The big Spanish pup known as the Presa Canario is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, largely because of its combination of being affectionate and intelligent. But many people are still unfamiliar with this breed of dog.
Here are a few things you should know about presa canarios.
Just to get a few basic facts out of the way, Presa Canarios (also known as “canary dogs” or “Presas”) generally grow to a height of 21 to 25 inches and a weight of 85 to 140 pounds. You can expect the average Presa in good health to live 12 to 14 years.
The Presa has a very large, compact, square head that’s covered in loose skin. There is a clear furrow between the frontal lobes that makes up about two-thirds of the width of the skull. Their eyes are set well apart from each other, and those eyes are generally a medium to dark brown. The medium-sized ears fall on either side of the head, and the tail features a thick base that tapers. The dog has a coarse, short coat with no undercoat, and colors are black, all shades of brindle and fawn with occasional white marks on the chest, neck, throat or feet.
History of the breed
The Presa is originally from Tenerife in Spain and the Canary Islands. References to dogs resembling the Presa date back to the 1500s, but it is believed that the dog was the result of mating the Majorero (a dog native to the Canary Islands) and other molossers that were later introduced to the islands. The dogs were long used as cattle drivers and to hunt wild dogs.
The Presa Canario may look intimidating, but the breed is known for being highly affectionate. They are alert and will have a deep, loud bark, but most of the time they will remain fairly quiet.
The Presa is a great family dog because it is calm, devoted and watchful. It can take a little while to warm up to strangers, so it’s a good idea to give your Presa lots of early socialization to make it easier for the dog to adapt to new people. They can also be trained to be great guard dogs.
Presa Canarios have very high energy. You’ll need to take them for a walk every day to allow them to burn some energy—otherwise, they can become bored and destructive. With regard to grooming, though, Presas are very low maintenance. You can brush them weekly and run a towel along their coat to keep them looking great. Bathing once a month is fine.
There are a number of health risks associated with Presas, including hip and elbow dysplasia, canine epilepsy, hypothyroidism, panosteitis, mange, patellar luxation and more.
For more information about what you should know about the Presa Canario breed if you’re interested in bringing one home to your family, we encourage you to contact Cabeza Grande Kennel today. Our Presa Canario breeders would be happy to answer your questions!