Perro de Presa Canario
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The Dogo Canario, also referred to as the Presa Canario, Perro de Presa Canario or Canary Dog is a Molosser breed from the Canary Islands. This large breed of dogs was originally bred to hold and guard.
History
The breed is originally from the Canary Islands in the 1700s, notably Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Its exact ancestry is unknown, but enthusiasts believe that an already established farm dog from the Canary Islands by the name of Majorero (Perro de Bardino Majorero) was crossed with the Mastiff of England and Old-Style Bulldogs that were brought from Europe to the Islands by visitors and colonists, creating the foundation for the modern Presa Canario.It is also believed that a number of Spanish and breeds may have contributed to the development of the Presa Canario such as the Perro de Ganado Majorero, Presa Español, and Alano Español.
Presa type dogs are mentioned in historical documents of the 16th and 17th centuries, as guard dogs and catch dogs. Perro de Presa Canario is generally considered as being created during the 18th century with the above-mentioned crosses for the purpose of dog fighting, tradition which the English settlers transplanted along with their English breeds of Mastiff and Bulldog. Canary Islanders consider these fights "honor fights" and not the sole purpose of the animal. They were most definitely used as guard dogs, and with declining use, farm dogs. These presa type dogs were also referred to as the "perro de la tierra" or "dog of the land."
Like many fighting dogs, the breed became nearly extinct after dog fighting was outlawed in the 1940s, but the breed was revived in the 1970s with the help of several crosses by various breeders. This period is generally known as the reconstrucion of the breed and as a result, occasional atypical specimens are not uncommon, although increasingly less so.
"Perro de Presa Canario" means the Canarian Dog of Prey. It is sometimes referred to as a "Presa."
Appearance
Presa Canarios have thick skin and short fur that comes in all shades of fawn and brindle. White is allowed up to 20 percent and is most commonly found on the chest and feet, and occasionally on a blaze on the muzzle. The breed standard requires black pigmentation and dogs should have a black mask that does not extend above the eyes. No shades of blue are allowed in competition.Proper head (considered a "square on a square") and good "expression" are part of the breed standard, and are manifest in the best breed specimens. Expression is highlighted by a proper ear crop. However, some countries, particularly in Europe, are and have banned ear cropping, which can take away from proper expression. The lips are thick and hang in an inverted V; the flews may be slightly loose.
The breed is also characterized by a sloping topline(with the rear being slightly higher than the shoulders). Another characteristic of the breed is the shape of the paws (cat foot) and the catlike movement of the animal. The body is mesomorphic, that is, slightly longer than the dog is tall, contributing to the feline movement. The breed is also known, incidentally, for the ability to adapt to various climates.
Size
Females average between 22-25 inches at the withers and weigh between 90-120 pounds.Males average between 23-26 inches at the withers and weigh between 115-140 pounds.
Generally speaking, exceeding the weights listed above could lead to a number of health problems. Too much weight is also known to compromise the dog's athleticism and working ability.
Lifespan
The average lifespan for the Presa Canario is 8-12 years.Coat
One of the unique characteristics of the breed is the diversity of markings. Fawn comes in silver fawn, gold fawn, and red fawn. Brindle comes in colorings of black (and may appear solid), brown, and all shades in between. "Verdino" or greenish-tinted brindle is among the most traditional coat colors; reverse brindle or "atigrado claro" is among the most exotic.
The ideal coat is medium length and "rustic," that is, slightly coarse to the touch. The breed is known for its very minimal shedding.
See below for a brief discussion on coat genetics.
Temperament
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Despite its notoriety in the case of Diane Whipple, the Presa Canario is not a breed known for its man-aggression, such as the Fila Brasileiro, for example. In some situations, the Presa can be aggressive towards other dogs and animals. Once the dog has been socialized and trained, this becomes the exception instead of the rule. Many Presas share their homes with birds, cats, dogs, horses, reptiles and other animals.
Regarding the Diane Whipple case it must be made clear that the dogs involved were not purebred canaries, they were cross bred with another large mastiff breed which had increased their size and weight far above breed standard, they had also been owned by an alleged drug dealer who had trained them to be highly aggresive and attack on command.
Presa Canario is a dominant breed (a characteristic common to all bullbreeds) and requires socilialization as a pup and throughout its life. Basic obedience training is also recommended.
Trainability
Due to its temperament, the Presa Canario is highly trainable under the right circumstances. The Presa Canario is increasing in popularity as a personal protection and protection sports dog. [link] [link] [link] [link]The best specimens of the breed will show natural protective instincts, good natural drive, and innate confidence. The recommended training method for the breed is military-style dog training [link] [link].
Health
As with any breed, those interested in purchasing a Presa Canario should carefully research breeders and a dog's ancestry to ensure that the breeding lines are healthy. Typically speaking, the higher the degree of consanguinity, the higher the likelihood of genetic defects. Due to the breed's vast gene pool, many of the genetic problems that affect other purebreeds are less evident. However, as the breed becomes more tightly interbred and bloodlines developed the incidence of genetic problems may increase.As a large breed, the Presa Canario can be susceptible to hip dysplasia. Other possible (but generally uncommon) health problems include canine epilepsy, osteochondrodysplasias, and chryptorchism. Health issues unique to Spain include canine herpes virus and canine visceral leishmaniasis. An outbreak of herpes can be deadly to a canine population, particularly to newborn puppies. Leishmaniasis is a blood parasite that has a long incubation period (of several years) and most often leads to death.
Breed status
Some enthusiasts hold that, if the dog's pedigree cannot be traced back to the Canary Islands, it is not a true Presa Canario but rather a Bandog. It should be noted that there is a great degree of diversity in Presa Canarios and Dogo Canarios throughout the world. While this diversity has good implications for health, it has some interesting ramifications for the breed status. The Presa Canario is one of four breeds that does not have a DNA profile. And despite the fact that some claim the "Presa Canario" is a different breed from the "Dogo Canario" neither phenotype nor genotype evidence can accurately substantiate this claim. Essentially, all Dogo Canarios are Presa-type dogs (that is Presa Canario), but not all Presa-type dogs (Presa Canario) are necessarily Dogo Canarios.The interesting thing about a "Presa" is that one typically knows it when they see it.
For years, obtaining proper paperwork from Spain was extremely difficult. It is even claimed, for example, that a former president of the Spanish club simply didn't give out papers. Some breeders, such as one in Canada for example, simply do not have papers on their dogs which are bonafide Presa Canarios. The problem in obtaining papers has definitely contributed to the diversity of the breed in many ways. Due to this difficulty, American owners and breeders created and sought other ways to register their dogs, such as AKC-FSS, UKC, UPPCC, and FIC.
Coat genetics
Dogs have a great deal of diversity in breeds, in all aspects, including coat color and patterns. Canine coat genetics are still being researched. Most of our present understanding of canine coat genetics is based on the work of Clarence Cook Little, author of "Inheritance of Coat Color in Dogs" (1979), although some researchers dispute certain of his theories. For those with a keen interest in canine coat genetics, an excellent source for the breeder and the layperson's understanding is authored by Dr. Sue Ann Bowling [link]
As far as the Presa Canario is concerned, it is believed Fawn is based on the Agouti series, specifically the ay allele. Agouti hairs are fawn hairs banded and/or interspersed with black. This gene is recessive to the other genotype of the breed, brindle.
It is known that Brindle is a dominant trait but there is some argument as to where it is located. Little postulated that it was on the E series (Ebr) but if so, would compete with the black mask (Em), which is known to not be the case. Dr. Bowling speculates the gene is most likely on a new series, which she calls "K".
The following are true in canine coat genetics: (remembering alleles come in sets of 2)
1. Breeding fawn (ayay) x brindle (KbrKbr or Kbray) may produce: fawn and brindle offspring.
2. Breeding brindle (KbrKbr or Kbray) x brindle (KbrKbr or Kbray) may produce: fawn and brindle offspring.
3. Breeding fawn (ayay) x fawn (ayay) will always produce: fawn offspring.
For breedings of fawn x brindle or brindle x brindle there is no clear way to predict the number of fawn or brindle offspring. Some litters from these breedings will be entirely fawn, entirely brindle, or, most likely, some combination of both.
External links
[Dogo Canario Club of America, Inc.]
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