It is correct to state that when one speaks about the Standard of the Presa Canario, reference can be made to three different documents:

Standard 21st May, 1989: is the Standard which has been used for years as a point of reference in the selection process, and is still nowadays considered by traditional breeders as a guide for breeding. Even if it was not awarded by any type of officiality, it is the only Standard which can be considered as legitimate, as it was exceptionally drafted with the agreement of all the parties who in 1989 were involved in the breed recuperation: the Club Espanol del Presa Canario, the Club del Presa Canario de Las Palmas, the Club del Presa Bardino Faycan, Manuel Curtò and Clemente Reyes Santana.

Standard R.D. 558/2001: is the Standard which at present moment has legal value in Spain. Its validity is recognized by the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food with the Royal Decree 558/2001, and is very similar to the Standard of 21st May 1989.

Standard UKC: is the official breed Standard for the United States of America since 2003, year in which the breed was recognized there by the United Kennel Club, and it was drafted on the basis of the Standard of 21st May 1989.

The Standard of the Dogo Canario, which is a breed that is not legally recognized in Spain - as it is not present in the  list of  the Spanish Breeds (R.D. 558/2001) - must not be confused with that of the Presa Canario, not only for the differences in contents - discrimination of white markings, absence of the black coat and of a maximum weight are just some of the points - but also for the different concept of breed which is at the basis of the Standard itself.