Dog breed

Presa Canario

Origin: not documented in our sources

Also known as: Presa, Canary Dog, Canary Mastiff, Dogo Canario, Perro de Presa Canario

The Presa Canario is a Spanish breed of large dog of mastiff or catch dog type. It originates in the Spanish autonomous community of the Canary Islands, and is found mostly in the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. It was formerly known as the Dogo Canario. It was traditionally used as a guard dog, as a herding dog for both sheep and cattle, and for dog-fighting, which was legal in Spain until 1936 and may have continued clandestinely thereafter.