Commonly known as the Perro de Presa Canario, the Presa Canario breed’s ancestry includes some input from the Bardio Majero (now extinct) as well as some from the English mastiff. Developed in the Canary Islands, which is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, this breed of dog is extremely huge and if you look at face-to-face you’ll probably be stunned by their massiveness and fierce looks. Here are a few interesting facts about this breed which will definitely leave you awestruck.

  1. The Presa Canario breed is a Molosser type dog which was originally developed for working with livestock.
  2. This breed originally comes from the Canary Islands while their origin goes all the way back to the Roman Empire times. The Presa Canario breed was developed in between 43 and 89 AD. In the initial years, this breed was seen fighting along with the Romans during the Roman Conquest of Britain.
  3. The name, “Perro de Presa Canario” comes from the Spanish language, meaning “Canarian catch dog”. The title itself means that this dog was kept in the previous times to be bred and trained to catch bigger animals such as wild boar, as well as to protect the livestock from outsiders.
  4. These dogs are specifically developed from mastiff and bulldog type breeds, particularly bred for their strong muscular build.
  5. They have a very dominant and willful nature but can turn out to become calm and obedient if properly trained.
  6. This breed of dogs is headstrong and powerful so they require proper and consistent training.
  7. The Perro de Presa Canario have a strong and muscular build, with a height that ranges between 21 to 29 inches and weighs between 80 and 150 pounds.
  8. These dogs have a long life of about 12 years on average with relatively fewer genetic issues (some might develop hip dysplasia and epilepsy).
  9. Even though they have a harsh coat but they don’t require excessive bathing or care and remain totally perfect with the occasional clipping and care.
  10. Physically, this breed looks very muscular; has thick skin, dense bones, and a massive head with a large jaw.
  11. These dogs are considered to be very aggressive in nature and get out of control if the owner isn’t knowledgeable and experienced one.
  12. No matter how aggressive people say these dogs are, the people who’ve kept them have often commented on how this breed is very protective of its property and families, always keeping a watchful eye on any threat coming in their family’s way.
  13.  The Presa Canario breed is known to be bold and fearless in nature, for this very reason they’re often kept for protecting livestock, security work and personal protection, in all parts of the world.
  14. This breed is banned from ownership in Australia and New Zealand, largely because the administration of these countries believe them to be aggressive as well as have the audacity to inflict serious wounds on someone if attacked.