The actual history of the Presa Canario breed

[eSPO]

I think its kind of fun to read all the different histories of the Perro de Presa Canario on the various websites. Most are fantasy and fairytale, some are simply copied and pasted versions of the history written by so and so. Some are a hoot ! Here is a clear history of the breed and its evolution. I hope this clarifies it for some. Its amazing how many "breeders" have no idea of what they are actually selling, actually its really sad.
There was no breed officially known as the Perro de Presa Canario until 1989 when the RSCE (Real Sociedad Canina de Espana) officially adopted a standard and recognized the breed . Prior to this the RSCE had been working with breeders on the Canary Islands to establish a breed. The main centers of breed development were Gran Canaria and Tenerife . The breed originated on Gran Canaria where families who needed working dogs had been breeding a colony of dogs for generations. These dogs were simply called "Presas". The term Presa, in this context, means to clutch, grip, or hold. These dogs were expected to exterminate wild dogs that came to kill and eat the young goats, hold the cattle for slaughter, and guard and protect the homes of their owners. The farmers who bred these dogs for themselves and their countrymen were known as "Preseros" They did not care about size, color, or appearance of their Presa dogs they were only concerned about function. The holding dogs known as Presas had been bred for generations by Gran Canarian families. It is believed they are made up of various Mastiffs and Bulldogs that arrived on ships that harbored there that bred with the local population. These were crossed with the indiginous Majorero cattle dog from the Island of Fuertaventura to create the breed that would become the Presa Canario. Presa type dogs (holding dogs) are mentioned in historical documents of the Canary Islands in the 16th and 17th centuries. The Preseros added the blood of the Majorero Cattle Dog to their breedings because of its rusticity, ability to live in extremely tough circumstances, and its capabilities as a protector of livestock. The Majorero is an indiginous to the Canary Island of Fuertaventura .The Majorero or "Perro Ganado Majorero" typically had a brindle or black coat and was known as a very durable dog with a hard temperament and a strong set of teeth. The Preseros would also allow their dogs to fight one another as a matter of pride and bragging rights .They considered these fights "honor fights". They used the fights to prove their dogs .The Presa became less popular when dog fighting was outlawed by Spain in the 1940s. The Preseros continued to breed their Presa dogs for the traditional uses. The two centers of development for the modern breed were Tenerife and Gran Canaria .There were two different ideas of what made the the ideal Presa Canario. Generally speaking, breeders on the Island of Gran Canaria bred for the functional aspects, ability and hardness and the breeders on the Island of Tenerife bred for uniformity and exhibition. They were bred on the basis of look and not functional ability. The two ideologies often clashed and this became apparent at breed recognition. Each group of breeders sought a standard that enforced their ideal. The Tenerife breeders wanted uniformity and show dogs to impress the RSCE, they lobbied for a tight standard of only brindle and fawn dogs, a more uniform look. The Gran Canarian Preseros wanted a broader standard that included the Black coat, white markings and demanded scissor bite, no prognathism (lower jaw more prominent )as it was indicative of crossing with modern breeds.The Preseros had a breed that was made of working "Presas", the Majorero cattle dog and other mastiff and bulldog breeds. The Tenerife based breeders used modern purebred dogs, almost exclusively, they included various Mastiffs and bulldogs of all types. There were dogs from Gran Canaria who were brought to Tenerife, however , this was the exception. The competition for power between the two centers of development was fierce. In 1989 the RSCE recognized the breeders on Tenerife as the official" club and allowed the black coat to be a part of their Presa Canario standard . After recognition the "official" breed club known as the CEPC (Club Espanol del Presa Canario) continued its program of breeding for show and exhibition .The Preseros on Gran Canaria continued breeding as they had for generations . many Preseros felt alienated because their input and influence was quickly marginalized by the CEPC. A few were integrated into the new club and accepted the changes. In 2001 the FCI, aided by the CEPC, recognized the "Perro de Presa Canario breed" as the "Dogo Canario" and eliminated the black coat, traditional markings and maximum weight limitation .The recognition by the FCI is "provisional" which means it is temporary until the FCI can determine if the Dogo Canario meets its breed requirements. The recognition and name change did not go over well in the Canary Islands. The majority of traditional breeders of the Presa dogs were shocked. The traditional dog they had been breding for decades, a national icon, a way of life, had been taken from them. The injustice would not last long. In 2001 a group of Presa Canario enthusiasts in the U.S banded together and obtained recognition of the Perro de Presa Canario breed by the UKC in its traditional name. They adopted a standard based on the original standard of 1989.The Presa Canario of tradition is alive and well in Presa Canario breeders all over the world. Its spin off, the FCI Dogo Canario also continues to grow in popularity, a shadow of the actual Perro de Presa Canario.

[eSPO]

Originally posted by ElPresa.com Forums Member "Dogger":
That's a good breakdown of how the breed spread or was diluted on the CI. What's less clear is how the breed devolves over time.

An example:

The "night dog" referred to is of course the Bullmastiff, the only British breed ever specifically produced for guard duties and from two of the oldest, purest and bravest breeds. Technically created in modem times, it existed for centuries in the form of the lighter Mastiff when used as a hunting dog, and then the bigger, faster Bulldog when used for bull-baiting. It can be argued that the Bullmastiff is a truer descendant of the original Bulldog than the modem breed of that very name.
Not recognized by the Kennel Club as a breed until 1924--but used previously by gamekeepers--these dogs have the Mastiff instinct to pin their quarry rather than to bite, and to attack a man and throw him to the ground every time he tries to get to his feet--without ever using their teeth to savage him.
Mr. S. S.Moseley, from his Farcroft kennels, stabilized the modern breed after many previous trial crosses of Bulldog and Mastiff. There are similarities with the French equivalent, the Dogue De Bordeaux and the Neapolitan Mastiff, indicating a breed type in history, perhaps together with the Brazilian Guard Dog, The Tosa--The Japanese Fighting Dog--and the new extinct German Bullenbeisser.
What was being sought was a "gamekeepers dog". Just as the poacher needed his "Lurcher" to locate, chase, kill and retrieve game silently and slickly, so the game-keeper required a powerful, well-disciplined dog to find, seize and detain the poacher. This was not a task for a light, nervous, noisy, fidgety, ill-disciplined dog, but for the strong, silent type, able on command to knock down then hold down a young, healthy countryman, possibly after tracking him or quietly observing his acting illegally.
The requirement decided, the end product was then designed for the purpose in mind. Undoubtedly, more than two components were involved, the Great Dane and the yellow Labrador type of gun dog, which was beginning to emerge about that time, being likely ingredients. But in essence it was a cross between the Bulldog--tough, tenacious, fuss less, brave and with silent self-reliance- and the Mastiff--immensely powerful, trustworthy, fearsome in appearance but stable by nature, loyal and brave, which produced the Bullmastiff--27 inches at the withers, some ten stones of muscular guard dog.
From these carefully selected ancestors -- specifically purpose bred -- came a strapping, fearless, superbly proportioned, imposing-looking animal, combining the massiveness and sheer pugnacity of appearance of the age-old beautifully natured Mastiff breed, with the famed courage and proven endurance of the renowned Bulldog.
These two famous breeds gave the modern Bullmastiff three priceless qualities, ideal in combination for a guard dog; superb temperament --even tempered, level headed, magnanimous and never excitable; a silent, steadfast, almost arrogant bearing; and most importantly, the instinct to pin the quarry rather than to bite. The powerful Bullmastiff doesn’t savage its target or "worry" the arm of the standing "wanted" man. He has all the necessary strength to use his inherited impulse to pin his victim to the floor or a wall. But before the action even begins, there is the considerable deterrent value of the Bullmastiffs sheer physical size, pugnacious, black masked face and his impressive, almost regally impassive composure. He really looks the part.
Capable of quite astounding speed off the mark, immensely strong and --although large and heavy-- an essentially active dog, the Bullmastiff has superb self-reliance. He stands as if he owns the ground he stands on, looks you in the eye as an equal and yields to no one. Don't expect subservience from this breed. However, gain the confidence of one, together with his respect, and you have the best guard-companion of all dogs.
Not to be chained up in the backyard or confined to a small run, the Bullmastiff must be made a member of the household and ideally taken to a training class to get used to other dogs. Well-trained from young puppyhood, they are the most trustworthy. With his keen hard expression and well-arched neck, a young Bullmastiff is very proud and full of himself. This admirable self-assurance has to be utilized to good effect by firm, consistent training so that he becomes equally proud of his self restraint.
This formidable dog is well-behaved with children, never loses his temper and tolerates endless teasing. He is responsive to training, intelligent and faithful by nature. Used as a guard dog in such widely separated situations as the Mau-Mau emergency in Kenya, in the Kimberley diamond mines in South Africa, and on John D. Rockefeller's huge country estate in New York State, the Bullmastiff is now used mainly by discerning private owners as companion/guard.The Bullmastiff doesn’t snap or nip and seldom barks. He can track as well as guard, is easy to train and control, and tolerates -- perhaps more than any other breed -- children. On duty, he does not savage his prey but silently and effectively detains it. That great, powerful head with the ferocious, scowling, black mask and the lasting impression of physical power, make the Bullmastiff a formidable, commanding figure for any wrongdoer to confront.
A loyal, faithful, even-tempered, noble breed, Bullmastiffs make superb companion-guards and do not have that restless energy which demands a vast amount of exercise.
When all is said and done about the various breeds available as guard dogs, the Bullmastiff is the professional. He was bred for the part. After all, who would employ a shepherd as a night watchman when a security guard is available? And which would you prefer to be guarded by, a lion or a wolf? The Bullmastiff is the lion of the dog world. He is massive, arrogant, powerful and brave--a truly underrated, undervalued king among dogs.

As has been pointed out before, the heraldic history, even from the presajeros, can be infused with heavy lore rather than what's actually still in their yards. Conversely, most people have no need, nor the ability to handle, a dog as intense as these were.

Good read. Thanks.