Powerful, agile and courageous, the Perro de Presa Canario gives the overall appearance of a powerful, stately guard dog with a large, robust body that’s slightly longer than it is tall. He has a broad, deep chest with a large head and thick, elastic-like skin.
The Perro de Presa Canario can be traced back to its ancestors, likely brought to the Canary Islands by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 15th century, where they lived among the indigenous cattle dogs. Whether guarding farms, catching cattle or eliminating wild or stray dogs, the Perro de Presa Canario was a dog of many purposes. The breed began to decline in the 1940s, but was revived again in the 1970s by reputable breeders who developed and bred the Perro de Presa Canario to its original size and character.
Confident and strong-willed, the Perro de Presa Canario is suspicious of strangers and can be aggressive toward other dogs, with a firm, vigilant stance and low, deep bark when on alert. However, he is affectionate, calm and well-behaved toward his human family.
The Perro de Presa Canario’s harsh, flat coat doesn’t require much grooming beyond regular weekly brushing and the occasional bath. He has strong, quickly growing nails that should be trimmed regularly, and his ears, which can be cropped, rose or naturally pendant, should be cleaned of any build-up of wax and debris. The Perro de Presa Canario’s energy level is relatively calm and stable, so he should be given regular exercise in a fenced yard or taken on several walks daily.