We joke all the time that we need to make a brochure to hand out to all of the people who enter the showroom just to inquire about the giant friendly dog staring intelligently at them, so we thought he’d be a great first post.
He weighs about 175 lbs. He is 5 years old.
The breed is originally from the Canary Islands in the 1700s, notably Gran Canaria. Its exact ancestry is unknown, but enthusiasts believe that the Perro de Bardino Majorero, an established farm dog from the Canary Islands, was crossed with the Mastiff and Old-Style Bulldog brought from Europe to the Islands by visitors and colonists, creating the foundation for the modern Presa Canario.
Presa type guard and catch dogs are mentioned in historical documents of the 16th and 17th centuries. It is believed that the Perro de Presa Canario was created during the 18th century for the purpose of property and flock guarding as well as the holding and driving of livestock. They were used as guard dogs, and less often as farm dogs. Presa type dogs were referred to as the “perro de la tierra” or “dog of the land.”
