OFFICIAL U.K.C. BREED STANDARD
Officially recognized Jan 1, 2003
History
The ancestors of the Perro de Presa Canario were probably brought to the Canary
Island by the Spanish Conquistadors, and coexisted with indigenous cattle dogs
from the beginning of the fifteenth century. These dogs served many purposes.
They guarded the farms, helped catch and hold cattle, and exterminated wild or
stray dogs. In the 1940s, the breed began to decline in numbers. It was revived
again in the 1970s, when reputable breeders developed and bred Presas true to
their original size and character.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Presa Canario is a moderately large, powerfully constructed dog with a
harsh-textured, flat coat. The head is massive and cuboid. Ears are set just
above the line of the eye and may be cropped, naturally pendent or rose. The
body of the Presa Canario is slightly longer than its height at the withers,
with a broad, deep chest, but females may be slightly longer and possess
somewhat less rib spring than the males. Skin is thick and elastic. The distance
from the withers to the elbow is roughly equal to the distance from the elbow to
the ground. The tail is very thick at the base, and tapers to a point. The tail
is moderately high and reaches to the hock. The overall impression is that of an
imposing, solid guard dog.
CHARACTERISTICS
The essential characteristics of the Presa are those which enable it to drive
and hold cattle, and to guard its home and family. These tasks require a
powerful, agile, courageous dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The Presa
is extremely affectionate, docile and well behaved with its owner and family,
but is wary of strangers and aggressive with other dogs.
Serious Fault: Unstable temperament
HEAD
The head is massive, cuboid in shape. When viewed from the side, the skull and
muzzle are roughly parallel to one another, and are joined by a well-defined,
but not abrupt, stop. When the dog is alert, the skin forms several symmetrical
wrinkles in the median furrow.
Fault: Excessive wrinkling.
Serious faults: Skull and muzzle not in correct proportion, abrupt
stop.
SKULL
The skull is cube-shaped, broad and slightly domed, but without occipital
protuberance. The width of the skull is about 3/5 of the length from occiput to
nose. Zygomatic arch is very pronounced and there is a deep median furrow that
diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. Cheek muscles are well
developed without being pronounced.
MUZZLE
The muzzle forms a smaller cube that tapers just slightly from stop to nose. The
length of the muzzle is roughly 2/5 of the length of the head, while the width
is about 2/3 as wide as the skull. The bridge of the muzzle is flat and
straight. Lips are moderately thick and pendulous with black pigment. The top
lip should fall naturally over the lower without excessive flews. Viewed from
the front, the lips form an inverted “V” where they join.
TEETH
The Perro de Presa Canario has a complete set of evenly spaced teeth, set in a
wide jaw. A scissors or reverse scissors bite is preferred. A level or slightly
undershot bite is acceptable.
Fault: Missing any tooth other than the first premolar.
Serious fault: Excessively undershot bite.
Disqualification: Overshot bite.
NOSE
The nose is wide and black. In profile, the nose fits cleanly into the square
formed by the nasal bone and the front plane of the muzzle. The nose does not
protrude beyond the front plane of the muzzle, which would give a snipey look to
the head.
EYES
Eyes are
slightly oval, set level and wide apart, and range in color from medium to dark
brown, in accordance with coat color. Eyelids are close-fitting and black.
Serious faults: Light eyes, droopy eyelids, eyes set close together
or obliquely.
Disqualifications: Blue, gray, or yellow eyes, non-matching eyes.
EARS
Ears are of medium size, set just above the line of the eye and wide apart, and
covered with short, fine hair. Ears may be natural or cropped. The natural ears
may be pendent or rose. Pendent ears drop effortlessly to the sides of the head,
and rose ears are close fitting. Cropped ears are erect.
Fault: High set ears.
NECK
The neck is cylindrical, thick, well muscled, and slightly shorter than the
length of the head. Loose folds of skin at the throat form a slight dewlap.
Serious faults: Excessive dewlap, long or weak neck.
FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders are muscular and well laid back. The upper arm is of good length and
well-angled so that the front legs are set well behind the point of the
shoulder. The elbows set slightly out from the body. Front legs are straight,
well muscled, and heavy boned. Pasterns are strong, short, and nearly vertical.
BODY
A properly proportioned Presa is about 20% longer (measured from prosternum to
point of buttocks) than tall (measured from the withers to the ground), and
length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) should
approximately equal one-half of the dog’s height. Females may be slightly longer
in body. The withers are slightly elevated. The back and loin are strong but
without prominent musculature. The back line ascends slightly toward the croup
which is just slightly higher than the withers. The croup is of medium length,
wide and slightly sloping. Females normally have slightly wider croups. The loin
is moderately short, muscular and deep, with moderate tuck-up. The ribs are well
arched. The brisket extends to the elbow. The chest is broad and deep with well
developed pectoral muscles. Ideally, the circumference of the deepest part of
the chest should equal almost 1½ times the dog’s height at the withers.
Serious faults: Shallow chest, croup and withers equal height, body
too short, swayback, roach back.
Disqualification: Croup lower than withers.
HINDQUARTERS
Hindquarters are powerful and well muscled. In profile, the croup is sloping.
The angulation of the hindquarters is moderate. When the dog is standing, the
rear pasterns are short, perpendicular to the ground and, viewed from the rear,
parallel to one another.
Feet are round, compact, cat-like. Rear feet are slightly longer than the front.
Pads are well developed, tight, black, not splayed. Nails are solid color, white
or black depending on coat color of toes.
Fault: Splayed feet.
TAIL
The tail is a natural extension of the topline, set moderately high. It is thick
and muscular at the base, tapers to a point. A tail of the correct length
extends to the hock but never below. Tail carriage ranges from a pump handle
tail when the dog is relaxed to a saber tail when the dog is alert.
Serious faults: Fine tail, curly or blunt tail, tail set too low.
Disqualification: Docked tail.
COAT
The Presa has a short, flat single coat that is harsh in texture. It is very
short and fine on the ears and slightly longer on the withers and the back of
the rear hindquarters.
Serious faults: Satiny, fine coat.
COLOR
Any shade of fawn, black, and brindle in any combination of these colors. The
face must have a black or dark brown mask that does not extend over the eyes,
with or without a white blaze or patch on the head. Minimal white markings may
appear anywhere between the chest and the throat, or on the toes.
Serious fault: Mask that extends over the eyes.
Disqualifications: Absence of dark mask, white
markings covering more than 20% of the dog, coat color or pattern other than
described above.
SIZE
Desirable height at withers for a mature male is 23 - 26 inches. Desirable
height at withers for a mature female is 22 - 25 inches. Minimum weight for a
mature male is 100 pounds and for a mature female is 85 pounds..
GAIT
When trotting, the stride is long, effortless and well coordinated and the tail
is carried above the backline.
