Is Presa Canario A good Guard Dog? How Does Presa Canario Behave With Other Dogs?

Muhammad Asim Khan
6 min readJun 29, 2022

The Perro de Presa Canario is a large, strong, aggressive, molosser type of dog also known as a canary dog or mastiff dog. The Presa Canario is native to the Canary Islands of Spain. The Presa Canario is known for its courage, ingenuity, and physical resistance to the innate sense of the caregiver. The Presa Canario is one of the most courageous and aggressive dog breeds in the world. In the wrong hands, the Presa Canario is very dangerous. In San Francisco in 2006, two Pressa Canario killed a woman. The incident happened because their owner could not train and control their dogs.

Early socialization and training are essential for every type of dog you want to keep as a pet. Pressa Canario needs an owner who can guide and manage it consistently, with confidence, and resilience without resorting to force or cruelty. One of the most appealing features of the dog’s attention is its ability to protect the home and humans. The Presa Canario is probably one of these dogs, known for its strong square head and wide snout. Many people think it is a mixture of American Bully and Pitbull but in reality, it is a different species of dog.

This type of dog is not widely used as a pet because people do not know much about these dogs. Some people regarded them as dangerous fighting dogs while others thought of them as soft pets. They make excellent guard dogs because of their alert personality and awesome appearance. They are very suspicious of strangers but are very friendly and listen to their owners and people they know.

History

Although the true ancestors of the Pressa Canario type of dogs are unknown. Many experts believe it is a mixture of Bardino Majero and English Mastiff similar to the Illinois Spaniel. Both species are now extinct. During the 17th century, the popularity of Presa Canario grew rapidly. Traditionally these dogs are used as herdsmen. Because of their shocking appearance and high awareness, these dogs make alert dogs.

The Presa Canario originated in Spain on the Canary Islands in the 1800s as guard dogs or working dogs. It was heavily farmed to catch unravel cattle and to repel wild boars. These dogs were later bred as pets for entertainment purposes. Being strong, significant, and powerful it is not surprising that they can own the rings since dog fighting is an illegal activity and needed to be stopped. Since then the Presa Canario has not only become a great protector but also a very popular companion dog.

Then people start redefining the role of dogs and focusing on being used as family dogs and service dogs that can easily win hearts. These large dogs play a role in operating and monitoring farms in the Canary Islands. In the second half of the 20th century, the breeding population of Presa Canario declined to become nearly extinct especially as it was no longer needed for farm patrols and due to the importation of other European breeders such as the Doberman Pinscher and the German Shepherd.

About 1970 people began working on this breed renovation, and in 1982 the Pero De Presa Canario Club was formed. Now today the Presa Canario is no longer an endangered species but is still considered a rare species, especially outside the Canary Islands. This species was fully accepted by the Federation Cyanologique Internationale under the name Dogo Canario in 2011. This species is completely banned (import and export) in Australia and New Zealand.

Physical Appearance

The Presa Canario or Canary Dog is a large, muscular, and fast dog between 22 and 26 inches long and weighs between 80 and 110 pounds. The female is slightly smaller in size than the male. These dogs have an average life expectancy of between 9 and 12 years. Their longevity shows that they can build strong, trustworthy, and long-lasting relationships with their owners.

Their coat is short and available in two colors. The first color is brindle and contains all shades of brindle ranging from dark brown to almost blonde and the second color is fawn. It may contain white markings on the chest, face, neck, and feet.

They have broad and large heads, rectangular bodies, and brown eyes of medium to oval size. The ears are often cut off to prevent damage while working with cattle. When the ears are left naturally hanging down and parallel to the head, they appear to be shaped like a rose.

Temperament

The Presa Canario is usually the most cautious, fearless, and overworked creature who is always looking for work to do, anything from leash walking to training activities. They are very suspicious of strangers and usually have stubborn and aggressive natures. These dogs can be trained for a variety of purposes such as herd, hunting, and retrieval, these features make them an asset when in the wild.

Presa Canario makes an excellent friend, especially for farmers and hunters. They are very loyal to their owners and will not let anything happen to their owners and will protect their loved ones until death. They are very playful and active, especially when they are young. They can easily be trained to become great family companions.

Early communication and training are very important for Presa Canario if you are looking for a listening friend by your side. They are not dogs suitable for beginners or dog owners for the first time. One of the most important things about Presa Canario that you must need to consider before you buy it is that it is a very powerful dog. They like long daily walks, outdoor running, playtimes, and running, otherwise, they will get bored and have certain behavioral problems such as anger and aggression.

Although Presa Canario is an amazing companion for experienced owners who know best how to get together and train them from an early age. Always start socializing and training as soon as you bring the puppy into your home when it is in controllable size. Buy a Presa Canario from a pet breeder and make sure you properly introduce them to a variety of household chores such as sounds, people, and visuals.

Presa Canario loves to be purposeful and it is your job as the owner to provide them. Always make sure you involve them in different family activities and teach them different skills and activities. They are amazingly designed dogs that can do harder tasks than you think. They can make a great family protector and breed as a family friend and caregiver.

These dogs love to be close to children when they are well trained and meet humans from the puppy stage. Always teach your children to be calm, gentle, and loving as they interact with and treat close friends. They can adapt well to family circumstances.

Exercise requirement

The Presa Canario is a high-quality dog ​​that needed regular exercise to burn its energy. Exercise can be hiking, playing, shepherding, or hunting. If they do not get the exercise they need, then they can easily get bored and become destructive.

Studies have shown that exercise contributes to the mental health of animals and helps them to lead healthier and more productive lives. They are bred to be active dogs and love outdoor activities and a lot of daily walking.

Health and Fitness

Presa Canario is usually a healthy dog and lives for 9 to 12 years, depending on how you exercise, eating habits, disease prevention, etc. As with all larger species, the Presa Canario can suffer from hip dysplasia. Other important health concerns you need to be curious about your dog especially when they are older include hypothyroidism, constipation, demodectic mange, and entropion.

It is easy to groom and maintain. Their short coat is loose and if you want to minimize its shedding, weekly brushing is highly recommended. They can roll down after drinking and eating but it is not a big problem compared to other large varieties and mastiffs. You should check their eyes, ears, and nails and clean them regularly. As their nails grow faster, therefore, you need to cut them from time to time.

You can also read articles related to this topic by visiting my blog Beautifully Animals. In this blog, I published posts about animals which I hope you will enjoyed.

You can also read this Gastrointestinal Parasites Found In Buffaloes In Peshawar Pakistan?

--

--