eSPO
16th June 2007, 13:52
My experience with the Presa Canario started 17 years ago in Salt Lake City in 1992 . I saw my first Perro de Presa Canario. I will never forget that day. I was unlocking my audio store on 854 So State in Salt Lake City. I saw a dog walking across the street 100 yards away. Oh my God ! What is that ? I had to open the store so I could not follow ... I watched it cross the street with its handler and proceed South. I watched them take a left down the street and I made a note to see if I could find them . I drove around later and did not see them. A few weeks later a friend of mine named Steve Porter came into my store, he was so excited ! "wait until you see these dogs " ! ! He took me to the house and I visited with Travis White and Bill Jarvis who had imported Tonio del Jardin Canario and Princesa del Jardin Canario after spending two years on the Canary Islands.. Tonio (Spelled Tono with a ~ over the("n" ) I observed the dogs and the way they interacted with people in the yard to see the puppies. That day was like a mini carnival, people waiting outside the chain link fence to see the rare "Canary" Dogs. I had no idea that I was observing two of the first Canary Dog imports to the United States . Unfortunately I coud not afford to buy one, we had just opened an audio store in Salt Lake and money was tight. Steve purchased a puppy , a male, the dog was later killed while chasing a car near Liberty park in Salt Lake. I often thought of Tonio and Princesa The image of these large,muscular and impressive dogs left an indellible mark on my psyche. I already had a Rottweiler and a Pit mix at home. My Rotty (Champ) died of cancer, I will never forget me and my family holding and hugging Champ while the vet injected the lethal dose. Champ stared at me in the eyes until he was gone. It took me a while to get over that one. I noticed a marked change in Brandy ( Pit mix) she was even more depressed than I had been. I decided to look for another dog, I considered another Rottie but I could not stand the thought of lookng at my new puppy and thinking of the morning that Champ came into my life. After a while I remembered when, years ago, meeting the Canary dogs ,and how badly I wanted one at that time. I went to Salt Lake to find Bill and Travis. I had no luck, the house was vacant and they were nowhere to be found, I contacted Steve Porter and he said that he heard that they had both left the state and he did not know how to contact them. I was dejected, after seeing Tono and Princesa how could I settle on another breed ? My brother suggested that I look into a Cane Corso and I purchased a dog magazine so I could look at all the unique dogs. I came across ads for the Perro de Presa Canario , I wrote down numbers and began to research in earnest. I read everything that I could find, I called "Presa" Breeders and I sent for videotapes. Nothing that I saw on tape compared to the dogs that I had seen in Salt Lake City in 1992. I had seen the pups, the parents, I had talked with the very guys who imported them, I had watched these two majestic beasts with my own two eyes and I was reluctant to settle for anything else. I decided to put the idea of Presa ownership behind me, I started to consider other breeds. One day while looking in the local paper some words jumped off the page and just about knocked me off the chair . . . . . PRESA CANARIO PUPPIES FOR SALE 1500.00 (MASTIFF TYPE) the ad listed the contact information and I immediatly called the number. I talked to Rob Combe and I could not get to his place fast enough, I piled my kids in the Suburban and my wife hopped in and we were off. Rob made us walk through the garage and wash our hands before we could enter the yard. I saw three kennels and Rob let the puppies out and put Jasmin de Pricesa away in a kennel off to the side. I watched her watch me as she walked by, the stare of ice. The puppies began to play and untie every shoe in sight. My attention was drawn to the beautiful fawn dog, what a chest ! what a head ! . Rob let Ladrillo de Fiero (call name Brick) out of the Kennel and he was beautiful, he sauntered over and met us after he did a few high speed laps and maneuvers around the yard, I had never seen a dog that large move so fast ! ! Rob put Brick away and let the Puppie Sire out (Banot de Haridian) Banot was shorter and more compact tha Brick, he was very fast and loved to chase down the rubber basketballs that Rob would kick high in the air. After talking to Rob I asked him where he got his dogs. He explained that he had imported Banot de Haridian and that he had bought Jasmine de Princesa from two Mormon Missionary friends who brought their parents to the US after they completed their missionary work in the Canary Islands.. I realized that she was the daughter of the two dogs that I had seen in Salt Lake City in 1992 !!!!!!. It was now six years later and I was very excited that I had found Rob. I decided on my puppy after three visits, we picked out Sancho,or rather, Sancho picked out us every single time we visited.. He was the most outgoing and welcoming dog of the bunch. I gave Rob a deposit and I was so excited ! ! I remember the day that I picked up Sancho like it was yesterday. My joy was soon replaced by worry, I wanted to get involved with other people who had Presas and I found out that there was a club called the Presa Canario Club of America, I called Tracy Hennings , then President of the PCCA ( Presa Canario Club of America) and she was very emphatic and direct , I had gotten screwed and bought a mutt and not a Presa Canario. I was confused. I had seen the dogs, talked to the Missionarys who had imported the Dam and Sire, I had their RSCE # s , what was fake about my dog ? Tracy Hennings been telling people for years that these dogs from Tonio/Princesa were not Presas but dogs that were crossbred in America. Since then I have discovered that Tracy bred with a rescue bitch named Cita de Irema Curto , she changed the name to "Sirena" because she had denounced Manuel Curto Gracia for years, to be using his stock as her foundation bitch would prove she couldnt find anything better with her CEDC ( DOGO) connections. She was also a known "paper hanger" . Back then I did not know who these people were/ I called Rob Combe and he told me not to sweat it these people had been saying the same thing for years, he said to ignore them. He gave me names of famous Presas in the line off the top of his head , Ebro del Jardin Canario, Rokote del JArdin Canario, Bronce Del Jardin Canario, Carlota ,
Paris, etc. I wrote them on a napkin so I could remember them. I had the dog of my dreams, the desire of my heart and never requested any paperwork or pedigree, it had not mattered to me. Rob gave me an address that I could write to to get registration papers. the FIC. He explained that there were no other registries that accepted the Presa Canario in the early nineties and Travis and Bill wanted them registered in a US registry. Since then I have spoken to Travis White and Bill Jarvis . I enjoy hearing the stories of their two years spent on the Canary Islands and their search for the dogs that they would bring back.
I did not worry anymore. When we compiled the pedigree database their was conflicting opinion and I noticed the names that I had scrawled down years ago were nowhere to be found except on one pedigree. I began to wonder about the exact lineage. I wrote Manuel Curto Gracia http://www.irema-curto.com/ , he has very detailed records of the devlopment of the Perro de Presa Canario from the beginning, I have also corresponded with Clemente Reyes Santana who is involved with the Las Palmas Club of the Presa and was an early official Judge of the breed, they both gave me the same information about the pedigree of Tonio and Princesa. Rokote was very well known . Joe Brown contacted Manuel too. here is an excerpt from the e-mail that he returned.
"Rocote (RRC# 49.607/89-I) was son of Roco (also Rocco o Roko) and Chunga de Timanfaya. Roco was product of crossing of Bullterrier with a female type Presa, more or less, that descended from crossing with Great Dane. Chunga de Timanfaya, was a pure Bullmastif with pedigree.Now is about to to see if Ebro were grandson of Rocote by the side of Cubro or by the side of Lili. Roco, father of Rocote did not have papers, for that reason Rocote was Initial Registry. It means this that Roco, son of Turco and Kol, born the 12-06-91, does not have to do with Tonio del Jardín Canario. Tonio del jardín Canario born 27-May-89 was son of Rocote (Rocote son of Roco and Chunga de Timanfaya Bullmastiff -) and Shila. Shila was daughter of Rambo and Niña. Niña was daughter of Tarzan and Linda. Rambo was half Bullmastiff, was bred by Fernando de Lorenzo (who was breeder of Bullmastiff, with affix Timanfaya) the brothers of Tonio were Apolo, Rocky, Rolo, Atina, Lana, Kora, and Tula. That mean, that Tonio (if the data do not fail to me) has Bullmastiff by the two branches, as you can see. I continue thinking that good part of the pedigrees of your data base is false. With this I mean that the breeders have lied much, since I have already made notice in several occasions. I want to post you that Rocote, born the 18-April-87, is one of so many units that obtained Initial Registry in 1989, that is when the Royal Spanish Canine Society recognized the Presa Canario Canary Dog. It means this that in 1989 the first Initial Registry of the breed was carried out.
As always , Senor Manuel Curto came through for me ! The same names that I had scribbled years ago were names I rcognized from the e-mail , I could tell that Manuel was not real excited about my question, he had written articles that denounced the sale of the offspring of Rocote because he felt that they were too close to the original crossings to be called "Perros de Presa Canario". " He explained to me that at that time there were more consolidated ( genetically) dogs. Though Rokote had won the very first "CAC" of the breed he felt there were better examples. He was kind enough to help me anyway. I am grateful. Well , now that I knew where Tonio came from . I had no proof, Curtos word is proof for me but I needed tangible proof. I called Rob again to see if there was any remote possibility that he had heard from,or found, Travis and Bill, he told me that he had heard that Travis may have returned to Utah. I did some research and contacted Travis. I called Travis with a little apprehension, I introduced myself and told him of the Presa Canario and the influence that the dogs that he imported had impacted the breed in the US. He was excited and began to recount stories of their trip to the Islands, he told me of a dog named Rokote who had won the first CAC of the breed, numerous shows on the Islands and in mainland Spain and regional shows while they were on the Islands . He said that he had moved several times and was just unpacking but he would send me all of his paperwork on Princesa. Then he shared some very good news, Bill Jarvis had returned to Salt Lake City !. I was talking to Bill on the phone within ten minutes. Bill had the same reaction, he was overwhelmed. Bill Jarvis told me how Tonio jogged with him for miles and miles while he trained for his marathons, he recounted how he had left Tonio at a kennel and without permission the kennel owner ( Sterling Kennels, Salt Lake City) started agitating Tonio and doing bitework with him, the kennel owner called friends over to see this impressive dog do bitework, he was impressed. This was without the knowledge or permision of Bill. He never told Bill that he had done any bitework with Tonio. After that a gentleman who was picking up a puppy came to Bills house and Tonio was sitting on the porch, the guy was excited to get his pup he flung open the chain link fence and , threw up his hand and yelled "I finally get my dog !!!" or something to that effect he ran up the sidewalk at Bill and Tonio stopped him dead in his tracks. Tonio and Bill headed out to florida where bill imported 15 more dogs from Julian Celis Sanchez and Jardin Canario. Bill is happy and excited that we have taken care of the dogs in the lineage of Tonio and Princessa he has alot more info to share, he has sent me a package that contains the PRC( tatoo#) , and RRC numbers, Health Certificates, of Tonio and his Sire and Dam. I will scan some of the documents in the next few days and post them. Bill and Travis are writing an account of their trip and sending me pictures of Tonio Princesa and the puppies . We will make a webpage out of all of this info dedicated to Travis White and Bill Jarvis, Tonio and Princesa. My quest is over, I have the proof, The next time some ignorant idiot wants to yell mutt this mutt that, american bred this and that, the owners of dogs in this line can tell them, with conviction that these are the oldest line Perros De Presa in the country. The owners of my puppies can know , with confidence ,what they received from me. The UKC is the registry of some of the oldest, non crossed Perro de Presa Canario in the US . I fought for UKC recognition and got it. I fought for black to be included in the UKC standard , and got it. I supported the proposed UKC working dog program and encouraged the founders. We got it. I have accomplished what I wanted in the US / It is time for others to step up on behalf of this wonderful breed. The UKC recognized the Presa in name and historic color. We will carry on with our quest of the ideal Perro de Presa canario with the blood of some of the the originals running through their veins. Tonio and Princesa Del Jardin Canario had three litters , among those was a dog named Jasmine de Princesa. Rob and Ruth Combe bred Jasmine de Princesa to an import named Banot de Haridian. Sancho de Espinoza is out of Banot de Haridian and Jasmine de Princesa. 100% Spanish Bloodline. No doubt. Sancho has been Bred to Playa de Irema Curto 3 times , all 20 offspring are 100% Spanish blood as well. These offspring include some very "hard dogs" .Those are the facts. The truth will set you free ! ! Tonios RRC # is 51.223/90, his ear tatoo was PRC-10 -J. Son of Rokote RRC#49.607/89-I and Shila RRC# 49.618/89-I. Their pedigree dates back to the construction of the breed and we must take care of this line !
David Espinoza
Phoenix , Arizona
azespo42@hotmail.com
Notice Tonios RRC # On the bottom right of the certificate.
Paris, etc. I wrote them on a napkin so I could remember them. I had the dog of my dreams, the desire of my heart and never requested any paperwork or pedigree, it had not mattered to me. Rob gave me an address that I could write to to get registration papers. the FIC. He explained that there were no other registries that accepted the Presa Canario in the early nineties and Travis and Bill wanted them registered in a US registry. Since then I have spoken to Travis White and Bill Jarvis . I enjoy hearing the stories of their two years spent on the Canary Islands and their search for the dogs that they would bring back.
I did not worry anymore. When we compiled the pedigree database their was conflicting opinion and I noticed the names that I had scrawled down years ago were nowhere to be found except on one pedigree. I began to wonder about the exact lineage. I wrote Manuel Curto Gracia http://www.irema-curto.com/ , he has very detailed records of the devlopment of the Perro de Presa Canario from the beginning, I have also corresponded with Clemente Reyes Santana who is involved with the Las Palmas Club of the Presa and was an early official Judge of the breed, they both gave me the same information about the pedigree of Tonio and Princesa. Rokote was very well known . Joe Brown contacted Manuel too. here is an excerpt from the e-mail that he returned.
"Rocote (RRC# 49.607/89-I) was son of Roco (also Rocco o Roko) and Chunga de Timanfaya. Roco was product of crossing of Bullterrier with a female type Presa, more or less, that descended from crossing with Great Dane. Chunga de Timanfaya, was a pure Bullmastif with pedigree.Now is about to to see if Ebro were grandson of Rocote by the side of Cubro or by the side of Lili. Roco, father of Rocote did not have papers, for that reason Rocote was Initial Registry. It means this that Roco, son of Turco and Kol, born the 12-06-91, does not have to do with Tonio del Jardín Canario. Tonio del jardín Canario born 27-May-89 was son of Rocote (Rocote son of Roco and Chunga de Timanfaya Bullmastiff -) and Shila. Shila was daughter of Rambo and Niña. Niña was daughter of Tarzan and Linda. Rambo was half Bullmastiff, was bred by Fernando de Lorenzo (who was breeder of Bullmastiff, with affix Timanfaya) the brothers of Tonio were Apolo, Rocky, Rolo, Atina, Lana, Kora, and Tula. That mean, that Tonio (if the data do not fail to me) has Bullmastiff by the two branches, as you can see. I continue thinking that good part of the pedigrees of your data base is false. With this I mean that the breeders have lied much, since I have already made notice in several occasions. I want to post you that Rocote, born the 18-April-87, is one of so many units that obtained Initial Registry in 1989, that is when the Royal Spanish Canine Society recognized the Presa Canario Canary Dog. It means this that in 1989 the first Initial Registry of the breed was carried out.
As always , Senor Manuel Curto came through for me ! The same names that I had scribbled years ago were names I rcognized from the e-mail , I could tell that Manuel was not real excited about my question, he had written articles that denounced the sale of the offspring of Rocote because he felt that they were too close to the original crossings to be called "Perros de Presa Canario". " He explained to me that at that time there were more consolidated ( genetically) dogs. Though Rokote had won the very first "CAC" of the breed he felt there were better examples. He was kind enough to help me anyway. I am grateful. Well , now that I knew where Tonio came from . I had no proof, Curtos word is proof for me but I needed tangible proof. I called Rob again to see if there was any remote possibility that he had heard from,or found, Travis and Bill, he told me that he had heard that Travis may have returned to Utah. I did some research and contacted Travis. I called Travis with a little apprehension, I introduced myself and told him of the Presa Canario and the influence that the dogs that he imported had impacted the breed in the US. He was excited and began to recount stories of their trip to the Islands, he told me of a dog named Rokote who had won the first CAC of the breed, numerous shows on the Islands and in mainland Spain and regional shows while they were on the Islands . He said that he had moved several times and was just unpacking but he would send me all of his paperwork on Princesa. Then he shared some very good news, Bill Jarvis had returned to Salt Lake City !. I was talking to Bill on the phone within ten minutes. Bill had the same reaction, he was overwhelmed. Bill Jarvis told me how Tonio jogged with him for miles and miles while he trained for his marathons, he recounted how he had left Tonio at a kennel and without permission the kennel owner ( Sterling Kennels, Salt Lake City) started agitating Tonio and doing bitework with him, the kennel owner called friends over to see this impressive dog do bitework, he was impressed. This was without the knowledge or permision of Bill. He never told Bill that he had done any bitework with Tonio. After that a gentleman who was picking up a puppy came to Bills house and Tonio was sitting on the porch, the guy was excited to get his pup he flung open the chain link fence and , threw up his hand and yelled "I finally get my dog !!!" or something to that effect he ran up the sidewalk at Bill and Tonio stopped him dead in his tracks. Tonio and Bill headed out to florida where bill imported 15 more dogs from Julian Celis Sanchez and Jardin Canario. Bill is happy and excited that we have taken care of the dogs in the lineage of Tonio and Princessa he has alot more info to share, he has sent me a package that contains the PRC( tatoo#) , and RRC numbers, Health Certificates, of Tonio and his Sire and Dam. I will scan some of the documents in the next few days and post them. Bill and Travis are writing an account of their trip and sending me pictures of Tonio Princesa and the puppies . We will make a webpage out of all of this info dedicated to Travis White and Bill Jarvis, Tonio and Princesa. My quest is over, I have the proof, The next time some ignorant idiot wants to yell mutt this mutt that, american bred this and that, the owners of dogs in this line can tell them, with conviction that these are the oldest line Perros De Presa in the country. The owners of my puppies can know , with confidence ,what they received from me. The UKC is the registry of some of the oldest, non crossed Perro de Presa Canario in the US . I fought for UKC recognition and got it. I fought for black to be included in the UKC standard , and got it. I supported the proposed UKC working dog program and encouraged the founders. We got it. I have accomplished what I wanted in the US / It is time for others to step up on behalf of this wonderful breed. The UKC recognized the Presa in name and historic color. We will carry on with our quest of the ideal Perro de Presa canario with the blood of some of the the originals running through their veins. Tonio and Princesa Del Jardin Canario had three litters , among those was a dog named Jasmine de Princesa. Rob and Ruth Combe bred Jasmine de Princesa to an import named Banot de Haridian. Sancho de Espinoza is out of Banot de Haridian and Jasmine de Princesa. 100% Spanish Bloodline. No doubt. Sancho has been Bred to Playa de Irema Curto 3 times , all 20 offspring are 100% Spanish blood as well. These offspring include some very "hard dogs" .Those are the facts. The truth will set you free ! ! Tonios RRC # is 51.223/90, his ear tatoo was PRC-10 -J. Son of Rokote RRC#49.607/89-I and Shila RRC# 49.618/89-I. Their pedigree dates back to the construction of the breed and we must take care of this line !
David Espinoza
Phoenix , Arizona
azespo42@hotmail.com
Notice Tonios RRC # On the bottom right of the certificate.