What you need to know about the Presa Canario breed

The Presa Canario or Dogo Canario dog is robust, with a strong personality, originating from the Canary Islands, Spain. With its thick, muscular rectangular body, attentive expression, and black mask, the Presa Canario is a strong-willed breed and, when properly trained and socialized from a young age, is docile, devoted, and obedient to its family. It typically reaches about 60 cm in height and over 40 kg in weight, and its short-haired coat varies in brindle colors: brown, black, reddish.

A formidable fighter, the Presa Canario needs a firm and experienced owner to whom it can demonstrate loyalty. Discover the history, characteristics, and how to care for this impressive Spanish Presa Canario dog breed.

• History of Presa Canario / Dogo Canario
• Presa Canario dog pictures and breed characteristics
• Care and feeding of Presa Canario dogs

History of Presa Canario / Dogo Canario

Traditionally used for herding cattle, the Presa Canario has always been an ideal guard dog, thanks to its intimidating appearance and hyper-vigilance. Also known as the "Canary Catch Dog," the breed is said to date back to the 15th and 16th centuries after the conquest of the Canary Islands, when larger dogs had the very important role of guarding farms, livestock, and even exterminating wild or stray dogs.

Over time, these island dogs evolved into different breeds, and the Presa Canario (sometimes also called the Canary Mastiff) became known for its intelligence, courage, and physical endurance, natural guarding instincts, even without the need for excessive barking. It is not surprising that these dogs were often bred for fighting.

In the 1940s, dog fighting was banned on all Spanish islands, but fighting was known to continue through the next decade, and during this period, the number of Presa Canarios declined as a result of the introduction of alternative fighting breeds such as the Great Dane, Doberman Pinscher, and German Shepherd. This almost caused the extinction of the Presa Canario, which remained, in very small numbers, the main guard dog for farmers and shepherds. Fortunately, in the 1970s, reputable breeders rehabilitated the Presa Canario dog breed, an animal that is both massive and courageous, as well as functional, with a keen guarding instinct, a bold and very territorial temperament. The complete recovery of the breed began in 1982, when a group of breeders on the island of Tenerife formed an association to support the revival of the Presa Canario. Today, the breed serves as the animal symbol of Gran Canaria.

Presa Canario dog pictures and breed characteristics

From the image above, a black Presa Canario with a white chest and cropped ears looks at us gently, yet suspiciously. Dogs of this breed have a gentle and sweet disposition, especially around people they trust. Their stance is firm and vigilant, combined with a calm and confident temperament.

The ears of this dog are usually cropped, although this practice is forbidden in some countries. Cropping makes the dog's ears stand upright, giving the animal an imposing appearance. It is also done for practical reasons, to save them from potential damage when a dog is working with cattle. The Presa Canario is described as having a large, square-shaped head, a sloping back, a strong tail, and an agile cat-like movement. Intelligent, curious, and wary of strangers, the Presa Canario is also very active and energetic and needs a great deal of exercise to be content.

⏩ Find out here the best guard dog breeds, alongside the Presa Canario!

Care and feeding of Presa Canario dogs

A Presa Canario needs frequent brushing and an occasional bath to keep its short coat clean. This breed also boasts strong, fast-growing nails that will need frequent trimming. The dog's short ears should be checked regularly, and teeth should be brushed frequently. They shed moderately.

⏩ Contact us anytime for online assistance regarding your pet's well-being. We are here for all pet owners, just a click away.

When it comes to food, you should know that the Dogo Canario is literally a consumer, in many cases eating more than a human. It is a dog that needs energy when it gets moving. The daily food portion is determined by its activity level and age.

Presa Canario will do well with any high-quality diet, whether their food is commercially prepared or home-cooked (with veterinary guidance). Being a larger and active breed, they may require more water than an average dog and may also prefer high-protein food.

⏩ Choose super premium food for your dog's health and happiness.

Presa Canario training

A Presa Canario must be raised by experienced owners. Born to guard, these dogs can also be companion dogs if they benefit from a proper socialization program and adequate training from a young age. Presa Canario are tolerant of children, but must always be supervised around them. Children must be taught not to tease or aggress them. If a Presa Canario is raised alongside other pets, it will tolerate them. They are friendly and loyal to their family members, but aggressive towards strangers.

⏩ Discover here effective methods and useful tips for training your dog!

Presa Canario bite

A healthy Presa Canario can weigh up to 70 kg and will be extremely powerful. This means that an attack will be difficult for anyone to fend off and can cause serious damage. According to many studies, larger dogs - with large heads and stronger jaw muscles - naturally have the greatest physical capacity to inflict bite damage. However, the force of a dog's bite will also depend on other factors, such as mood and motivation to bite, not just genetics.

Despite the difficulties of testing, some researchers believe that the Presa Canario bite force could exceed 500 PSI. It is also believed to be among the top 10 most powerful dog bites. If it wants to hurt you, a Presa Canario can easily do so.

Presa Canario for sale

Whenever you want to buy a dog, we recommend resorting to a kennel, where you can get the entire history of the puppy, starting from its origin, parental disease records, genetic predispositions, to all the information you need to provide it with all the necessary comfort. Any pet should become a family member, and therefore, should be treated with the same feelings of warmth, love, and responsibility.

Photo source: Adobe Stock

See other dog breeds

MOST RECENT POSTS