| Country of Origin: | Canary Islands, Spain |
| Registries: | APRI, DRA, NAPR, AKC/FSS |
| Breed Group: | FCI: Group 2 Section 2.1 #346, AKC : Working (FSS), UKC: Guardian Dogs |
| Occupation: | Working livestock, guard and companion |
| Size: | Height: 55 – 65 cm (21 – 25 inches) Weight: 36 – 59 kg (80 – 130 lbs) |
| Longevity; | 8–12 years |
| Exercise: | Daily long walk. |
| Training: | Early socialization and obedience |
| Grooming: | Easy |
| Colors: | Fawn and brindle |
Perro de Presa Canario is a rare dog breed and was first time introduced to the world through a book written by anthropologist Dr. Carl Semencic. This dog was described as a large-size dog with a very muscular body.
These dogs have a broad head, and it is exactly the proper head of this dog breed that is the part of the breed standard. These dogs have cropped ears that stand erect. However, there are many countries where ear cropping is banned and in that case the ears are close fitting to the head.
Male Perro de Presa Canario have a standard height in the range of 23 to 26 inches with a minimum weight of 103 pounds and a maximum of 126 pounds. Females have a standard height between 22 to 25 inches with a minimum weight of 89 pounds and a maximum weight of 110 pounds.
Another interesting characteristic of this dog breed is the shape of their paws (cat foot) and their catlike movement. The body is mesomorphic which contributes to their feline movement.
The fur of Perro de Presa Canario is short with no undercoating. The fur comes in all shades of fawn and brindle.The black coat is allowed by the AKC-FSS, UKC and UPPCC standards, however it is not allowed by the FCI standards. These dogs should have a black mask that does not extend above the eyes. Also, it is important to note that the Perro de Presa Canario dogs are knownfor their minimal shedding.
As for their temperament, Perro de Presa Canario dogs can be aggressive toward other dogs and suspicious of strangers. During the puppy stage, these dogs are fun and playful, very loyal and fun dogs. Since they are pack dogs they gain aggression in numbers. Because of this, extreme early training is absolutely necessary.