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Dogo Canario Club
of America

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A Presa Canario is a mastiff breed that originates in the Canary Islands, of Spain, off the coast of Africa.  They are a large dog, weighing from 88 to 140 lbs; reaching up to 26 inches or so in height.  They are a short coated breed, with a rough texture (never smooth or shiny) that comes in the basics of brindle or fawn.  They do not come in blue or solid white, nor are they majorly white. They should ALWAYS have a black mask. Black dogs are no longer accepted under the FCI standard.

The Presa Canario is a loyal family and property guardian that is calm and attentive. Contrary to some people's personal interpretation of the standard, the presa canario is NOT AGGRESSIVE to strangers without cause. It is an aloof breed however, and should not be expected to fawn over your guests. It generally bonds well with children.

The Presa Canario in general as a breed is dog aggressive, mainly to same sex dogs of similar bully/mastiff breeds, although some moderate success can be found with neutered specimens in the same household, if they are altered young.  Generally the breed does not have a problem with smaller, non-threatening breeds, particularly if brought into the household as puppies.

In 2001, the FCI organization recognized the presa canario breed worldwide via it's member countries.  With this recognition, they elected to change the breeds official name to a more prominent "Dogo Canario". This did NOT create a second, separate breed. Dogs previously known and registered as presa canario in Spain and the Canary Islands were now registered as dogo canario, and that was the only major change.  Unfortunately, there have been some dissenters, (mainly in the USA) that have attempted to set up non-verifiable-pedigreed dogs as being rustic "presas" rather then "dogos", and deceive people into thinking they are separate breeds.  There are also people who breed to extreme versions of the dog, who are then used as examples of the "differences between a presa and a dogo".  If you review the standards most people with common sense will see the differences are minor, and mostly semantical.

To date, it has been estimated that there are 5,000 presas in the united states, registered with AKC-FSS, UKC and FCI-Puerto Rico.

If you have been doing the necessary research prior to buying a dog of this breed, you have probably read the history over and over. We won't be repeating it here.  We will be emphasizing certain points of the breed, that every potential owner should be aware of, before the buy.

• This is a dominant breed. Not every dog will challenge you, but it can be difficult to discern as puppies the ones who will. Are you going to be able to command your dog's respect, and stand firm in your role as "alpha of the pack"? Will your family stand firm in their treatment of the dog, or will they bend the rules behind your back, causing confusion and chaos?  Are you ready to attend obedience classes, as many as necessary, to ensure that your dog is a reliable member of your family and society?
• This breed DROOLS. Somehow, it has been making the rounds that this is a relatively dry mouth breed. This is absolutely not so!  While they may be drier then some breeds, such as Neos or Mastiffs, your dog will drool when excited, hungry, hot, or after he drinks. They will also see you or your furniture a a convenient towel to dry their mouths off with.  If you have antiques, or a designer home, this may not be the breed for you.
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• This breed, in general, can be dog-aggressive.  Do not plan on buying two puppies of the same sex, and have them grow up to a ripe old age together.  This mistake has been made too many times to count.  While you may be okay introducing a younger dog or puppy into a household with an older dog of the same sex, your best bet with this breed is to always go opposites.

 

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