The Perro de Presa Canario is a Molosser type dog from the Canary Islands. This large breed was originally bred as a multi-purpose farm dog, being used as a cattle drover and guard dog. The name means the "Canarian Dog of Prey" and is sometimes simply called "Presa." The breed is originally from the Canary Islands in the 1700s, notably Gran Canaria. Its exact ancestry is unknown, but enthusiasts believe that the Perro de Bardino Majorero, an established farm dog from the Canary Islands, was crossed with the Mastiff and Old-Style Bulldog brought from Europe to the Islands by visitors and colonists, creating the foundation for the modern Presa Canario. A number of Spanish breeds such as the Perro de Ganado Majorero, Presa Español, and Alano Español may have contributed to the development of the Presa Canario. Presa type guard and catch dogs are mentioned in historical documents of the 16th and 17th centuries. It is believed that the Perro de Presa Canario was created during the 18th century for the purpose of property and flock guarding as well as the holding and driving of livestock. The breed was also used for dog fighting, a tradition the English settlers transplanted along with their Mastiff and Bulldog breeds. Canary Islanders consider these fights "honour fights" and not the sole purpose of the animal. They were used as guard dogs, and less often as farm dogs. Presa type dogs were referred to as the "perro de la tierra" or "dog of the land." The breed became nearly extinct after dog fighting was outlawed in the 1940s, but the breed was revived in the 1970s with the help of several crosses by various breeders. This period is generally known as the reconstruction of the breed, with atypical specimens becoming less common. The Presa should be powerful, balanced, and imposing in appearance. It is heavily built, but able to move with great athleticism. The head is broad, massive, square, and powerful. Proper head and good expression are part of the breed standard, and are manifest in the best breed specimens. The ears are normally cropped both to create a more formidable expression, and to prevent damage while working with cattle. In countries where ear cropping is banned the ears should be pendant or "rose" shaped. The lips are thick and hang in an inverted V; the flews may be slightly loose. One of the characteristics of the breed is the diversity of markings. Fawn comes in silver fawn, gold fawn, and red fawn. Brindle comes in colourings of black (and may appear solid), brown, and all shades in between. "Verdino" or greenish-tinted brindle is among the most traditional coat colours; reverse brindle or "atigrado claro" and silver fawn are among the most exotic. The ideal coat is medium length and "rustic," that is, slightly coarse to the touch. The breed is known for its very minimal shedding. Presa Canarios have thick skin and short fur that comes in all shades of fawn and brindle. White is allowed up to 20 percent and is most commonly found on the chest and feet, and occasionally on a blaze on the muzzle. The breed standard requires black pigmentation and dogs should have a black mask that does not extend above the eyes. This breed has never consisted of any shades of blue or grey. The Presa Canario breed is known for its calm temperament, which is often referred to as the "island temperament." It is considered "gentle and noble" with the family, and distrusting of strangers. The Presa Canario forms a strong bond with its master and human family and can be very protective. The breed is intelligent and is known to possess a "severe gaze." In some situations, the Presa can be aggressive toward animals, other dogs, and even humans in rare cases. Once the dog has been properly socialized and trained, this becomes the exception rather than the rule. Many Presas share their homes with birds, cats, dogs, horses, reptiles and other animals. Due to its temperament, the Presa Canario can be a challenge to train. They require a firm owner who is willing and able to meet the challenges a young, dominant puppy may pose. The breed is not traditionally suited for protection sports but it is gaining in popularity due to a small group of enthusiasts who have selected dogs based heavily on function. As with any breed, those interested in purchasing a Presa Canario should carefully research breeders and a dog's ancestry to ensure that the breeding lines are healthy. Typically speaking, the higher the degree of consanguinity, the higher the likelihood of genetic defects. Due to the breed's vast gene pool, many of the genetic problems that affect other purebreeds are less evident. However, as the breed becomes more tightly interbred and bloodlines developed the incidence of genetic problems may increase. As a large breed, the Presa Canario can be susceptible to hip dysplasia. Other possible (but generally uncommon) health problems include epilepsy, osteochondrodysplasias, and cryptorchidism. Health issues unique to Spain include canine herpes virus and canine visceral leishmaniasis. An outbreak of herpes can be deadly to a canine population, particularly to newborn puppies. Leishmaniasis is a blood parasite that has a long incubation period (of several years) and most often leads to death. Some enthusiasts hold that, if the dog's pedigree cannot be traced back to the Canary Islands, it is not a true Presa Canario but rather a Bandog. It should be noted that there is a great degree of diversity in Presa Canarios and Dogo Canarios throughout the world. While this diversity has good implications for health, it has some interesting ramifications for the breed status. The Presa Canario is one of four breeds that does not have a DNA profile. And despite the fact that some claim the "Presa Canario" is a different breed from the "Dogo Canario" neither phenotype nor genotype evidence can accurately substantiate this claim. Essentially, all Dogo Canarios are Presa-type dogs (that is Presa Canario), but not all Presa-type dogs (Presa Canario) are necessarily Dogo Canarios. For years, obtaining proper paperwork from Spain was extremely difficult. It is even claimed (but never substantiated), for example, that a former president of the Spanish club simply didn't give out papers. Some breeders simply do not have papers on their dogs which are bonafide Presa Canarios. The problem in obtaining papers has definitely contributed to the diversity of the breed in many ways. Due to this difficulty, American owners and breeders created and sought other ways to register their dogs, such as AKC-FSS, UKC, UPPCC, and FIC

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