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There are various historians of the known Presa
de Canario documenting numerous references to holding type
dogs of the Canary Islands dating back to the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries. It has been theorized that these dogs
of great size may have existed prior to the conquest of the
islands or were possibly brought over with Spanish conquerors.
Researchers agree that the main functions of the dog were
guarding farms, struggling with cattle, and fighting off wild
animals and stray dogs.
There have been numerous speculations as to
the genetic make up of the Presa Canario, however it is known
that the Iberian Presa (Perro de Ganado Majorero) was a definite
contributor. The Iberian Presa was a fearless guardian of
average size and extreme intelligence and instinct. Due to
the location of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic many other
Hispanic breeds, like the Presa Español with its large
varieties and the bulldog varieties (Alano) began to influence
the breed.
During the late fifteenth century, a time of
major trade and cultivation of the Canary Islands, English
colonists during the “golden years” of dog fighting
came in with their Bandoggs and Tiedoggs (predecessors of
the Bulldogs and Mastiffs). Shortly thereafter the English
brought in their gladiator breeds (Bulldogs and Bull/Terriers)
and began to crossbreed with the then present Perro de Presa
of the Canary Archipelago.
In addition to these breeds the final component
that completed the Presa Canario was the Bardino Majorero,
a pre-Hispanic sheepdog originating on the Island of Fuerteventura.
The Bardino was admired for its intelligence, physical resistance,
excellent guardian instincts with little bark, extraordinary
set of teeth and irrefutable courage. To the traditional functions
of guarding and catching livestock was added another function,
Fighting!
In the 1940’s dog fighting became prohibited
throughout the island although some continued discretely for
some time after. It was during this time that the Presa Canario
numbers declined. The breed’s extinction was pushed
by an influx of the German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, and
Great Dane. The Presa became relegated to a small number of
breeders, farmers, and herdsmen who used them as primary guard
dogs.
Rejuvenation of the Presa Canario began in
the 1970’s and culminated in 1982 when a group of reputable
breeders from the island of Tenerife formed an association
called the Club Español de Presa Canario (CEPRC). This
club was vital to the resurrection of the Presa Canario with
its characteristics of bravery, massive size, strong temperament,
intelligence, and limitless courage. Since then, the renewed
interest has spread to the Americas where the United Perro
de Presa Canario Club has been started and there has been
recent acceptance into the American Kennel Club Foundation
Stock Service program. Today many reputable American Presa
Canario breeders exist that have committed themselves to the
improvement and progress of the Perro de Presa Canario.
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The
History 