Perro de Presa Canario

The Perro de Presa Canario is a large dog of Spanish origin of Molosser-type. They were developed in the Canary Islands in the 1800's specifically for dog fighting. In some situations, the Presa can be aggressive toward other dogs but once the dog has been properly socialized and trained, this becomes the exception rather than the rule. Many Presas share their homes with children, other dogs, cats, horses and other farm animals. The Perro de Presa Canario is a sturdy, powerful well-muscled dog, but it looks less heavy than other Mastiff type dogs and more agile and athletic. Its muscles are long, and it gives an impression of elegance. The Perro de Presa Canario averages 21 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs an average 80 to 130 pounds, with individual males weighing much more. Its neck is muscular and arched. This breed is brachycephalic (flat-faced); its muzzle is equally broad and deep almost as wide as it is long. The large, powerful head is not wrinkled. The mucous membranes are black. The ears are normally drop and fold forward, but in countries where it is legal they are sometimes cropped, so that the stubs stand erect. The coat of the Perro de Presa Canario appears in fawn and brindle, occasionally with subtle white markings. The double coat is short, dense, and shiny on the top layer, which is very coarse and somewhat like the fur on a cow. This allows optimum weather resistance. The bottom layer is dense and woolly. In warmer climates the bottom coat may be lost. This breed is one of the direct descendants of the ancient Roman dog, the Canis Pugnax; this large mastiff-like dog was used in the Roman Legion as a war dog. He stood guard over camp, livestock and supplies and served as an auxiliary warrior on the battlefield. In the arena he fought bear, lion, bulls and human gladiators. The Perro de Presa Canario was probably descended from the now extinct Bardino Majero, a dog native to Spain. This breed was crossed with English Mastiffs to create the foundation for the Presa Canario. With the outlawing of dogfighting on the Canary island and the introduction of foreign dogs such as the German Shepherd Dog, by the 1960s the breed was nearly extinct. It was revived by the American veterinarian Dr. Carl Semencic. Perro de Presa Canarios are known for being extremely loyal and affectionate with their families and crave attention from their owners. They are extremely tolerant of children due to low body sensitivity or high pain tolerance, a trait which stems from selective breeding as big game hunters. Like all dogs of any size or breed, they require obedience training and socialization; no dog should be left unattended with small children. They are protective of what they perceive as their territory and will guard it against any intruder. They get along with other dogs as long as they have been properly socialized, but will usually not tolerate another dog trying to assert dominance over them and might not coexist peacefully with another dominant breed of dog. They can develop an aggressive or dominant temperament if not socialized with other dogs at an early age, particularly with other dogs of the same sex. Dog aggression per se is absolutely not a desirable trait in the Perro de Presa Canario, as it is at odds with its intended purpose as a pack hunter. A single "pet" Presa without a working outlet for energy and drive may feel himself to be "king of the mountain" and carry himself accordingly, though the same dog may work perfectly cooperatively with other males while hunting. Perro de Presa Canarios are typically strong-tempered animals not suitable for the novice dog owner; they do best with an experienced handler. Presa are recent comers to suburban life. Unlike many breeds classified as "working dogs", Presa are not "historically" working dogs, but dogs currently and actively selected for working function and temperament. Pet owners interested in the Perro de Presa Canario would do well to remember that these are working animals with a serious need for exercise and outlet of hunting drive by way of activities such as tracking, trailing, or sport work. Perro de Presa Canarios are accomplished big-game hunters, and are used today in a variety of ways from tracking, search and rescue, general police work including narcotics detection, military and family dogs. They are even occasionally used as guide dogs, or as service animals, though their primary work remains boar hunting. Due to their very great prey drive, physical capabilities and strong temperament, they are not dogs commonly suited to be suburban backyard pets, though they do make excellent companions for exceptionally capable and dedicated dog owners.The Perro de Presa Canario is a naturally athletic dog that wants and needs to exercise daily. This means that it needs a long, brisk walk once a day or the equivalent amount of vigorous exercise in any other form. This breed will be happy to jog with its owner or participate in long hiking expeditions. Given adequate exercise outside the home, this dog can live in any size house or apartment comfortably. The Cane Corso is a light to moderate shedder. It will seasonally shed its undercoat a few times a year, during which time the shedding is a bit heavier, and daily brushing will help greatly to remove the dead hair and keep shedding around the house to a minimum. This dog stays clean and only needs bathing occasionally, at the owner's discretion. The gene pool of the Cane Corso, combined with years of fairy careful breeding, has helped to keep health problems to a minimum in this breed. Those disorders that appear most commonly are the same ones that plague many large-boned breeds: hip and elbow dysplasia, arthritis, and osteosarcoma. The average lifespan of this breed is 10 to 11 years. It is very important that the prospective owner of a Cane Corso has a good bit of dog handling experience, and understands that this dog, like all of the large guardian breeds, must have obedience training very early in life, and that this training must continue over the dog's life. The Perro de Presa Canario is a big, powerful dog, and by the time it reaches adulthood the owner must be fully in control.

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