Perro de Presa Canario – The Confident Spanish Guard Dog

Dogs are man’s best friend. Dogs are lovely creatures that are known to help humans in various types of work for thousands of years. Among the several jobs associated with dogs, guarding is considered one of the most common canine tasks.

A guard dog is a great help to humans in guarding the house, as well as other establishments, such as farms and markets. So if you are looking for a reliable and trustworthy guardian for your home, you just need to find the ideal dog that matches your preference. If you are a fan of a medium-large breed, the Perro de Presa Canario is a dog you should consider owning.

At first glance, the Perro de Presa Canario clearly shows a guardian look, mainly because of its eyes, face, and body structure. Alertness is evident in its appearance, showcasing a firm and vigilant stance, which is sure to keep intruders at bay. Despite being a natural guardian, the Perro de Presa Canario also attracts a lot of dog lovers because of its soft and affectionate nature. It is eager to please its master and would show deep loyalty towards its loved ones. With this said, it is no doubt that the Perro de Presa Canario built a solid reputation not just as a guard dog but also as an excellent family companion.

Origins of the Perro de Presa Canario

The Perro de Presa Canario is a dog with exciting history. From the name itself, it is a Spanish breed, which means the Canary Dog of Prey. Records show that the breed could be traced back hundreds of years ago, but there is no specific information as to its origins.

In theory, large dogs may have already existed after the conquest of the Canary Islands. Other speculations show that the massive dogs were brought there by the Spanish Conquistadors during that time. The giant breeds that were found in the Canary Islands were known for their efficiency in the field. As expected to most giant breeds, they were recognized as guardians, but they also worked in other types of canine tasks.

One of the most believed speculations about the origins of the Perro de Presa Canario is that it originated from the cattle dog, the Iberian Presa. The Iberian Presa is a mastiff-type breed known for its strong characteristics; breeders often regard it as the ancestor of the Presa Canario. Furthermore, it is believed that the Presa Canario was also crossed with other Hispanic breeds, including the Presa Espanol.

Years of breeding made a significant change in the characteristics of the dogs in the Canary Islands. However, the result was still far from the overall greatness of the Perro de Presa Canario. That is why it still required another breed to complete its years of development; the Bardino Majorero is a sheepdog known for its exceptional expertise in the field. This dog was the key ingredient for the Presa Canario to create an excellent combination of strength, size, finesse, and intelligence.

The Perro de Presa Canario made a great start as its introduction gained its recognition as a powerful guard dog. Because of the dog’s strength, however, it didn’t escape the gruesome experience of dog fighting. Despite being banned in the 1940s, there are still others who host this horrible blood sport, which had a catastrophic effect in the Presa Canario. During this time, the breed’s population had a devastating decline, putting it on the brink of extinction.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long before enthusiastic breeders worked on restoring the Presa Canario to its former glory. The 1970s marked a fresh start for the breed as it was revived with the same exceptional characteristics that it initially had. Years later, the breeders succeeded in restoring the breed, giving it time to repopulate and maintain a healthy number. Today, the Perro de Presa Canario is a well-known guard dog, which boasts its substantial body, guarding skill, and superior intelligence. This dog is no longer part of the cruel blood sport and is doing a great job as a guardian for homes, farms, markets, and so on.