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Origin of the
Presa Canario
Taken from the Dogo Canario Club of
America Web Site.
A few years following the conclusion of the conquest of the Canary
Archipelago, reference is made in the Documents of the Municipal Council of
Tenerife to their agreement of February 5, 1526, that in view of the damages
produced by dogs to livestock, both small and large, the extermination of
the same is ordered, with the exception of the pair which is accepted for
the service of the butchers, and it entrusted to Don Pedro de Lugo, who
posses two such holding dogs trained to kill. It is probable that these
holding dogs were brought to the islands by Spanish conquerors and
colonists. Through the XVI and XVII centuries, there are numerous references
to the holding dogs Canary Islands as well as other canine breeds, and it is
rich in historical documentation following the conquest, particularly in the
noted Documents of the Municipal Council of Tenerife, but at no time does it
describe the physical characteristics of this dog, but it does explain the
function for which they developed. The mission of the holding dog were
essentially to guard and to fight with cattle. Mention is made frequently to
their service to butchers to subdue the cattle or tied up if for guard.
Their function therefore determines a robust morphology, characteristic of a
molosoid holding dog, but with agility and drive. The Canary Islands, given
it's strategic geographical location in the Atlantic Ocean had always formed
a hospitable resort en route to the Americas. In the islands arrived the
various Hispanic breeds which populated the new continent. Essentially of
hunting, scenting and holding dogs which were provided from Spain.
Particularly, the Spanish holding dog, the Presa Espaņol , in it's varieties
of large mastiff or bulldogs or Alano, used in the conquest of the Americas,
contributed to the current blood of the perro de presa existent in the
Canaries. As time passed and in the isolation of the islands, this dog began
to develop into an completely differentiated breed and due to influences of
these other Spanish dogs, it's characteristics were modified to some extent.
Along the XVII century, the presence of English colonists became more
frequent in the Archipelago, normally traders that resided either
temporarily or permanently in the Canaries. The British character with their
traditions to the fighting of dogs also arrived to the islands. For the
fights they used their typical gladiator breeds. Bulldog type or bull &
terrier, which they brought from their country. It was inevitable that the
cross breeding of their dogs with the perro de presa existent in the
Archipelago would occur. This English fancy of fight dogs, which would
identify fully with the character of the islands , with combative
disposition, repeats itself in the Balearic Archipelago with their Ca de Bou
or Perro de Presa Mallorquin and in Japan with their national dog of fight
the Tosa Inu Therefore in the different populations of the islands, certain
morphological modification took place. Not only was the perro de presa
thought of as a breed developed for work as a guardian or cattle driver, but
rather developed with the excellent disposition for fighting.
Independently of this situation, we have to consider the existence in the
Canaries of the Bardino or Majorero, origination from the island of
Fuerteventura and very spread throughout the whole Archipelago. This dog was
devoted especially to the management of goat herds and an excellent
guardian. Added to this, a great physical resistance, moderation of size,
scarce bark, an extraordinary set of teeth and an incorruptible courage. The
Bardino Majorero was introduced, for their excellent abilities and to
improve upon the crossings that started the type of holding dog that was
arising as a consequence of the English influence. The crossing of those
holding dogs and the Bardino Majorero, gives today's Presa Canario it's
unique characteristics which set it apart from the other molosoid breeds.
Its current genetic makeup is influenced in great part by the Bardino
Majorero including it's typical expression, bardino (brindle) coat, commonly
referred to as "Verdino" (greenish tonality), it's rustic hair and their
good disposition for the fight.
As the century advanced, so did the dog fighting fancy. They fought openly
and established sites in which thy would join together and select the best
examples to improve the fighting abilities, not for their breed
characteristics. This situation determines that the selection of the Presa
Canario was from a very functional point of view. This was developing a
related group of dogs, which was of very old development. They magnified
abilities, but never tried to establish a phenotype which gives their true
identity.
Once the prohibition of dog fighting was decreed in Spain, the number of
Presa Canario began to decline. The introduction of foreign breeds to the
canary islands increased this situation. At that time new guardian breeds
were introduced to the islands and interest in this native breed was at an
all time low. The Presa Canario reached a phase of near extinction in the
1960's.
It was almost extinct in 1970 when began its recovery. Their resurgence is
slow but uninterrupted. The interest in the Presa Canario as part of the
indigenous heritage of the Canario Islands is now generalized.
Recovery of the Presa Canario-historical facts
The presence of the Presa Canario is growing more in the islands beginning
from 1970. This dog was in prior decades relegated in scarce numbers to
farmers and cattle men. It began to adapt to urban guarding which allowed a
entrance to quick diffusion. In 1982, a group of breeders from Tenerife,
responsible for most of the existent population of Presa Canario at that
time, joined together to further the recovery of the breed which had began
in the prior decade. In their work they were respectful of the traditions of
the breed, and began a program of selection ruled by a model that was
formalized through historical photos, oral history of old time breeders and
the population of the most representative examples of the time. The founded
the Club Espaņol del Presa Canario for such a purpose, properly authorized
by the Real Sociedad Central de fomento de las Razas Caninas de Espaņa, to
begin the incessant work of diffusion of the breed, through any possible way
especially dog shows. Regional dog shows were held throughout the Canary
Islands and Spain for the purpose of studying and cataloging the physical
characteristics and temperament of the Presa Canario as it appeared in
different regions of the country. Though those acts, the commission of
Spanish breeds had enough documentation for the composition of a breed
standard which fixes the physical characteristics of the Presa Canario. This
long work culminated with the approval of the Official Standard of the Presa
Canario on January 24, 1986. Starting from the official recognition of the
breed, the club began to work to further the diffusion and consolidation of
the breed and to establish a genetic fixation, which was full of
difficulties given the island origination of the breed and it's two most
important populations Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Since 1993 registrations of
the breed have extended within the Canary Archipelago to Lanzarote and
Fuerteventura. Each year the club holds a National Specialty show, in which
they gather the best of the existent population in the country and analyze
them in all aspects morphology, temperament, movement and breed expression
to continue the selection and improvement of the breed.
Translated
Miguel Angel Gonzalez
Judge and Breeder
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