The True Perro de Presa Canario

 

The Canarian (a native of Gran Canaria) lives  between the pastoral and agricultural past and the modernity imposed by industrial development, mass tourism, yet what it means and entails, and the television. Rare is tha canarian family that is not rooted in the rural areas, where  agriculture and livestock were mainly subsistence (let aside the  bananas plantations that were  and remains, in  the hands of few families).

And there is the Canario of the coast, the inhabitant of the villages which has traditionally been  fisherman, farmer and shepherd at the same time.

 The Canario loves as anybody his land, its sea, its folklore, its traditions, interspersed of certain aboriginal feeling somewhat romantic, that has more to do with certain  ideological movements of the XVIII than with the current reality.

 The Canario loves the goat and the dog, I talk about the canario of the countryside, which is somehow linked  to them  by familiar ties more of the times, although live in the city or nearby, and their lifes now little has to do with the rural one of their ancestors. So when we go to see Perros de Presa necessarily  we must go town to town, because it  is in villages where they are more present. I will not  say now that in the majors urban centers there are not Presas, there are, without a doubt.
 

The Canarian (man or woman) appears rather shy in front of the mainland or foreing visitor, friendly, simple, open, and willing to show his Presas when asked  if they can be seen, and do not be surprised if in some occasion the hostess asks, in a  double sense, what happens, you want to buy them?
To the breeder (or owner) of a Presa Canario do not go you  with sophistications and mystifications, because he knows very well the ground he walks and he is not stupid, even is not very "put in letters"; do not talk of genetics, selection,  functionality, nor of working Presas, not take it up the word "cynophilia", therapy or pathology; limit to see the Presas, observe, listen, and if you reach the conclusion that something of what you saw can interest you, not rush, because you can stay without dog.

The canarian, in addition to money sells by sympathy. It may be that the Presa that did not sell to another one in two hundred thousand pesetas, sells it to you (by symphaty) for the same amount.
 

I am not referring, of course, to  breeders who have mounted their kennels to make money, those who speak of breed without compuction, of shows, champions, of papers, of presas that  have been  exported to this or that country. No. The true Presa Canario (as we understand many) is not, nor has been, in the kennels of these people.
The Presa Canario (real) has been, and is, in the hands of those anonymous people who have Presas because they like them, that breed them because they like them, because they are in love with their Presas.

In the hands of these people I have seen the best Presas, the best guardians, bravest. These "preseros" apply in the breeding and of their Presas the same methods for selection that applied for their dairy goats. Nothing more, nothing  less.

They would breed a goat who excels in dairy production to have some daughters (and a son too, for stud) in the hope they are good milkmaid. So, generation after generation.
The canarian goats are ones of the more dairy of the world, for that reason they have been exported to mainland and other countries.

 These preseros are not governed by a written standard, no, as they either do not have it for the breeding and selection of their goats. If a Presa meets the qualities they believe that a Presa must fillfilled to be considered a good dog, is breed with a Presa female that meets, more or less, the same qualities. so generation after generation.
It seems opportune to say that these preseros nothing have to do with the preseros of years 30, 40 or 50, nor the Presas that were bred- all we know which is the origin of the Presa Canario that is breed today -, but their methods of breeding and selection itself  bear some analogy with those from those years, hence a good number of their Presas really has a strong temperament (we do not confuse temperament with mad dogs,  is enough that others consider crazy the truely temperamental Presa).

 

 Of these Presas Canarios we saw several on Saturday 27 XI 1999, at the hand of Jose Manuel Granados Guerra, (breeder of Gran Canaria) and Clemente Reyes Santana (breeder and real expert of the "breed" - attention, I wrote breed between quotes, and I hope you realize why) -.
We saw Presas and presas, larger and smaller, wider and less wide, most in  brindle coat. Serious, of deep bark, severe glance, very brave in the guard and the defense, Presa that were never trained, and in all of them could be appreciated unmistakable the seal that transmits the crossing with the Perro de Ganado Majorero (Majorero livestock guardian dog), (this is the great difference that separates the Presa of Tenerife of those of Gran Canaria, of those of Gran Canaria who have been imported from Tenerife, or have been crossed with those of Tenerife).

In my view, the quality of the Presa of Gran Canaria is due, in large part, to the Perro de Ganado Majorero. The Presa of Gran Canaria (those which has nothing  to do with the ones of Tenerife) are the result of crosses (from second half of  70´s) between different imported canine breeds, as I repeatedly already raised in some of my writings, and the Perro de Ganado Majorero.

 This canary breed is the one that gives cohesion and own identity to the Presa Canario. I say again, all those called Presa Canario that does not have an important presence in their genes of the Perro de Ganado Majorero are not true Perro de Presa Canario.

 

In defense of whatever I am exposing, let me transcribe a paragraph from the official standard of the Presa Canario, approved and accredited by the Royal Canine Society of Spain and the FCI (Federation Cynologique International) which says: "Molosser dog native of the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, in the Canary Archipelago (...). It was essentially the result of crossings of the Bardino Majorero (Perro de Ganado Majorero)... and molosers dogs brought to the islands. His fiery temperament  inherited from his  ancestor the Bardino Majorero... These crosses gave origin to an ethnic grouping of Presas of intermediate type and predominant.... "
 

Consequently, what are all those Presas in whose genes the Perro de Ganado Majorero is not present? Call them what you want  unless Presa Canarios.

The vast majority of those (incorrectly named) Presa Canario have "papers", some in several generations, and like Presa Canarios appear, and thus they are sold. This fact, unquestionable, I have exposed  and denounced publicly, over many years.

Moreover, with the same emphasis  I have questioned the validity of the judgments made (using the same standard) during  initial registries and confirmations of breed in Gran Canaria and Tenerife,  in view of the extraordinary difference between both canine groups.

The Presa Canario of Tenerife (those who do not have to do with those of Gran Canaria) are, essentially, the product of crossings between Great Dane, English Bulldog, Bullmastiff - for obvious reasons, I want to make clear that the Presa Canario of IREMA CURTÓ KENNELS nothing has to do with this ethnic group, but with the one of Gran Canaria, in whose genetic heritage predominates  the Perro de Ganado Majorero-.
 

There is only one standard recognized and approved by the Royal Canine Society of Spain, the one that says that the Presa Canario is the result of crossings between the Perro de Ganado Majorero and molossers dogs taken (brought) to the islands. If we analyzed the pedigrees of the Presa Canarios of Tenerife (included the ones exported to  the rest of the Canary Islands, mainland  or to other countries), saving rare exception, the Perro de Ganado Majorero is not present. This fact lead us to question the validity of the current  standard of the Presa Canario (recognized and approved by the Real Sociedad Central Canina de España) at the time of judging both canine groups.

Like example of the exposed thing, I bring here several CHAMPIONS OF the BREED (champions of Spain), in whose pedigrees  the Perro de Ganado Majorero is not present: Barón (RRC 49650), from Tenerife; Diana (RRC 49648), from Tenerife; Urco (RRC 57620), from Tenerife; Catana (RRC57626), from Tenerife; Agarfa de Nivaria Sur (RRC59509), from Tenerife; Argual de Alacant-Bull (RRC57537), from Tenerife; Uga (RRC58948) from Tenerife; Verdugo (RRC59401), from Tenerife; Barón II (RRC59449), from Tenerife; Tamarán (RRC58945), from Tenerife; Bella (RRC61392), from Tenerife; Anaga, (RRC58786), from Tenerife; Diana de los Cardones (RRC61646) from Tenerife; Mencey (RRC67189), from Tenerife; Abedul de Troycán (RRC60467), from Tenerife; Tamara de Taguluche (RRC64329), origins from Tenerife; Carmina-Burana de Camarmeña (RRC67085), origins from Tenerife.
Guayacán del Lomito de la Suerte, Brosco, and Kyma, are not included in the list because I do not know the complete pedigree in the last six generations, and are of Gran Canaria origin.

 Also, they are the champions of monographic who have not been champions of Spain, They are: Garoe (RRC52511), of Tenerife; Linda (RRC52754), of Tenerife; Sancocho (RRC52528), of Tenerife; Troika (RRC51315), of Tenerife; Enzo (RRC55445), of Tenerife; Tarka (RRC55881), of Tenerife; Tacher (RRC59405), of Tenerife; Bruco (RRC65727), of Tenerife.
 

With these data in the light, can anybody still  doubt  that the fancier and breeders  of Gran Canaria has been object of marginalization  on the part of the Club Español del Presa Canario?
These champions (in whom the Perro de Ganado Majorero is not present) belong to the ethnic group of Tenerife in several generations. The profane in the subject will ask himself why as much champion of Tenerife. The answer is clear,  the seat of the Club Español del Presa Canario is in Tenerife, and the  board of directors has been compose, invariably, of breeders of Tenerife.

There have beeen few occasions were I have denounced this reality through  local newspapers and specialized magazines, but has not helped.

In Gran Canaria were are breed the best presas, with a most important genetic part of the Perro de Ganado Majorero, from towards middle of the 70 ´s to until today, but the official club has ignored them (year after year).

 From the founding of the CEPRC, seeing the marginalization to which they were subjected, the vast majority of the fans and breeders of Gran Canaria did not want to know absolutely nothing of the officiality.

The monographic exhibitions, and special of the breed, has been organized by and for the official club, ie for benefit of their unconditional affiliated directors.

 

Someone may object  (and have done it) that in Gran Canaria there are important breeders of Presa Canarios, and all those who have tried  have been well received by the official club. I, in my turn, I say them that it is completely false. In Gran Canaria there is a small group of breeders of presas that are aligned with the official club -and that breed with the dogs from Tenerife -but not at all  represent the breeding and selection that in that island practice the vast majority, that for the reasons set out above have their backs to the officiality.
 

The recognition of the Presa Canario on the part of the FCI will arrive (I think that it will arrive) in the next millenium, and it seems very well to me that that happens, because if we planted in financial terms, from that time we will sell more presas and at higher prices, but what presas?

There has been  who has said that the Presa Canario is a bandog. I dare to say yes, that all those "Presa Canarios" who do  not have significant  genetic basis of Perro de Ganado Majorero are indeed, bandogs.-although to be in fairness with the meaning (modern) of word BANDOG should be noted  that bandog is that dog son of English or Neopolitan Mastiff with American Pit Bull Terrier-

But is that bad? It is neither bad nor good, IT IS. Or rather, it is not the Presa Canario that describes the standard, the same standard that was submitted to the FCI for its official recognition.
 

For those who are not put in canary canine breeds, I will say  that the Perro de Ganado Majorero is a direct descendant of the livestock guardian dogs introduced from the Iberian Peninsula immediately after starter  the conquest of the Canary Islands, by 1402.

I mean that, we are speaking of a canine breed with more than 500 years of existence in the Canary Islands.
It is a "lupomastinoide" of medium size, very rustic, magnificent, intelligent, with a proverbial guard instinct like no other,

 At this time he faces a real danger of extinction, such as  breed, due to lack of interest that has been suffering (for decades) by the native population.

Published in "Canidapresa Magazine" March- April 2000

 Manuel Curtó Gracia
-Irema Curtó Kennels-

         Turco, owner Irema Curtó kennels                                        Ricardo, owner Irema Curtó kennels

 Perro de Ganado Majorero

                Tarajal de  Irema Curtó                                                                       Polo de Irema Curtó