Standar RSCE

I.- DENOMINATION AND SYNONIMY:

Denomination: PRESA CANARIO

II.- ORIGIN AND DIFFUSION OF THE BREED

Molosser dog original to the Canary Islands. In the Agreements of the Council of Tenerife, in the Ordinances of Tenerife, and in the Agreements of the Council of Fuerteventura, since the XVI Century, there is evidence, among other dog breeds, about “presa” (catch) type dogs. The most logical conclusion is to think that this dog was introduced into the Canaries by the Spanish conquerors and settlers. Then, thanks to time and isolation it led to a completely different breed. It should also be considered that, because of the influence of other bull-breeds imported from other countries (Great Britain, Cuba, etc.), his typology was in someway modified.
It is certain that this catch dog, of voluminous body and head, quite lymphatic, and of extraordinary temperament, was utilized in the Canarian Archipelago for the guarding of farms, for the custody of the bovine cattle and as an auxiliary of the butcher for the sacrifice of the bovines. Through this evolution, since the end of the XIX Century, of what we may consider the modern presa dog breed, is drawn the outline from a breed point of view, of the influence of the Majorero cattle dog or Bardino Majorero, who is the one that gives him that peculiar characteristic which makes the Presa Canario different from the other molosser breeds. In the last decades he has been frequently used as fighting dog. The uninterrupted work of breeding has managed that the Presa Canario is now widely spread and at the present moment is bred and selected with the concept of a breed.

 III.- GENERAL ASPECT AND CHARACTER

1. Overall description (general characteristics ).

Medium sized, eumetric dog, with a straight profile. Of rustic appearance and well-proportioned. It is a mesomorph whose trunk is longer than its height at its withers. The bitches are of slightly longer lines.
Massive head, of square shape and wide cranium. The upper lips cover the lower ones. Black mouth lining. Strong teeth, of wide implantation and well inserted. Brown eyes, of medium size. Highly set ears. Cylindrical neck, very muscular and covered with a thick loose, elastic skin. Double dewlap, not excessive. Highly set tail. Wide and very ample chest. Moderately tucked belly. Perfectly composed front
limbs with wide and strong bones and pronounced angulations which guarantee a good cushioning and a long trot . Cat-like feet. Powerful, muscular back limbs, with medium angulations and correctly composed, with cat-like feet slightly longer than the front ones. Thick elastic skin. Short hair, with no undercoat, slightly rough. Brindle, fawn and black. Generally black mask.

2. Character and aptitude.

His aspect is very powerful. Harsh gaze. Especially gifted for the guard and defense tasks and traditionally for bovine cattle herding. Strong temperament. Able fighter, behaviour that shows for atavism. Deep and serious bark. Is tame and noble in the family and distrustful of strangers. In the past he was especially used as fighting dog.

IV.- MORPHOLOGY

1. Height to the withers:

Males: from 61 to 66 cm. ( from 24 to 26 inches).

Females: from 57 to 62 cm. (from 22.4 to 24.4 inches).

2. Head:

Of brachiocephalic type. Cuboid tendency. Solid appearance. The proportion cranium-face is of 6 to 4. The frontal-nasal depression is slighly pronounced. Average length: 25 cm. (9.8 inches).

    2.1. Cranium

Convex from front to back and crosswise. Flat frontal bone. Very pronounced zygomatic arch, with a great development of the temporal and mastoid muscles of the suborbital region. The middle furrow between the frontal sinuses is marked. The occipital crest is pratically erased by the nape muscles.
Average cepahlic perimeter: 60 cm. (23.6 inches).

    2.2. Muzzle

Shorter than the cranium. Normally, 40% of the whole head. It is very wide, in prolongation of the craium. The craniofacial lines are parallel or slightly convergent..

    2.3. Nose

 Wide, strongly pigmented black. With well opened orifices.

    2.4. Lips

Of medium thickness and fleshy. The upper slightly hanging and in their conjunction, seen in front, they form an inverted V. The mucous membranes are of dark colour, but can be in shades of pink, darker being more desirable. Normally he does not drool.

    2.5. Jaws

Teeth with a very strong implantation and well inserted. Generally he does not show prognathism. Scissors or level bite. The incisives and the canines should be well set and aligned. The canines show wide transverse distance.

3. Eyes

Big, rounded, nor sunken nor bulging eyes. Well separated. The color ranges between the medium and dark brown according to the coat color.
Eyelids pigmented black, sticked.

4. Ears

Hanging when are complete. Of abrupt start and medium sized, highly inserted. They are kept flat on the cranium or folded in rose shape. When they are cropped, according to tradition, they stand erected or semi-erected and of triangular shape. The specimen with complete ears will compete equally with those having cropped ears.

5. Neck

Cylindrical, straight, massive and very muscular, especially in the upper part. Is somewhat short and his inferior part shows loose skin which contributes to the formation of a slightly dewlap.
Average length: between 18 to 20 cm. (from 7.1 to 7.9 inches).

6. Front limbs

Perfectly composed, with wide bones and covered by powerful and visible muscles. The elbows should not be nor too much affixed to the rib cage nor pointing outwards. Catlike, tight feet. Solid nails, black or white, depending on the coat color.
Average of the forearm: 23 cm. (9.1 inches)
Average of the front limbs bone: 14 cm. (5.5 inches).

7. Trunk

Its length normally exceeds the height to the withers by about 10% to 12%. Wide chest and of great amplitude with well marked pectoral muscles. Seen in profile it must reach at least to the elbow. The thoracic perimiter will be normally equal to the height at the withers more a 1/3 of the same, even if it is desirable to exceed this proportion. Very arched ribs. The overall thoracic build has a cylindrical tendency.
Average thoracic perimeter: 88 cm. (34.6 inches).

    7.1. Top-line

Straight, slighly ascending towards the croup. Apparent saddle on the back, just behind the withers.

    7.2. Croup

Straight, medium and wide. The height at the croup is generally 1,5 cm. (0.6 inches) higher than that at the withers.

    7.3. Belly

Moderately tucked drawing an arched line in prolongation of the rib cage.

    7.4. Sexual organs

The male should show a complete and perfect development of both testicles. The scrotum should be tucked.

8. Tail

Of high insertion, flexible, thick at start, it goes narrowing till the hock. In action, it rises in shape of a saber, with its end towards the front, but without coiling.

9. Back limbs

Powerful, perfectly composed frontally and in profile. Long and very muscular thighs. Medium angulations. Cat-like feet. Normally he does not show any spurs. Low hooks and without deviations.
The presence of the spur may take away score, but it is not an eliminatory fault.

10. Coat

    10.1. Hair

Short in all its length, generally thicker at the withers, throat and crest of the buttocks. Without undercoat. Compact in correspondence of the tail. Of rustic aspect, it shows some harshness to the touch.

    10.2. Colour

All range of brindle, from the very warm dark to the very light grey or blond. Black. All range of fawn, till the sandy.
Occasionally it may show markings around the neck which may arrive till the cranium (“acollarados”), in the extremities (“calzados”), even if it is desirable that the presence of the white is as reduced as possible.
Generally shows white markings on the chest, little or big ones. The mask is always of dark colour and may arrive till the height of the eyes..

11. Weight

Average of the males: from 45 to 57 Kg. (from 99 to 125 lbs.)
Average of the females: from 40 to 50 kg. (from 88 to 110 lbs. )

12. Faults

    12.1. Slight faults

- Height at the croup equal to the height at the withers.

- Excessive wrinkles in the craniofacial region.

- Presence of spurs.

- Light eyes.

- Atypical bark.

    12.2. Serious faults

- Scarce pigmentation of the nose.

- Excessively hanging lips.

- Two eyes of different colour.

- Excessive prognathism.

- Specimen with a slight sighthound aspect.

- Front and rear feet turning inward or outward.

- Absence of premolars.

- Unbalanced character, shyness, etc.

- Weak appearance and poor build.

- Head with incorrect proportions cranium – muzzle.

- Coiling tail, of the same thickness in its length, cut out or deformed..

 

    12.3. Eliminatory faults

- Monorchid, chryptorchid or castrated specimens..

- White markings exceeding 30 % or with markings on the back.

- Enognathism.

- Total depigmentation of the nose or labial mucosa.

- Colors not described in standard.