Presa Canario facts for kids
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| Origin | Canary Islands, Spain | ||||||||||||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||
The Presa Canario is a large, strong dog from the Canary Islands in Spain. It's a type of mastiff or "catch dog." You'll mostly find these dogs on the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
This breed was once known as the Dogo Canario. Traditionally, Presa Canarios were used as guard dogs to protect homes and property. They also helped with herding sheep and cattle. In the past, they were used in dog sports that are now illegal.
History of the Presa Canario
The Presa Canario breed comes from an older dog called the Bardino Majorero. This dog used to live all over the Canary Islands. Over time, these dogs were bred with other large dogs brought to the islands. Many of these new dogs came from the British Isles in the late 1800s.
By the 1960s, the Presa Canario was almost gone. To save the breed, a special group called the Club Español del Presa Canario was started in 1982. This group created a first set of rules for the breed. These rules were approved by the Real Sociedad Canina de España in 1989.
In 1991, the Presa Canario became an official symbol of the island of Gran Canaria. The Spanish government officially recognized the breed in 2001.
The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI), a big international dog organization, first accepted the breed in 2001. At that time, it was called the Dogo Canario. In 2011, it was fully accepted. Then, in 2018, its name was changed to Presa Canario.
Some countries, like Australia and New Zealand, do not allow people to bring in or sell this dog breed.
What Presa Canarios Look Like
The Presa Canario is a very large dog with a strong, muscular body. Male dogs are usually about 60 to 66 centimeters (24 to 26 inches) tall at the shoulder. They weigh around 50 to 65 kilograms (110 to 143 pounds). Female dogs are a bit smaller, standing about 56 to 62 centimeters (22 to 24 inches) tall and weighing about 40 to 55 kilograms (88 to 121 pounds).
Their head is wide, big, and square-shaped. If their ears are cropped (a practice that is now banned in many places), they stand straight up. If not cropped, their ears hang down close to their head. Their upper lip hangs a little, but not too much.
Another special thing about this breed is their sloped back. Their rear end is slightly higher than their shoulders. They also have "cat feet," which are round and compact. This helps them move in a cat-like way. Their body is a bit longer than they are tall, which also helps with their smooth movement.
Traditional Uses
Presa Canarios were traditionally used for important jobs. They were excellent guard dogs, protecting families and their property. They also worked as herding dogs, helping farmers manage both sheep and cattle. In the past, they were involved in some traditional dog sports, which are no longer allowed today. These activities were common on the islands until the 1950s.
See also
In Spanish: Presa canario para niños
