El canary dam It is a dog that, despite its size, is actually an animal that conquers you just by looking at you. He is calm, sociable, who can live without problems with any responsible family.
Having the opportunity to live with one is always more than enough reason to be happy. Because the presa canario is, really, a dog that will do everything possible to make sure your loved ones are well. Dare to know it.
Origin and history
Our protagonist is a dog originally from the Canary Islands (Spain), where it is considered a natural symbol of the island of Gran Canaria. Its history begins in February 1526, when it was entrusted to the two trained bulldogs of Don Pedro Fernández de Lugo protect livestock of wild dogs.
Throughout the subsequent centuries, it continued to be used for this purpose, but from, above all, the XNUMXth century and with the arrival of the British to the islands, dog fights became more and more frequent. The presa canario became part of a selection made by some humans who sought to find an animal that not only took care of the cattle but also had the necessary body to fight.
It was not until from 1970 when the presa canario began to be seen and used as it is done today: as a companion dog. Although it is not suitable for all types of families, as we are going to tell you below, it should not be a fighting dog either (in reality, no dog should be a fighting dog).
What are its physical characteristics?
It is a large dog, with a robust body. The male weighs 50 to 65 kilos and measures 60 to 66cm and the female weighs 40-55 kg and measures 56-62cm. Their coat color can be dark brown brindle, light brown brindle, black, fawn, silver fawn.
The head is large, with a short muzzle and a black nose. The eyes are medium in size, brown or dark brown in color. The ears are wide apart and fall to the sides. The tail is of medium length and the legs are robust.
It has a life expectancy of about 11 years.
And their behavior / personality?
The presa canario is a calm dog, willing to please his family to which he will treat with affection. Has a strong protective instinct towards his own, but that does not mean that he is bad with the rest, rather the opposite: he can be reserved, but not aggressive (more information on the aggressiveness of dogs here).
With a correct socialization since puppy, that is, exposing it to the presence of all kinds of people and furry animals, it will be easy to get that tomorrow it becomes a well-educated dog.
What care do you need?
How to feed a presa canario?
Choosing a type of food for your dog is not always an easy task. There are many brands of feed in stores, and some are better than others. And it is that although all will tell you that they are a »complete food for your dog», it is not always like that. In fact, it is enough to read the label of the ingredients to see that there are many who have prepared their feed with foods that are not appropriate for these animals, such as oats, corn, ... or any cereal.
If a carnivorous animal is fed grain, it will not be given a quality diet. So, do not hesitate to choose brands grain-free, like Applaws or Orijen, among others.
Hygiene
At least once a day you have to brush it (or pass him a dog card). During the shedding period you should comb it more often, since the more hair it releases will be. And if necessary, you can bathe it once a month.
Take a look at their ears from time to time, since if they accumulate a lot of wax you would have to clean them with a few suitable drops.
Exercise
It is a good dog to take for a walk every day around town or city. But it is true that if you have the opportunity to go to the mountains or the countryside, you may have a better time.
But also, at home and / or in the garden you will have to play with him, and train him.
"Salud"
Unfortunately, the gastric torsion and hip dysplasia are common diseases of this breed of dog. But with a diet and proper care, including periodic veterinary check-ups, in case problems arise they can be detected early, thus achieving recovery as soon as possible.
Price
The price of a presa canario is about $700, as long as it is bought from a serious and professional kennel. In a pet store or if you buy from a private person, that price will be lower.
Can you get free Presa Canario puppies?
It's hard. Being a purebred, it is practically impossible to get a free puppy. But you can find an adult specimen for adoption, which is why we advise you to contact the animal shelters in your area.
Photos
To finish, we leave you with these photos:
