The Presa Canario

The Presa Canario is a Molasser-type dog. Molossers are heavy-boned dogs that are descendents of the ancient wardogs of the Molossi, a people who lived in the mountain region of northwestern Greece and southern Albania. Presa Canarios were developed by farmers in the Canary Islands to be farm dogs and guardians. They were later used in dog-fighting until the 1940s when fighting there was banned. The breed is relatively new to the US. The first few Presas were imported in the late 1980s. The Presa Canario is also known as the Perro de Presa Canario and as the Dogo Canario.

The Presa Canario has a square shaped head, a broad muzzle and strong jaws. It's ears are usually cropped. It has a broad, muscular chest, a slightly raised rump and a powerful back. It's coat is short and course. Colors are fawn or varied shades of brindle. Most Presas have white markings on the chest. Height should be between 21 to 25 inches - Weight should be between 90 to 125 pounds for males, and 88 to 110 pounds for females. Their average life expectancy is 9 to 11 years.

Presas have a low, deep bark but they are calm, quiet housepets. As a family pet the Presa Canario is gentle and affectionate. As a guardian/protector he is watchful, reliable, focused and courageous. Presas are also dominant, powerful dogs. Owners must be assertive, and set firm limitations. Early socialization is extremely important. Obedience training is essential.

See Dog Training Tips for basic training tips from a Presa Canario breeder with 12 years of training and dealing with dogs. It's excellent advice to help you with commands that every puppy needs to learn, beginning with house-breaking.

Read about the training available at a Professional Dog Training School that understands the breed. Their training program begins with intense socialization, followed by general and advanced obedience, on and off leash. They also offer training in Personal Protection, Search and Rescue, Agility and more.

There are Presas that are bred to be conformation show dogs and there are Presas that are bred with performance in mind, aka the working Presa.

Performance breeders concentrate on developing working abilities in the breed. Because Presas have a natural instinct to guard and defend, these breeders believe that personal protection training is absolutely necessary. It teaches a dog which situations are threatening, which are not and puts the owner in control. Personal Protection Training is NOT aggression training. PP training uses a dog's natural protective instinct but it teaches him to wait for his master's command to react and stop the offender, then turn off with the "out" command.

The Presa Canario competes and succeeds in Personal Protection competitions. They are easily trained for a variety of competitive canine sports. The Presa's muscular body and strong temperament allows him to be very competative in weight pulling.

photo credit - Red Star Kennels

In kennels that breed "Show" Presas, the dogs in their breeding programs have been chosen for breed type and conformation. "Type" is a dog's overall look. It's physical characteristics - expression, coat, proportions, movement, bone structure, etc. are typical of the breed. In competitive events such as those sanctioned by the ARBA (American Rare Breed Assn), a dog is judged by how closely it compares to breed standards.

Presa Canario Organizations

International Association for the Presa Canario
The purpose of the IACP is to preserve, protect and promote the Presa Canario as a functional animal. The IACP provides and maintains a central pedigree and registry of IAPC-endorsed litters. It also administers breed-specific Temperament Tests to evaluate a dog's social and defensive skills, to determine a dog's reaction to common everyday public occurrences and his acceptance of handler control, and to determine a dog's guard instinct by testing his ability to defend his handler under moderate pressure.

United Perro de Presa Canario Club (UPPCC)
"Founded in 1990, by Richard G. Kelly and family, the clubs mission was to introduce this new rare breed - the Presa Canario to those enthusiasts who understood and could appreciate the many attributes of this magnificent guardian. Hopefully encouraging prospective breeders to propagate this species according to the clubs "Code of Ethics" and provide a breed registry for all certified Presa Canario dogs."

The United Kennel Club(UKC) Perro de Presa Canario Standard
The Perro de Presa Canario was recognized by United Kennel Club on January 1, 2003.

The Presa Canario has been recorded in the AKC Foundation Stock Service since 1996. The Foundation Stock Service(FSS) is an optional record keeping service created by the AKC to give rare breed fanciers the security of a reliable and reputable service to maintain their records as the breed continues to develop and ultimately receives full AKC recognition.

Presa Canario Breeders

While reading everything I could find about Presas to write this article, it became very clear that there are two kinds of Presa Canario breeders. Some are simply dog sellers. Here's a few of their selling points -

"The Presa Canario is extremely intuitive and discriminating in his ability to discern whether you are a good person or one who exudes bad vibes."!?!?

"The Presa is a natural home guardian, who is acutely aware of human adrenal odor"!?!?
Who would read this stuff and decide that's the kind of dog they want? Not the kind of people I want in my neighborhood, especially if anyone is exuding bad vibes or adrenal odor! This breed has many wonderful qualities, but the kind of people who will be enticed by statements like these are probably the kind who shouldn't own any dog.

"Yes, the Presa's are truly easy keepers".
New puppies must be house-trained and taught basic commands like sit, stay and come. Some breeds might become suitable family pets with just those basics. Sadly, animal shelters are full of dogs left there by owners who thought training a dog would be easy. A great deal of time is needed for a puppy to become a great family pet. Owners must be in control of any dog this size. Reputable breeders will tell you that Presas are not for inexperienced first time dog owners.

"To date, we have not experienced any congenital health deficiencies within the breed, especially within our gene pool. This is why we offer a two year health guarantee against any congenital deficiency."
Most larger breeds are at risk of Hip Dysplasia, and Presas are no exception. Don't let statements like this fool you into thinking otherwise. Make sure BOTH parent's hips have been x-rayed and rated. That two year health guarantee is a generous offer, but isn't it kind of ridiculous? This is not an appliance. Who could exchange a 1 year old puppy for a brand new model? After you've trained, cared for, and loved the dog, would you even think about sending it back because it's been diagnosed at 18 months with painful hip dysplasia? Don't let an offer like this take the place of hip certification, excellent health care and up to date vaccinations.It can be possible to get a good dog from this kind of breeder, but I personally would not trust buying from someone who feels the need to make such claims. They really should not be patronized. These are the breeders supplying the breeders, the dog fight crowd, and the pet shop brokers. These people are selling puppies via the internet to anyone who sends the money - first come, first served! "Just (1)Send a $200 good faith deposit. (2)State the puppy gender. (3)State your color choice." They'll send you a sales agreement and tell you the "ranking of your selection". With a substantial deposit they will put your name on their list for a puppy from their next litter.

photo credit - Red Star Kennels

If you ask a responsible breeder about buying a puppy, they will often ask you questions next. Some will want to know about your other pets - how many & what kind; about your home and family and about your living condtions. Do you live in a house with a yard or in a high-rise with someone who's ready for lots of walking? They'll ask what kind of job you have - can you afford vet bills, training and do you have time for a new dog? Some will want a reference from your veterinarian and even a few character references. Good breeders will discourage someone who is obviously ill-suited for that breed and not sell a dog to anyone who they strongly suspect or know would be an irresponsible pet owner.

Good breeders are educated, informed and responsible. They do not indiscriminately breed their dogs. They love their dogs and they love the breed. They want their dogs to go to loving and caring families. Many of them stay in touch with the new owners.

Presa Canarios can be exceptional family pets, but they are not for everyone. They're natural guardians of house and home, but they are not naturally obedient. If you're convinced that it is the dog for you...You think you've got what it takes to be a committed, responsible Presa Canario owner. You've learned all you can about the breed, good points and bad points. You're willing to provide adequate training. You're ready to put whatever time and effort it takes into making your dog a Canine Good Citizen. Then...Talk to a reputable breeder. Buy a healthy dog from a kennel that breeds to the highest standards. Follow through with their training recommendations. Chances are, you'll soon have a loyal, devoted family member and a trustworthy guardian.

photo credit - Red Star Kennels

Irina Shimko, owner of Red Star Kennel describes the Presa Canario like this -
"Our own ideal is a perfect family/companion protection type of a dog. A dog that can be taken places and can be safely handled by all family members. A dog that doesn’t have to be put away when friends come to visit. A dog that can fit in a standard vehicle with ease, yet big enough to deter an attack from a man or an animal. A dog that won’t bounce off the walls, because it has too much drive. A dog that an intruder won’t slip through with ease while braking into my home at night. A dog that will not back down if the intruder happens to be on drugs and does not retreat upon a threatening display. A dog that will put up a fight with man or beast if its family is challenged. A dog that will easily get along with other friendly dogs, yet will be able to neutralize an aggressive animal. We found all these qualities in a Presa. That is why we like this breed. This is what we want to see in all our dogs."

All the dogs in the pictures on this page are Red Star Presa Canarios. Thank You, Irina, for the use of your photos. The dogs are gorgeous!!!