Presa Canario

Breed overview

The Presa Canario is a Spanish breed of large dog of mastiff or catch dog type. It originates in the Spanish autonomous community of the Canary Islands, and is found mostly in the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. It was formerly known as the Dogo Canario. It was traditionally used as a guard dog, as a herding dog for both sheep and cattle, and for dog-fighting, which was legal in Spain until 1936 and may have continued clandestinely thereafter.

• Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.

Breed facts

• Dogs of this type were cross-bred with various dogs of molossoid type introduced to the islands at different times during the colonial period.
• The Presa Canario was particularly influenced by dogs brought from the British Isles with the large influx of British residents in the late nineteenth century.
• A breed society, the , was formed in 1982, and drew up a provisional breed standard, which was published by the government of the islands.
• In 1991 the dog was included in an official list of animal and plant symbols of the Canary Islands as a symbol of the island of Gran Canaria.

Size and appearance

The Presa Canario is a large dog with a robust muscular body. According to the revised international standard published in 2023, dogs should stand 61 - 66 cm at the withers and weigh some 45 - 57 kg; bitches stand about 57 - 62 cm, with weights in the range 40 - 50 kg. The previous standard, dated 2018, specified heavier weights, particularly for dogs (50 - 65 kg), and slightly lower minimum heights. The head is broad, massive, square, and powerful brachycephalic shape. If cropped, the ears stand erect. In countries where ear-cropping is banned, the ears are close fitting to the head; they hang down and should be pendant or "rose"-shaped. The upper lip is pendulous, although not excessively so. Seen from the front, the upper and lower lips come together to form an inverted v. The flews are slightly divergent. The inside of the lips is a dark colour.

• Body mass reference: 40 - 50 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 40 - 50 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Body mass reference: Up to 55 kgBreed reference body mass. female, maximum.
• Body mass reference: 40 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. female, minimum.
• Body mass reference: 45 - 57 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 45 - 57 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Body mass reference: 50 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. male, minimum.
• Body mass reference: Up to 65 kgBreed reference body mass. male, maximum.
• Height reference: 57 - 62 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 57 - 62 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Height reference: Up to 61 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
• Height reference: 56 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
• Height reference: 61 - 66 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 61 - 66 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Height reference: 60 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
• Height reference: Up to 65 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.

• Height category: tall
• Weight category: giant
• Weight category: large

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

Exercise and activities

The Presa Canario was traditionally used as a guard dog, as a herding dog for cattle, and for dog-fighting, which was legal in Spain until 1936 and may have continued clandestinely thereafter.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

Breed history

The Presa Canario derives from the Bardino Majorero, which was formerly distributed throughout the Canary Islands. Dogs of this type were cross-bred with various dogs of molossoid type introduced to the islands at different times during the colonial period. The Presa Canario was particularly influenced by dogs brought from the British Isles with the large influx of British residents in the late nineteenth century. By the 1960s it was close to extinction. A breed society, the , was formed in 1982, and drew up a provisional breed standard, which was published by the government of the islands. The standard was approved by the in 1989. In 1991 the dog was included in an official list of animal and plant symbols of the Canary Islands as a symbol of the island of Gran Canaria. It was officially recognised by the Spanish national government in 2001.

Clubs and further reading

• Presa Canario Club of America
• Presa Canario - article and references

Sources

1. Presa Canario - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Presa Canario, revision 1369037963. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Presa_Canario&action=history
2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
4. File:Canarianpresa, fawn bitch.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Canarianpresa, fawn bitch.jpg - Canarian. CC BY 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canarianpresa,_fawn_bitch.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.
5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.