulation, and structure that it needs. With proper care and training, the Cane Corso can be a loving and devoted family member.