Presa Canario

Presa Canario

FCI #346FCI Recognition: 2023Standard PLStandard EN

FCI Group

2FCI 346

Size

Large

Origin Country

ES

Height

56-66 cm

Weight

40-65 kg

Lifespan

8-12 years

Temperament

AffectionateCalmGuarding

Overview

Presa Canario, also known as the Canary dog or Dogo Canario, is a unique representative of the molosser breed, originating from the picturesque Canary Islands – Tenerife and Gran Canaria. This breed impresses with its powerful build and striking silhouette, making it not only beautiful but also incredibly functional.

Presa Canario is a medium-sized dog, distinguished by its strong, rectangular head and characteristic black mask on its muzzle, which gives it a distinctive, dignified appearance. Its large, slightly oval eyes express intelligence and alertness, while the short, close-lying coat in brindle or fawn colors highlights its muscular body. Every element of its build speaks to the strength and endurance developed over centuries of selection.

Over the centuries, Presa Canario has served as a guard dog and protector of cattle herds in the demanding terrains of the Canary Islands. These tasks required not only strength and courage but also intelligence, independence, and the ability to cooperate with humans. With a strong protective instinct combined with natural alertness, Presa Canario has become an excellent guardian of herds and properties. Although it was historically used for dog fighting – practices that are now completely banned – the breed has retained its original, balanced temperament. It combines caring and vigilance with independent thinking, making it a dog that requires an experienced handler.

The loyalty of Presa Canario to its owners is boundless, while it shows natural reserve and distrust towards strangers, making it an ideal guardian of the home and family. Among close ones, it is gentle, affectionate, and protective, especially towards children, whom it treats with great care. This is one of its greatest assets – beneath its powerful, intimidating appearance lies a devoted family friend.

Despite its impressive, almost rugged appearance, Presa Canario can adapt well to family conditions, provided it is given the right amount of physical activity, consistent socialization, and mental stimulation. It is worth emphasizing that it requires consistent, positive training and the right approach to upbringing from a puppy age, so that its natural protective and guarding instincts develop in a controlled manner and do not turn into undesirable behaviors.

When properly raised and socialized, Presa Canario becomes a wonderful life companion that not only guards the home and provides a sense of security but also joyfully participates in the family's daily activities. This is a dog that, thanks to its unique combination of traits – strength, intelligence, loyalty, and gentleness towards loved ones – can become an invaluable member of any responsible and experienced family. We invite you to further explore information about the health, care, physical activity, training, diet, history, appearance, and behavior of this fascinating breed in the following chapters of our guide.

The Presa Canario is a dog with a massive, harmoniously built silhouette that exudes strength and confidence. Representatives of this breed are distinguished by their characteristic, wide and strongly defined head with a rectangular shape, which is one of their most recognizable breed traits.

The skull is wide and slightly convex, with a clearly marked stop. The forehead is flat, which emphasizes the powerful construction of the entire head. The muzzle is wide, massive, and slightly shorter than the skull, maintaining a proportion of about 40% to 60%. A characteristic breed feature is the black mask on the muzzle, which should not exceed the line of the eyes and gives the Presa Canario a dignified, almost stern expression.

The eyes are medium-sized, slightly oval, widely set, and dark brown in color. Their gaze expresses intelligence, alertness, and confidence. The ears are medium-sized, set high, and naturally hanging down the sides of the head. In countries where ear cropping is not prohibited, they may be cropped, giving the dog an even more alert appearance.

The silhouette is strong, muscular, and well-proportioned. The body is slightly longer than the height at the withers, especially in females, giving the dog a slightly rectangular outline. The chest is deep, wide, and well-developed, indicating excellent physical fitness. The back is strong, straight, and slightly rising towards the loins. The loins are short and strong, with the croup slightly sloping.

The limbs are strong, straight, and parallel, ending in compact, cat-like paws with strong, dark claws. The movements of the Presa Canario are agile, flexible, spacious, and full of power, highlighting its athletic build and physical agility despite its impressive body mass.

The coat is short, hard, dense, and perfectly adhering to the body, without an undercoat. It does not require intensive grooming and is practical for maintaining cleanliness. The following coat colors are acceptable:

  • Brindle (tigrado) – all shades, from dark brown through medium brown to light gray with distinct stripes
  • Fawn (leonado) – all shades from dark gold to light sandy
  • Combinations of brindle and fawn

White markings on the chest, at the base of the neck, and on the toes are permissible, but they should be kept to a minimum. The black mask is mandatory and must not exceed the line of the eyes.

Physical dimensions according to the FCI standard:

  • Height at the withers (males): 60-66 cm
  • Height at the withers (females): 56-62 cm
  • Weight (males): minimum 50 kg
  • Weight (females): minimum 40 kg

The tail is thick at the base, tapering gradually towards the end, reaching down to the hock. At rest, it hangs naturally, while in motion it may be raised in a saber shape, but it should never be carried curled over the back or between the hind legs.

The overall appearance of the Presa Canario commands respect and arouses interest. Its massive, harmoniously built silhouette and dignified expression reflect the nature of a guarding and defensive dog, while also presenting an aesthetic and functionality shaped by centuries of selection.

Characteristic Traits

Good with Children
Tolerates Being Alone
Tolerates Cold Weather
Easy to Groom
Requires Large Living Space
Low Drooling
Not Prone to Obesity
Won't Escape

Pros

  • Exceptional loyalty to family
  • Excellent guard and protection dog
  • Patient and caring towards children
  • Intelligent and capable of learning
  • Balanced temperament
  • Short coat easy to maintain.

Cons

  • Requires consistent training from puppy age
  • May be wary and reserved towards strangers
  • Needs plenty of physical and mental activity
  • Not suitable for novice dog owners
  • May show dominance towards other dogs.

Behavioral Ratings

Breed History

The history of the Presa Canario breed is a fascinating tale of survival, determination, and the passion of people who saved this unique breed from total extinction. The roots of the Presa Canario go deep into the past of the Canary Islands, where for centuries these dogs played a key role in the lives of the archipelago's inhabitants.

The beginnings of the breed – pre-Hispanic times and colonization

The earliest traces of the ancestors of the Presa Canario date back to pre-Hispanic times, when local dogs known as majorero lived on the Canary Islands – particularly in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. These were native dogs, adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of the islands, used by the indigenous Guanche people for guarding and hunting.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, with the Spanish conquests and colonization of the archipelago, various breeds of molosser dogs were brought to the islands from the European continent, including probably the Spanish Alano, Portuguese molossers, and other guard and defense dogs. Crossbreeding local majorero dogs with imported molossers led to the emergence of a new, uniform group of dogs – the ancestors of the modern Presa Canario.

The development and functions of the breed – 16th-19th century

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the population of these dogs significantly increased. Numerous pre-colonial historical documents, especially the so-called Cedularios del Cabildo (city registers), contain many mentions of these dogs and their tasks. The Presa Canario primarily served as:

  • Guard dogs – they protected farms, homes, and property from intruders
  • Herding dogs – they watched over herds of cattle, protecting them from wild animals and thieves
  • Catch dogs – they assisted in catching and controlling semi-wild cattle in the open areas of the islands

These versatile functions required the dogs to possess strength, courage, intelligence, independence, and loyalty – traits that still characterize the breed today.

The era of dog fighting and the threat of extinction – 20th century

Unfortunately, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Presa Canario began to be used for dog fighting – a practice that was popular at the time in many parts of the world. Although these fights were brutal and are now completely banned, they contributed to an increase in the breed's population, as breeders selectively developed traits of strength, courage, and determination.

However, in 1946, when dog fighting was officially banned in Spain, the breed lost one of its main uses. In the following decades, with the modernization of agriculture, a decrease in cattle herds, and the ongoing urbanization of the Canary Islands, the demand for the traditional functions of the Presa Canario dramatically declined. The breed's population sharply decreased, and the Presa Canario found itself on the brink of total extinction.

The revival of the breed – the 1970s and 1980s

In the 1970s and 1980s, a small group of enthusiasts, breed lovers, and breeders from the Canary Islands undertook a heroic effort to revive and preserve the Presa Canario. They sought out the last pure representatives of the breed on remote farms and in mountain villages, where the traditional functions of guard and herding dogs were still needed.

Through systematic, thoughtful breeding, based on careful selection of morphological and behavioral traits, the breed began to revive. Breeders aimed to preserve the authentic type of Presa Canario – a dog with a balanced temperament, functional build, and natural protective instincts, free from the excessive aggression characteristic of fighting dogs.

Recognition by FCI and modern times – 21st century

The efforts of breeders and breed enthusiasts were rewarded. In 2011, the Presa Canario was officially recognized by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) as a distinct breed under standard number 346, in group 2 – Pinschers and Schnauzers, Molossers, Swiss Cattle Dogs, and other breeds, section 2.1 – Molossers of the mastiff type.

This recognition was the culmination of many years of effort and confirmation of the unique character, history, and value of this breed.

Today, the Presa Canario enjoys growing popularity worldwide as a guard, companion, and family dog. It is valued for:

  • Exceptional loyalty and devotion to family
  • Excellent guarding and protective abilities
  • Balanced, composed temperament
  • Impressive, majestic physique
  • Gentleness and patience with children

Modern breeding of the Presa Canario focuses on preserving the authentic breed type, health, and proper temperament, while eliminating undesirable traits such as excessive aggression or fearfulness.

Summary

The history of the Presa Canario is an example of determination, love for the breed, and responsibility for cultural heritage. Thanks to the passion of a handful of people, this breed survived the threat of extinction and today captures the hearts of dog lovers around the world. Each Presa Canario carries within it the legacy of centuries – the strength, intelligence, loyalty, and resilience of its ancestors, who guarded herds and homes on the picturesque Canary Islands.