PERRO DE PRESA CANARIO — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION Breed Description / Health Issues / Breed Standards / Grooming / Training / Additional Information Breed Description
Breed Registries:	Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) - Not recognized American Kennel Club (AKC) - Accepted for recording under the AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) Program United Kennel Club (UKC) - Guardian Dogs Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) * - Standard No. 346 - Provisionally Accepted
Note: The breed registries indicated above are the most recognized all-breed registries. The breed may also be recognized by other registries not indicated here. For further details about dog registries, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America. * — The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) is the World Canine Organisation, which includes members (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 332 breeds, with each being the "property" of a specific country. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees.
Breed Registries:	CKC — Not Recognized AKC — Recorded in the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service (FSS) Program UKC — Recognized under the Guardian Dogs Group since 1 January 2003
Height:	Males: 23 to 26 inches Females: 22 to 25 inches
Weight:	Males: Minimum weight for a mature male is 100 lbs Females: Minimum weight for a mature female is 85 lbs.
The ancestors of the Perro de Presa Canario are believed to have been brought to the Canary Island by the Spanish Conquistadors at the beginning of the 15th century. These ancestors of the breed were used to guard farms, herd and hold cattle, as well as to hunt wild or stray dogs. The breed's numbers began to decline by the 1940s, however, renewed interest in preserving the breed was seen in the early 1970s when a breed club was established. The Presa Canario is a powerfully built dog with a massive head giving an overall impression of an imposing and intimidating guard dog. The breed is courageous and agile enabling him to do the work he was initially bred for: to drive and hold cattle as well as to protect his home and family. The Presa is also very affectionate, calm, docile, subdued, devoted, loyal and eager to please in the home and with his family. He is, however, suspicious of strangers and known to be aggressive with other dogs. In order to maintain his muscular physique, he does require a fair amount of outdoor exercise and is best suited for country living. The Presa's single coat is short, flat, harsh in texture and comes in any shade of fawn, black and brindle in any combination of these colours. He wears a black or dark brown mask on the face that does not extend over the eyes and he may or may not have a white blaze or patch on the head. TOP Health Issues: If you are considering the adoption of a Perro de Presa Canario puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.) Additional Health Resources: Health and Nutrition — Canada's Guide to Dogs growing section on several health and nutrition related issues. Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip) QuickCare Pet Insurance Programs TOP Breed Standards UKC Breed Standard FCI Standard N° 346 / 03. 10. 2007 / GB TOP Grooming Information: Grooming — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada. TOP Training Resources: The Perro de Presa Canario is not recommended for the first time dog owner. Owner confidence is very important as well as early socialization and obedience training. Training — For information on training your Perro de Presa Canario, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada. Training Tools & Equipment Choose from a wide variety of items from Dogwise.com TOP Additional Information: Clubs, Sports & Activities — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes information on several dog sports and activities as well as listings of non-breed specific clubs from across Canada. (Note: For breed specific clubs, see the Breed Clubs section.) Working Dogs — Dedicated to the working dog. This section includes tributes, information on various dog jobs, and listings of organizations from across Canada.