IN DEFENSE OF THE PERRO DE PRESA CANARIO

In 1974, I made  my first steps in search and study of the dogs of presa that were  in the Canary Islands. At that time I lived at Gran Canaria. On Nov. 4, 1975, the Real Sociedad Central de Fomento of Spain (RSCE)  recognized  mi affix Irema Curtó with

On 1977 born  my first litter of dogs type presa from  Bobby and  Piba. Since then we breed Perro de Presa Canario  without interruption. These dogs are called perros de presa  since its introduction in the Canary Islands by the conquerors and settlers from the Iberian Peninsula.

As I tell in my book “The Presa Canario, its true origin”, published in 1991, is from my early writings that we start to talk about these dogs as if it were a breed of dog: Perro de Presa Canario due is  breed and selected in the Canary Islands. The truth is that in the late seventies  were no pure  dogs nor had consciousness of breed among the few fans that were in the islands. Outside the islands was by this time, completely unknown.

Is convenient to make clear that only can be considered Presa Canario those dogs that  have been born in the Canary Islands or descendent, hundred percent of presas  born in the Canary Islands. All those specimens descendants of crosses made completely or partly out of our islands are not perros de presa canarios despite they call then thus.

The Dogo Canario -that was recognized by the FCI-, is a split  branch of the Presa Canario.

The denomination Dogo Canario  is new and reflects economic interests of the people who once, opted to change the name of their dogs, the breed standard, and  the club that they ran.

IREMA CURTÓ follows  breeding Perro de Presa Canario based on the traditional standard which allowed the coats brindle, black, fawn, sand, uniform or spotted with white in the chest (corbato), around the neck (acollarados), in the under-belly (bragado), the extremities (calzado), in the snout (caretos), trying, through selection, to hold the qualities physical and psychological  which brought him fame in the past.

But we are not the only ones that breed  genuine Presa Canario, many others breed them in and out of the Canary Islands

It seems me appropriate to remember, for the sake of the Presa Canario, that quality is obtained by selecting: character, temperament, guard instinct, physical health (hip´s X-rays  and if elbow are done; better) and DNA, which ensures  the progeny recorded in the pedigree. Without the certificate  of free of  Hip Dysplasia and DNA, the  breeder can not guarantee to  the purchaser of health of the hips and the true paternity of the dogs they are  using the reproduction-there are many breeders who lie about the parents of their puppies (Who controls the mating and birth?, nobody-)

That do not benefit to the selection and improvement of the breed, and the buyer must take it into account. Is true that a dog product  of a  good selection  is sold more expensive, but there is more assurance that the product bought be of much higher quality, even if is for company guarding breeding, etc
Hip dysplasia is a real problem in dog breeds. The Presa Canario is not an exception.

Use in reproduction dogs without x-ray them, is go blind in the breeding.

Breed with dysplastic  dogs is to ensure hip dysplasia in the progeny. Should remember that puppies are not born with hip dysplasia, but with a predisposition to have it.

Hip´s and elbows dysplasia is shown as development. From  parents, grandparents, great grandparents  free of hip dysplasia, the percentage of puppies with a predisposition to suffer from this condition will be much lower than from  parents, grandparents, great gand parents  dysplastic.

We must  work  then for a  Presa Canario healthy and whole as possible.

  Manuel Curto Gracia- March 2010