The Perro de Presa Canario is a robust breed from the Canary Islands of Spain. The name of the breed is Spanish in origin and often shortened to Presa Canario. When properly trained and socialized, the Presa Canario is docile, devoted, and obedient to its family—however, they are natural guard dogs, highly suspicious of strangers, and will sometimes act aggressively toward people or animals they don’t know.
Traditionally used for herding cattle, its intimidating appearance and hyper-awareness make the Presa Canario an ideal guard dog. Also known as the “Canary Dog of Prey,” the breed is said to date back to the 15th and 16th centuries after the conquest of the Canary Islands, when larger dogs would serve the very important roles of guarding farms, working cattle, and even exterminating wild or stray dogs.
