The Perro de Presa Canario is a medium to large Molosser-type dog breed originally bred for working livestock. The name of the breed is Spanish, means "Canarian Catch Dog," and is often shortened to "Presa Canario", or simply "Presa." The breed is also called Dogo Canario, meaning Canarian Molosser.
ANCIENT HISTORY:
The Presa Canario hails from the Canary Islands, a volcanic archipelago of seven islands and several islets that lies off the coast of Africa. For thousands of years, the islands were inhabited by a people known as the Guanche, whose origins are shrouded in mystery. Various historical documents show that the Guanche civilization may have trained their dogs for hunting and for war. One Canarian legend relays how the Guanche warriors sent their fierce war dogs down to the beachheads where it is claimed these dogs massacred the marauding invaders. Eventually, the Guanche could not withstand the superior weaponry of the Conquerors and the Guanche people and language were vanquished. The role the mythical dogs of the Canary Islands played in the development of the Presa Canario is largely unknown. However, the role of one indigenous breed in the composition of the Presa Canario is clear. The Perro de Bardino Majorero, a prehistoric herding dog believed to have originated in Fuerteventura that was well dispersed throughout the archipelago. According to the history of the breed, the "Majorero" (formerly believed to be extinct) provides the "verdino" (greenish-tinted) brindling, rustic coat, expression, courage, remarkable set of teeth, and disposition for "bullfighting" with cattle. It is also believed that a number of Spanish and breeds may have contributed to the development of the Presa Canario. The Perro de Ganado Majorero was an Iberian cattle dog who it is believed is almost certainly a component in the breed. Also important were the various types of Presa Español and Alano Español (the alano actually refers to Spanish bulldogs and not the modern breed) that were also used in the conquest of the Americas. (What is particularly interesting here is the origin of the Alano. In 1556 Philip II of Spain introduced great numbers of the "English Alaunt"- the old bulldogs of England)*. The mestizo or mixed breed created by the combination of the Spanish breeds was used widely by butchers and farmers as holding dogs, catchdogs, and guardians for cattle and livestock. Historical documents list the Bardino Majorero as a co-existing separate breed until the 18th century. During the 18th century, English traders and merchants came to the Canary Islands as temporary and permanent residents, bringing with them their working and gladiator dogs, notably the Mastiff of England and the Bulldog. Equally importantly, the English brought with them their traditions of pit fighting for which their breeds and the island dogs were inevitably mixed and eventually bred to produce the ultimate fighter. Perro de Presa Canario literally means the Canarian Dog of Prey. The word presa can also be translated to mean catch or hold and also means the dog's actual grip. Presa Canario can even be loosely translated to mean Canarian Bulldog. At the time, the dog was bred solely for function and not for type. For these working dogs, both as combatants and livestock catch dogs and guardians, physical power and stamina combined with heart, drive, and gameness to produce low-slung, muscular dogs with large heads and strong jaws. No phenotype existed, but the traditional coat patterns would eventually emerge as fawn, brindle, and black, many with white markings. In the 1940's dog fighting was banned and the Perro de Presa Canario decreased greatly in numbers. It was relegated to farms and hillsides primarily as a guardian for domestic livestock which was clearly far less widespread than it was during the late middle ages. RECONSTRUCTION- THE CREATION OF A MODERN BREED: Reconstruction of the breed began in the early 1970's by various aficionados who sought to preserve the heritage of the Presa Canario. Throughout the next decade, breeders began searching for what they believed were the most traditional examples in temperament, courage, guard instinct, and aspect. Several breeds were used in the reconstruction by several breeders for various objectives. These breeds may have included the Bullterrier, the American Pit bull Terrier, the Great Dane, the Neapolitan Mastiff, the Fila Brasileiro, the American Bulldog, the English Bulldog, the Bullmastiff, the Spanish Mastiff, the Doberman, the Dogue de Bordeaux, the Spanish Alano and the Perro de Ganado Majorero. Clearly, the gene pool for the modern Presa Canario is quite extensive and can still produce atypical specimens of this nascent breed. In 1982 a group of breeders formed the CEPRC (Club Español del Presa Canario) in Tenerife which was recognized the following year by the RSCE (Real Sociedad de España) in Spain to further their breeding ideals. This group of breeders continued breeding and developing the Presa Canario breed through today. Several dogs were exported abroad during the 1980's, including the United States. In 2001, the Presa Canario name and standard were amended to gain admittance to the FCI (Fédérattion Cynologique Internationale). Black was excluded as a traditional coat color and the Presa Canario distanced itself from its working and fighting heritage by changing the breed name to "Dogo Canario" or Canarian Dog. According to some of the most respected Presa Canario breeders and judges, the Presa Canario breed in Spain has undergone an enormous evolution since the early days of the reconstruction and is truly a modern breed.
MODERN HISTORY:
Coat and Color:
Black Silver Fawn Red Fawn Fawn Red Brindle Brown Brindle Fawn Brindle Reverse Brindle Verdino
The coat is short with no undercoating and slightly coarse to the touch. The coat comes in all shades of fawn, brindle, and black. The acceptance of the black coat is a point of contention among fanciers as it is allowed by the AKC-FSS, UKC and UPCC standards, but not by the FCI or FIC standards. White is allowed up to 20 percent and is most commonly found on the chest and feet, and occasionally on a blaze on the muzzle. The breed standard requires black pigmentation and dogs should have a black mask that does not extend above the eyes. The breed is known for its very minimal shedding.
Coat Genetics:
Dogs have a great deal of diversity in breeds, in all aspects, including coat color and patterns. Canine coat genetics are still being researched. Most of our present understanding of canine coat genetics is based on the work of Clarence Cook Little, author of "Inheritance of Coat Color in Dogs" (1979), although some researchers dispute certain of his theories. For those with a keen interest in canine coat genetics, an excellent source for the breeder and the layperson's understanding is authored by Dr. Sue Ann Bowling.
As far as the Presa Canario is concerned, it is believed Fawn is based on the Agouti series, specifically the ay allele. Agouti hairs are fawn hairs banded and/or interspersed with black. This gene is recessive to the other genotype of the breed, brindle.
It is known that Brindle is a dominant trait but there is some argument as to where it is located. Little postulated that it was on the E series (Ebr) but if so, would compete with the black mask (Em), which is known to not be the case. Dr. Bowling speculates the gene is most likely on a new series, which she calls "K".
The following are true in canine coat genetics: (remembering alleles come in sets of 2)
1. Breeding fawn (ayay) x brindle (KbrKbr or Kbray) may produce: fawn and brindle offspring.
2. Breeding brindle (KbrKbr or Kbray) x brindle (KbrKbr or Kbray) may produce: fawn and brindle offspring.
3. Breeding fawn (ayay) x fawn (ayay) will always produce: fawn offspring.
For breedings of fawn x brindle or brindle x brindle there is no clear way to predict the number of fawn or brindle offspring. Some litters from
these breedings will be entirely fawn, entirely brindle, or, most likely, some combination of both.
All colors are courtesy of wikipedia.org
