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A few years following the conclusion of the conquest
of the Canary Archipelago, reference is made in the Documents of the
Municipal Council of Tenerife to their agreement of February 5, 1526,
that in view of the damages produced by dogs to livestock, both small
and large, the extermination of the same is ordered, with the exception
of the pair which is accepted for the service of the butchers, and it
entrusted to Don Pedro de Lugo, who posses two such holding dogs trained
to kill. It is probable that these holding dogs were brought to the
islands by Spanish conquerors and colonists. Through the XVI and XVII
centuries, there are numerous references to the holding dogs Canary
Islands as well as other canine breeds, and it is rich in historical
documentation following the conquest, particularly in the noted
Documents of the Municipal Council of Tenerife, but at no time does it
describe the physical characteristics of this dog, but it does explain
the function for which they developed. The mission of the holding dog
were essentially to guard and to fight with cattle. Mention is made
frequently to their service to butchers to subdue the cattle or tied up
if for guard. Their function therefore determines a robust morphology,
characteristic of a molosoid holding dog, but with agility and drive.
The Canary Islands, given it's strategic geographical location in the
Atlantic Ocean had always formed a hospitable resort enroute to the
Americas. In the islands arrived the various Hispanic breeds which
populated the new continent. Essentially of hunting, scenting and
holding dogs which were provided from Spain. Particularly, the Spanish
holding dog, the Presa Español , in it's varieties of large mastiff or
bulldogs or Alano, used in the conquest of the Americas, contributed to
the current blood of the perro de presa existent in the Canaries. As
time passed and in the isolation of the islands, this dog began to
develop into an completely differentiated breed and due to influences of
these other Spanish dogs, it's characteristics were modified to some
extent.
Along the XVII century, the presence of English
colonists became more frequent in the Archipelago, normally traders that
resided either temporarily or permanently in the Canaries. The British
character with their traditions to the fighting of dogs also arrived to
the islands. For the fights they used their typical gladiator breeds.
Bulldog type or bull & terrier, which they brought from their country.
It was inevitable that the cross breeding of their dogs with the perro
de presa existent in the Archipelago would occur. This English fancy of
fight dogs, which would identify fully with the character of the islands
, with combative disposition, repeats itself in the Balearic Archipelago
with their Ca de Bou or Perro de Presa Mallorquin and in Japan with
their national dog of fight the Tosa Inu Therefore in the different
populations of the islands, certain morphological modification took
place. Not only was the perro de presa thought of as a breed developed
for work as a guardian or cattle driver, but rather developed with the
excellent disposition for fighting.
Independently of this situation, we have to consider
the existence in the Canaries of the Bardino or Majorero, origination
from the island of Fuerteventura and very spread throughout the whole
Archipelago. This dog was devoted especially to the management of goat
herds and an excellent guardian. Added to this, a great physical
resistance, moderation of size, scarce bark, an extraordinary set of
teeth and an incorruptible courage. The Bardino Majorero was introduced,
for their excellent abilities and to improve upon the crossings that
started the type of holding dog that was arising as a consequence of the
English influence. The crossing of those holding dogs and the Bardino
Majorero, gives today's Presa Canario it's unique characteristics which
set it apart from the other molosoid breeds. Its current genetic makeup
is influenced in great part by the Bardino Majorero including it's
typical expression, bardino (brindle) coat, commonly referred to as "Verdino"
(greenish tonality), it's rustic hair and their good disposition for the
fight.
As the century advanced, so did the dog fighting
fancy. They fought openly and established sites in which thy would join
together and select the best examples to improve the fighting abilities,
not for their breed characteristics. This situation determines that the
selection of the Presa Canario was from a very functional point of view.
This was developing a related group of dogs, which was of very old
development. They magnified abilities, but never tried to establish a
phenotype which gives their true identity.
Once the prohibition of dog fighting was decreed in
Spain, the number of Presa Canario began to decline. The introduction of
foreign breeds to the canary islands increased this situation. At that
time new guardian breeds were introduced to the islands and interest in
this native breed was at an all time low. The Presa Canario reached a
phase of near extinction in the 1960's.
It was almost extinct in 1970 when began its recovery.
Their resurgence is slow but uninterrupted. The interest in the Presa
Canario as part of the indigenous heritage of the Canario Islands is now
generalized.
Recovery of the Presa Canario-historical facts
The presence of the Presa Canario is growing more in
the islands beginning from 1970. This dog was in prior decades relegated
in scarce numbers to farmers and cattle men. It began to adapt to urban
guarding which allowed a entrance to quick diffusion. In 1982, a group
of breeders from Tenerife, responsible for most of the existent
population of Presa Canario at that time, joined together to further the
recovery of the breed which had began in the prior decade. In their work
they were respectful of the traditions of the breed, and began a program
of selection ruled by a model that was formalized through historical
photos, oral history of old time breeders and the population of the most
representative examples of the time. The founded the Club Español del
Presa Canario for such a purpose, properly authorized by the Real
Sociedad Central de fomento de las Razas Caninas de España, to begin the
incessant work of diffusion of the breed, through any possible way
especially dog shows. Regional dog shows were held throughout the Canary
Islands and Spain for the purpose of studying and cataloging the
physical characteristics and temperament of the Presa Canario as it
appeared in different regions of the country. Though those acts, the
commission of Spanish breeds had enough documentation for the
composition of a breed standard which fixes the physical characteristics
of the Presa Canario. This long work culminated with the approval of the
Official Standard of the Presa Canario on January 24, 1986. Starting
from the official recognition of the breed, the club began to work to
further the diffusion and consolidation of the breed and to establish a
genetic fixation, which was full of difficulties given the island
origination of the breed and it's two most important populations
Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Since 1993 registrations of the breed have
extended within the Canary Archipelago to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
Each year the club holds a National Specialty show, in which they gather
the best of the existent population in the country and analyze them in
all aspects morphology, temperament, movement and breed expression to
continue the selection and improvement of the breed.
Translated
Miguel Angel Gonzalez
Judge and Breeder
from:
www.dogocanarioclub.org
Year 1960. Breeder Domingo Santana. On photo Pedro
Alvarez. |