Presa Canario 121

The Presa Canario, also called the Perro de Presa Canario, Canary Mastiff, Dogo Canario, or Canary Presa, is a Molosser-type breed that originated in the Canary Islands in the 15th and 16th centuries. Although their exact origin is unknown, many theorize that the dogs may have been brought to the Canary Islands by Spanish Conquistadors, may have existed there already, or their origin may have been a mixture of both. However the Presa Canario ended up in the Islands, they were used as guard dogs. They were commonly used as cattle dogs, guard dogs for the farm, and as dogs to control the wild or stray dog population that would attack cattle.

Unfortunately, this also meant the Presa Canario was also often used in dogfighting. Their population dwindled once the Canary Islands outlawed dog fighting in the mid-1940s, but farmers and herdsman kept the dog breed going. In the early 1970s, breeders began to work in earnest to revive this strong dog breed. Although the Presa Canario is not currently recognized by the AKC, they are included in the Foundation Stock Service and are assigned to the Working Group designation.