Traditionally bred as work dogs, used as herd, guard, and fighting dogs, the Presa Canario, also known as Perro de Presa Canario, or Canary Mastiff, may strike you as aggressive and violent dogs. Presa Canario can be a dangerous and rough guard dog, with several fatal attacks reported. However, this does not exclusively disqualify the Canary Mastiff as a family dog, incapable of making an excellent human companion. Is Presa Canario a good family dog? We need to consider their characteristics, care routine, and the benefits of having a Presa Canario as a pet to answer this question.
What Are the Features of a Presa Canario?
The Presa Canario is a large dog breed with a sturdy physique. The dog requires daily exercise to maintain its well-toned body, such as walks or frisbee games. An adult male Presa Canario may weigh up to 70 kgs, ranging between 45-65 kgs and 60-66 cm in withers. Adult females are smaller, weighing about 10 kgs less and 4 cm shorter. They take a straight-lined silhouette with an oblique topline, a deep and wide chest, raised hindquarters, and toned buff legs. The facial features of the Canary Mastiff will make it appear imposing as it has a broad head and adorns a black face mask.
A Presa Canario is naturally intuitive, confident, and intelligent, and its bark is deep, making it a suitable guard dog. It is also highly trainable, and when properly trained and socialized, it becomes an excellent guard and companion. The dog possesses aggressive traits as a guard and fighting dog. It makes them unsuitable for families with small children and other pets. It takes proper training efforts, including a reward-based training approach, which has proven effective when used by an assured and experienced owner who can present themselves as the alpha dog to tame the aggressive side of the Canary Mastiff.
What Care Routine Does a Presa Canario Need?
The Canary Mastiff is pretty easy to maintain as it is a generally healthy dog, meaning that its owner will hardly visit the vet. The dog is a heavy feeder requiring at least two meals daily to sustain its energy needs. It will require high-protein homemade or store-bought food and plenty of water. A Canary Mastiff will only require regular baths, ear cleaning, tooth brushing, nail clipping, and coat brushing. The upside of keeping a Presa Canary is that it is a minimal shedder, thus minimal grooming effort and vacuuming. The dog is prone to health conditions common to large dog breeds. However, most are hereditary, and therefore remember to ask about the parents’ health history when buying a pup.
Are Presa Canarios Family Dogs?
Various benefits make Presa Canarios good family dogs, including;
- They are excellent farm dogs.
- Regular exercise and good training make them suitable for farm life or apartment home.
- They boost the family’s general health as members engage in exercise routines such as walks or fetch with the dog.
- They make loyal and devoted family guards when in the care of experienced homeowners.
- They are easy to maintain and are healthy dogs.
Is Presa Canario a good family dog? Well, it will depend on the owner’s skills and experience in handling dogs, the nature of the family, how well the owner will train the dog, and where you live.