Perro De Presa Canario Puppies

Photo of Perro De Presa Canario

A protective, devoted, and active breed

Perro de Presa Canarios have gotten a bad rap over the years, but with early training and socialization can be loving companions. They do have an aggressive nature, but if their owner established themselves as the pack leader this can be curbed.


Perro De Presa Canario At a Glance

Photo of Perro De Presa Canario Photo of Perro De Presa Canario Photo of Perro De Presa Canario Photo of Perro De Presa Canario

Perro De Presa Canario At a Glance

  • Size: 22"-26", 85-110 lbs.
  • Lifespan: 9-11 years
  • Energy Level: low
  • Coat: Short and smooth
  • Shedding: light
  • Hypoallergenic: No
  • Dog Group: Working
  • Common Nicknames: Canary Mastiff, Dogo Canario, Canarian Molosser, Canary Catch Dog

Perro de Presa Canario Breed Guide

Learn More About Perro de Presa Canarios

  • Temperament

    Perro de Presa Canarios are strong-willed and require an experienced dog owner to ensure they get the proper training. They have a tendency to be aggressive and should be socialized as early as possible. They can be aggressive if they feel they are the leader of the family, so owners should be strong leaders. With the right owner, they are great companions, but their strong-willed and stubborn nature can be too much for new dog owners.

  • Health

    A majority of Perro de Presa Canarios are fairly healthy and don't face too many super serious or common issues. However, it's good to keep an eye out for any joint issues that can arise as this breed ages. Make sure to give these dogs regular checkups for their ears and eyes.

  • Activity Level

    Perro de Presa Canarios have a medium energy level, but still need at least an hour of exercise every day. They love hiking on a leash and are great swimmers. They also love playing fetch in a fenced-in yard and learning new tricks.

  • Grooming

    Perro de Presa Canarios have nice, smooth fur that doesn't require a lot of constant grooming. They don't need many baths or trips to the groomers, but an occasional bath would be great if they're out hunting.

  • Shedding

    The Perro de Presa Canario is a light shedder but is not considered hypoallergenic. Because they aren't hypoallergenic, this breed isn't a good fit for households with allergies.

  • Appearance

    The Perro de Presa Canario has a muscular, powerful, and intimidating appearance. Its thick skin hangs loosely around its neck and, when this breed becomes alert, wrinkles form on its head to give them an intimidating look. These dogs have short, coarse coats that feature brown, black, red, and silver colorings.

  • History

    On the Spanish islands, it is said that the mystery of the Perro de Presa Canario's creation is still laying out there. Some believe that certain ‘cattle dogs’ were to blame for the genetic makeup, while others think these dogs have a bit of Mastiff in them. There are numerous large breeds from the islands that could be at fault for this breed coming into existence, so nobody is quite certain. However, during a short period, these dogs were put into dog fights and brawls. When these fights ended and other breeds were introduced to the island, this breed started to falter. The only ones who really owned Perro de Presa Canarios were cattle farmers and ranchers who used them as guard dogs. Since then, this breed has proven to be an excellent guard dog still to this day. These dogs also can become great family pets when they get comfortable and settle in. It can be hard for older Perro de Presa Canarios to trust a large group of people, but as puppies, these dogs are very loyal.