MEMBER
since 1997

Dogo Canario Club
of America

Pennsylvania Hip
Improvement Project

Presa Rescue Volunteers

Myths
 

Color Controversy
These are colors and patterns that NEVER existed in the Presa Canario, but are signs of recent crossbreeding.
   

These are colors that do exist in the Presa Canario/Dogo Canario.

Somewhere along the way, the crusade against TOO MUCH white, twisted into the belief that ANY white was not allowed.  That is NOT TRUE.  White markings are allowed, but are preferred to be kept minimal and confinde to certain areas...the chest, feet/legs and occasionally in small quantities the head, although the dog should have a black mask that totally surrounds the nose, mouth and length of the muzzle, as well as the eyes. The dog in the fourth picture on the top, despite having a correct black nose, has incorrect white markings, and should have been rendered unbreedable

Then there is black.

 Black was originally accepted during the recovery process, but as the selective breeding continued it was dropped because black dogs usually carried other major faults. they could not seem to produce a black dog that exhibited good breed type, so it was removed as a permissible color from the standard. The theory is that the color is linked to other genetic impurities. It is accepted in the USA by the UKC standard, but their still aren't many dogs taking advantage of it.  Beware when someone tries to sell you the "rare" black dog.
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Breed or Bandog?
This controversy has raged since the Presa Canario first came into the US in the early 1990's. Many early specimens that were purported to be Presas came in a variety of colors and patterns. You had everything from light fawns to dark brindles, blues, almost all whites, and patterns that made the dogs look like various crosses and mixes. People who bred and perpetuated these types, colors and patterns of the dogs will tell you a tale of early crossing in the Islands, to "recreate" the nearly extinct presa. They will tell you how the original "perros de presa" were mixed with pit bulls, bulldogs, neopolitan masitffs, bullterriers and various other molossoid and bulldog breeds, and that this has led to the early dogs in the USA looking as they did. There are also breeders who simply claim to breed "old-world bloodlines", to circument the question of why their dogs look different then a CH Spainsh Dogo Canario. However, as the breed has grown in popularity in the US, and a greater relationship between the Club Espanol del Dogo Canario (CEDC, Spanish parent club of the breed) and the DCCA has been established, we have more access to early documentations and more information of the near extinction and recovery process.
While the original recovery did begin with a multitude of dogs that probably were made up of crossing, the CEDC, with the approval of the Real Sociedad Canina Espanol (RSCE, Basically the Spanish AKC) began selectively breeding the dogs who matched the physical type and characteristics of the traditional dog. Using information gathered from various interviews and research, they began weeding out dogs of undesirable type and characteristics, and over the next decade arrived at a breed that was breeding true to form, with each generation improving upon the last. Upon recognition of the Presa Canario by the Federacion Cynotique International (FCI) in 2001 it's status as a breed was established and its standard set. The FCI also requested the name be changed to Dogo Canario.
We believe that many early US breeders were sold dogs of poor quality, basically cast offs of breeders as they were selectively breeding towards the Dogo Canario of today. Unfortunately, many of these breeders simply took these dogs, created their own standards, and bred them and interbred them to their own concepts, until they had almost established their own breed. Original dogs were bought and bred with no thought to continue with the refinement that was going on in the Islands. By the time the DCCA was established in 1997, as a club of fanciers with more correct imports, the differences between the two versions of dogs were obvious.
Most US dogs were taller, heavier, including many "rare and exotic" colors, tight skin (like pit bulls), shiny coats, midget dogs with triangular heads, etc. As more direct imports became visible in the show circuit, in kennels and on the internet, a division began. Those initial breeders were dedicated to the dogs they had bred and perpetuated as Presas for over a decade, and not wanting to look foolish or wrong, they continued to support their original lines and breeders breeding those lines, while importing the refined imports to revive their personal lines, and bring then to where they should have been all along.
Meanwhile the Spanish Dogo Canarios and those direct imports here, have been breeding true for a long time, which is one of the qualifications of being called a "breed". Many early US descended lines, even with a recent infusion of Spanish blood, are still producing dogs that exhibit a variety of type, characteristics and colors, a lot of times within the same litter.
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Beauty vs. Brawn
There is another debate amongst American breeders as to what the Presa should look like, based on the arguement that haunts every breed- "show" vs. "working". While many breeds can have both "types" co-existing, in Molossoid breeds it is a harder existence. In the Presa, it becomes even harder because we are battling against the representations of crossbreeds as correct dogs, and many of those breeder use "working type" to excuse their dogs from meeting the basic standard. There is also the tendency in the US to breed bigger, meaner, more muscular, bigger headed dogs, which takes our breed away from its correct look.
Breeders who are interested in mainly showing their dogs, do not necessarily own dogs with poor temperment, or are breeding dogs who wouldn't meet the character definitions of the standard. Breeder and owners who are interested mainly in working their dogs do not necessarily own bad examples of type. However, those breeders who are well versed and compete in both arenas have the advantage over both single minded groups. While not every dog can go from show arena to winning a personal protection tournament, the basics of the standard should be met. Breedings should be based on furthering this concept of blending as well. Many breeds have already demonstrated that if you concentrate harder on one, while neglecting the other, you will end up with an incorrect dog in some way. Confirmation shows demonstrate that a dog has correct type. Working events demonstrate that a dog has a correct temperment, although which working events apply to the character of the presa is a matter of debate.
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Presa vs. Dogo
You will notice that we use the names Presa Canario and Dogo Canario interchangeably throught the site. That is because to us they are the same dog, the same breed. the Presa Canario is simply now officially referred to as the Dogo Canario, after the FCI acceptance of the breed. There are those however, that push for the separation of the two names, as two different breeds. They want to refer to the Presa Canario as the dogs that were bred down from the inital heavily flawed lines first imported into America. To owners of these dogs, calling them "presa canario" somehow denotes that they are dogs of "old world bloodlines" instead of the dog seen today winning shows in the Canary Islands, Spain and now the rest of the world. By calling them "Presa Canarios, not Dogo Canarios" they try to establish the dogs as a separate breed that predates the Dogo Canario, instead of a group of molossoid dogs bred down, and heavily inbred, from several different recently crossed lines over the years. On the other side, the "Dogo Canario" people use this name to separate themselves from these other dogs, and to denote recently import dogs and Spanish import bred lines. These dogs can usually be easily traced back to Spain and the Islands.
Recently, allegations are being made that the "Presa" is healthier, more athletic, just alll around better then the "Dogo", which are fat, lazy show dogs. Reality is that the majority of dogs in the OFA and PH databases are "Dogo" lines; as well as the majority of titled working dogs.
There are variations of type within the breed, whereas some dogs look shorter and broader, other's are less broad. And of course, examples can be found to illustrate excessive traits. However, that does not make for two different breeds.
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Rare = Healthy
This is one of the biggest myths still being perputrated to this day, despite all we have learned about genetic health defects in the breed. When we imported our first pair of dogs in 1995, we were told this breed was rare, so it wasn't overbred, and didn't have any health defects present in AKC breeds that were prevalent in the US already. Unfortunately, we were naive enough to believe it. There are several health defects that have shown up in this breed. Some of them are passed genetically, but some simply show up.
Hip Dysplasia
Epilepsy
Demodetic Mange
Heart murmur
Anterior Cruchiate Ligament tears
Entropian
Hypothyroidism
Cryptorchidism
Panosteoitis
Patellar Luxation
Various Cancers

If a breeder tells you any of these do not occur in the breed, RUN! If a breeder tells you his lines are exempt from Hip Dysplasia, without him ever needing to xray his breeding stock, RUN! The treatments for any of these conditions vary, and your best information will be gained from research and a consult with your vet. You can find information on these conditions on the DCCA website on the Health page
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Behavioral Problems

Obviously every dog can be different, and behavior depends greatly on socialization and training.  However most of the common problems we see in the breed are the results of a lack of one or both of those things.  Undersocialized dogs can be very feraful, shy or on the other end, aggressive and too defensive.  Lack of basic obedience training leads to a dog with poor public manners, and one that is out of control. So when you get your new dog, we STRONGLY URGE you to socialize and train it immediately.

People who are unknowledgeable will argue that socializing your dog, or basic obedience training will ruin your dogs guarding ability, and it's "spirit".  While it's true that being too heavy handed in the training can be too much for some dogs, it doesn't have to be that way.  Working with a knowledgable trainer, NOT ONE FROM YOUR LOCAL PETSMART/PETCO, can help you find the right balance and method for you and your dog.  Above all, listen to your instincts. Training should be fun, not punishment.  If you don't feel what you're doing is right for your dog, find someone else for a second opinion.

If you have children, you should involve them in the training as well.  Having them handle the dog's toys before giving them to him, as well as the food.  NEVER leave your child alone unsupervised with your dog, no matter how trustworthy you think him to be.  Accidents happen, and it is always better to be safe then sorry. Personally, we would never tolerate a dog that growls at a child.  If it is still young enough, you may be able to work with him.  If it is an adult, we recommend finding the dog a new home.  Once the dog is allowed to get away with dominating a child, we do not feel it is in anyway to be trusted around a child again.  Sure, you can find storied of rehabilitated dogs who go on to live with children, but you can also find just as many where the results were tragic, and the initial signs were ignored.

Generally, the presa is neither an obsessive chewer or a digger.  If you have one you would classify as such past puppyhood, it's probably a sign they need more excercise and time with you.

As mentioned before, the presa IS dog aggressive, particularly with same sex, similar breeds.  To date, it is rare to find two intact males able to co-exist peacefully.  Females can do it, but it takes the right combination.  We generally do  not recommend someone try to be "the one" to make it happen, because better people then you have already tried...
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