Lets talk about the Perro de Presa Canario

LETS TALK AGAIN ABOUT THE PERRO DE PRESA CANARIO

I was thinking these last times to travel to Gran Canaria to see dogs of the hand of friends I have there. I phoned Clemente Reyes, who is an old friend, the telephone gave me a busy signal ... after a while my phone rang; was Clemente and we talked. A few days later he phoned me again and we talked about the Perro de Presa Canario, of course, and at one point he asked if I would be willing to give a speak about the breed to the breeders of their club in the hostel of the Santa Maria de Guia April 16 days at 8:30 PM. Without hesitation I said yes. From that moment I began to spin the issue. In reality all is said and written, in my website there are several items in which I talk about everything that has to do with our breed, and the Dogo Canario, etc. And I prepared a guide for non ramble more than usual that I include here:

PRESA CANARIO TALK AT SANTA MARIA DE GUÍA

1.- Let the past be a lesson to us.

2. - The standard and the breed

3. - Selection: functionality, physical health, hips and elbows x-rays,
DNA.

4. - The Presa Canario and the future.

5. - The Dogo Canario is not the Presa Canario.

6. - Without unity by breeders is hard to make breed.

7 .- The Perro Presa Canario like breed is born in the Canary Islands, not in the peninsula, not in USA or another country.

8 .- The opportunists that use the name Presa Canario to sell their dogs presa type that have little or nothing to do with the Presa Canario that seek for another denomination.

TRIP TO GRAN CANARIA

   The truth is that I have a special affection for Gran Canaria, and it is because I lived on that island in my youth- let me say that thus-, in Las Palmas born two of my children; Irema and Artemi, etc. etc. Well, actually I have a special affection for Canaries, because I'm over here than anywhere else, if we stick to the years and experiences.
   And at any given time, thinking about the trip, I said to myself, "why to go alone? And I asked my son Manuel if he would accompany me. Manuel said me yes very happy. Manuel has thirteen years and became interested in the outside world.
   So on April 16th we appeared in Gran Canaria. Clemente Reyes was waiting us at Las Palmas; in neighborhood San Jose, we went to greet Miguel Vega, who lives there, saw his presas, and then we left for Santa Maria de Guia.

Was around half-past eight o'clock, when we sat down -Clemente Reyes, a large group of preseros, my son and me-, in the room that had enabled the Municipal hostel so that I give my talk.
The truth is that I had not stopped to think if they were to be many or few listeners or if they were to give due attention. Finished my speech, the applause was resounding; some people congratulated me aside, and to dinner has been said, in group, of course.

And at dinner, as could not be otherwise, we talk about the Perro de Presa Canario, how important is the standard as a guide in breeding and selection, that the Dogo Canario is not the Presa Canario, either before or after to change the official name of the club, based in Tenerife, and the standard. Because that club was never applying the standard product of consensus among fans-breeders of both provinces, they were based on their standard- we have denounced it many times by all means at our disposal.

They were breeding based on their peculiar way to understand the "breed." Their mental standard had more to do with the Bullmastiff - whose coats are sand, brindle and fawn- that with the traditional perro de presa. I repeat, they were not guided by the official standard. Then arrived the inevitable thing, change of name of the club, the dog they breed, and the standard in front of a notary.

For those not aware I must say that until the day of the name change, in front of a notary as I say, we were immersed in a permanent struggle the breeders defenders of the traditional perro de presa canario -with its characteristic traditional coats; black, fawn, brindle, sand, with or without white markings, without prognathism, healthy, brave, with guard instinct, functional ..., and with a genetic basis (real) of Perro Majorero- with the with the directors and members of the Spanish club of the breed.

I say REAL genetic basis due in the genetics of the Dogo Canario the Majorero dog is not present, although thus say it their standard. I mean, the standard lie, not the standard of the Presa Canario because part of its genetic basis has to do with dogs Majorero, hence not a few of the puppies are born with dew claw, or floating fingers, that we cut with three or four days old.

SATURDAY

The next day, Saturday, accompanied by Clemente Reyes and several friends went (my son and me) to watch dogs, presa dogs, from town to town, from breeder to breeder. At Morning and afternoon. I do not know how many dogs would see. Many dogs. What do you think? they asked me. Well, that's fine, I answered. Yes, but is necessary to improve. We must breed with the standard in the mind. You must follow a breeding program. You should not be putting a male with a female and see what happens. With that way of proceed little is accomplished. The typical characteristics, functionality, physical health, the proper morphology are not by chance. And X-rays are essential to eradicate hips dysplasia in our breed

The breeder should have clear what is or should be the racial prototype. The standard describes the ideal dog. All that does not fit the standard is outside the standard.

This concept should be very clear in the mind of the breeder. Thus all specimens with deviation in the hind and forequarters- for example- must not be used in reproduction.

On this trip to Gran Canaria I saw dogs of Presa Canario whose forequarters left much to be desired. Those dogs, under my point of view, in any case and under any circumstances, can be included in a breeding program. This is a defect very difficult to remove, like is the lack of premolars, the shyness.

The selection of individuals for reproduction is essential.

And attention with the gigantism. The Perro de Presa Canario is not an English Mastiff or a Neapolitan Mastiff, nor should it be so. Too often we see specimens that are similar to these two breeds. The Perro de Presa Canario should not resemble any other molosser, should look to itself, like a boxer looks like another Boxer, a German shepherd looks like another German shepherd, and so on. The real success of the Perro de Presa Canario is guaranteed for the future if it complies with those requirements. And we should not say that from defective dogs can born good specimens. Leave aside that approach and use for breeding specimens the most perfect possible.

AND AT SUNDAY WAS CELEBRATED THE EXHIBITION IN FIRGAS

I love the podencos canarios (hounds dogs). For many years I hunted rabbits with them. Is the best dog to hunt rabbits in our islands. In the entrance of Firgas, in a left side were there, the podencos canarios in large numbers, beautiful, athletic, graceful, strong, vivacious, racial, that is. Above in the right side, the Perro de Presa Canario.

After looking carefully one by one all specimens, someone asked what me seemed. Fine, I said, fine, you can work, but with the standard as a guide for improving heads, height, length, ribs - width and depth-, and the legs deviation, man, the legs deviation... ay!, And character, and temperament and the guard instinct, which transmit mainly the Majorero Dog (of good majoreros almost nothing is left), and the glance, and the skins. To the Perro de Presa Canario the skin must not hang anywhere. Typical are the flews not hanging, as well as the dewlap. And the masseter muscle must be prominent, not absent from view. And at the end closure of exhibition, a few words of the mayor of the town, a big paella (made by a Valencian, I was told) for attendees there, and a huge tray full of grilled sardines, water and beer.
Thanks Clemente Reyes, Sergio Coello, Pedro Sarmiento and other preseros friends. See you soon, and count on me for whatever is needed. Best regards to all of you

Manuel Curtó Gracia

30 April 2010

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