Humans and canines have a special bond. This bond was first recognized by Boris M. Levinson, a renowned psychotherapist, who noted that withdrawn and uncommunicative children would interact positively whenever they are near a dog. This discovery was later continued by his colleagues. People had known about that strong bond even before the research, and no one had to tell us that before, but it’s good to know that someone from the scientific world cares.
Dogs can smell all kinds of contraband, guard their owners, and sense fear, anxiety, sadness, and depression. Apart from being excellent rescuers, cops or guards, they have been used in programs that promote a healing environment and reduce certain psychological symptoms for patients with all kinds of diagnoses including cancer. Because of their “gifts” dogs are also used as “therapy dogs”. They are used in hospitals as comfort for patients. People who suffer from isolation, depression, and mental illness react positively to this kind of help. They are truly our best friends.
However, the FCI recognizes 339 breeds of dogs. Each one of us likes a different breed. We all have different preferences when it comes to pets. We choose our dogs based on their personality, size, coat type, overall popularity, health, etc. It depends on what you want from your new best friend.
Well, if you are in a search for an extremely strong and loyal dog, you will most certainly consider Presa Canario. This dog played an important role in the great history of now Spanish, Canary Islands.
Presa was an integral part of their myths and scientists even found mummified remains of these dogs buried next to their owners. That’s how important they were to the people of the Canary Islands.
But are they good enough for you?
A Guard Dog
Presa Canario is a working or guard dog. It is a rare large Molosser-type dog breed. It is a huge dog with menacing looks and the Roman army used these dogs in battles against Celtic tribes during their Conquest of Britain. The name itself comes from the Spanish language and it means “Canarian catch dog” which means that they were used to catch bigger animals like wild boars and to protect livestock from all kinds of threats.
Description
This dog is extremely strong. The head is massive and compact, covered in loose skin and it’s square-shaped. The muzzle is broad. The chest is deep and very broad. It has thick skin, dense bones, powerful muscles, and a large jaw. The ears are usually cropped. The coat is short without an undercoat. And the coat itself comes in all shades of brindle.
Temperament
These dogs are awesome family protectors and bred to be family companions as well as protectors. They don’t trust anyone they haven’t met before but they should accept some strangers if the owner is ok with that. They are, in most cases, always alert and ready to defend their owners and their homes (if needed). Presa is usually a quiet dog, but when they bark they scare the crap out of you.
The owners of these canines should be aware of their “alpha nature”. The Canaries are perfect guard dogs not just because of their nature but because of their fearsome looks. However, just like with all guarding-type breeds you need to train and socialize them.
They Need Training – Lots of Training
The Presa Canario needs exercise (long walks or jogging) to help them burn off some energy. They have always been bred as working dogs, and they like doing all kinds of tasks for you. That makes them happy. On the other hand, if they are not exercised enough, they can become very bored and extremely destructive.
Tough Living Requirements
Speaking of their destructiveness, owning a Presa Canario is not an easy task. Not at all. It is a daily and lifelong responsibility.
First of all, you should ask around if it is legal to own Presa Canario in your country. Second, if you decide to get one of these dogs, you should know that apartments are not big enough for them – No matter how large the apartment is. These dogs are extremely active and this is why they need homes with large, well-secured yards that have a lot of space for them to run. If they get bored, Presas become very destructive and dangerous. You should also be careful if you have other, smaller pets in your home.
Health Problems
Generally speaking, Presa Canario is a healthy dog. However, as it is expected, they are likely to develop some health problems just like other breeds are.
Because Presas are a large breed, they are expected to develop hip dysplasia. This happens when the hip socket and the thigh bone don’t fit as they are supposed to. Because of it, there is friction which makes running and walking extremely unpleasant and even painful. Elbow dysplasia is also a common problem because of the same reasons.
Easy to Groom
This breed of dogs is very easy to groom because of its short, rough coat. You should brush them with a firm bristle brush and wipe over with a piece of a towel for a gleaming finish. You can bathe or dry shampoo your dog when necessary.
It is an Expensive Breed
If you are passionate enough about this breed then you should look for a puppy with the best possible genetic material. This is very important because you should want to ensure you get a puppy with a lower risk for disease and unpredictable temperament.
You should ask to see the parent dogs if that is possible. This and looking at the health charts of its relatives could give you a good insight into the future health and behavior.
So, if you are buying a Presa Canario, you should only get them from a reputable breeder. Don’t trust any of those “backyard” breeders and puppy mills. It’s not hard to find healthy puppies for sale, but it can get really expensive. A Presa Canario puppy could cost you anywhere from $1200 to $3000.
