Castle of Presa
HOME OF THE REAL PERRO DE PRESA CANARIO
Castle of Presa
HOME OF THE REAL PERRO DE PRESA CANARIO
Copyright 2004 United Kennel Club, Inc.
The Perro de Presa Canario was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 2003.
The Presa Canario is a moderately large, powerfully constructed dog with a harsh-textured, flat coat. Their head is massive and cuboid. Their ears are set just above the line of the eye which may be cropped, naturally pendent or rose. The body of the Presa Canario is slightly longer than its height at the withers with a broad, deep chest. Females may be slightly longer and possess somewhat less rib spring than males. The Presa Canario's skin is thick and elastic. The distance from the withers to the elbow is roughly equal to the distance from the elbow to the ground. The tail is very thick at the base and tapers to a point. The tail is moderately high and reaches to the hock. The overall impression is that of an imposing, solid guard dog.
The essential characteristics of the Presa are those which enable them to drive and herd cattle as well as to guard their home and family. These tasks require a powerful, agile, and courageous dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The Presa is extremely affectionate, docile and well behaved with its owner and family, but is wary of strangers and aggressive with other dogs.
Serious Fault: Unstable temperament
The head is massive and cuboid in shape. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are roughly parallel to one another which is joined by a well-defined, but not abrupt, stop. When the dog is alert, the skin forms several symmetrical wrinkles in the median furrow.
Fault: Excessive wrinkling.
Serious Faults: Skull and muzzle not in correct proportion, abrupt stop.
SKULL – The skull is cube-shaped, broad and slightly domed but without occipital protuberance. The width of the skull is about 3/5 of the length from occiput to nose. The zygomatic arch is very pronounced and there is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. The cheek muscles are well developed without being pronounced.
MUZZLE – The muzzle forms a smaller cube that tapers just slightly from the stop to the nose. The length of the muzzle is roughly 2/5 of the length of the head, while the width is about 2/3 as wide as the skull. The bridge of the muzzle is flat and straight. The lips are moderately thick and pendulous with a black pigment. The top lip should fall naturally over the lower without excessive flews. When viewed from the front, the lips form an inverted “V” where they join.
TEETH – The Perro de Presa Canario has a complete set of evenly spaced teeth which are set within a wide jaw. A scissors or reverse scissors bite is preferred; however, a level or slightly undershot bite is acceptable.
Fault: Missing any tooth other than the first premolar.
Serious Fault: Excessively undershot bite.
Disqualification: Overshot bite.
NOSE – The nose is wide and black. In profile, the nose fits cleanly into the square formed by the nasal bone and the front plane of the muzzle. The nose does not protrude beyond the front plane of the muzzle which would give a snipey look to the head.
EYES – The eyes are slightly oval, sit level and wide apart, and range in color from medium to dark brown in accordance with coat color. Eyelids are close-fitting and black.
Serious faults: Light eyes, droopy eyelids, eyes sit close together or obliquely.
Disqualifications: Blue, gray, or yellow, non-matching eyes.
EARS – The ears are of medium size, set just above the line of the eye and wide apart, and covered with short, fine hair. The ears may be natural (pendent or rose) or cropped. Pendent ears drop effortlessly to the sides of the head and rose ears are close fitting. Cropped ears are erect.
Fault: High set ears.
The neck is cylindrical, thick, well-muscled, and slightly shorter than the length of the head. There are loose folds of skin at the throat which form a slight dewlap.
Serious faults: Excessive dewlap, long or weak neck.
The shoulders are muscular and well laid back. The upper arm is of good length and well-angled so that the front legs are well-set behind the point of the shoulder. The elbows are set slightly outwards from the body. The front legs are straight, well-muscled, and heavy boned. The pasterns are strong, short, and nearly vertical.
A properly proportioned Presa is about 20% longer (measured from prosternum to point of the buttocks) than their height (measured from the withers to the ground) and length of the front leg (measured from point of the elbow to the ground) should approximately equal one-half of the dog’s height. Females may be slightly longer in body. The withers are slightly elevated. The back and loin are strong but without prominent musculature. The back-line ascends slightly toward the croup which is just slightly higher than the withers. The croup is of medium length, wide and slightly sloping. Females normally have slightly wider croups. The loin is moderately short, muscular, and deep with moderate tuck-up. The ribs are well arched. The brisket extends to the elbow. The chest is broad and deep with well developed pectoral muscles. Ideally, the circumference of the deepest part of the chest should equal almost 1½ times the dog’s height at the withers.
Serious faults: Shallow chest, croup and withers equal height, body too short, swayback, roach back.
Disqualification: Croup lower than withers.
The hindquarters are powerful and well-muscled. In profile, the croup is sloping. The angulation of the hindquarters is moderate. When the dog is standing, the rear pasterns are short, perpendicular to the ground. When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Serious faults: Overangulation, sickle hocks, cow hocks.
Feet are round, compact, and cat-like. The rear feet are slightly longer than the front. The pads are well developed, tight, black, and not splayed. The nails are a solid color such as white or black depending on the coat color of the toes.
Fault: Splayed feet.
The tail is a natural extension of the topline and set moderately high. It is thick and muscular at the base then tapers to a point. A tail of the correct length extends to the hock but never below. The tail carriage ranges from a pump handle tail when the dog is relaxed to a saber tail when the dog is alert.
Serious faults: Fine tail, curly or blunt tail, low tail set.
Disqualification: Docked tail.
The Presa has a short, flat, single coat that is harsh in texture. It is very short and fine on the ears while slightly longer on the withers and the back of the rear hindquarters.
Serious faults: Satiny, fine coat.
The Presa can come in any shade of fawn, black, and brindle or any combination of these colors. Their face must have a black or dark brown mask that does not extend over the eyes, with or without a white blaze or patch on the head. Minimal white markings may appear anywhere between the chest and the throat or on the toes.
Serious fault: Mask that extends over the eyes.
Disqualifications: Absence of dark mask, white markings covering more than 20% of the dog, coat color or pattern other than described above.
The desirable height at withers for a mature male is 23 - 26 inches. The desirable height at withers for a mature female is 22 - 25 inches. The minimum weight for a mature male and female is 100 pounds and 85 pounds, respestively.
When trotting, the Presa's stride is long, effortless, and well coordinated. During a trot, the tail is carried above the backline.
Copyright 2004 United Kennel Club, Inc.
The Perro de Presa Canario was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 2003.
The Presa Canario is a moderately large, powerfully constructed dog with a harsh-textured, flat coat. Their head is massive and cuboid. Their ears are set just above the line of the eye which may be cropped, naturally pendent or rose. The body of the Presa Canario is slightly longer than its height at the withers with a broad, deep chest. Females may be slightly longer and possess somewhat less rib spring than males. The Presa Canario's skin is thick and elastic. The distance from the withers to the elbow is roughly equal to the distance from the elbow to the ground. The tail is very thick at the base and tapers to a point. The tail is moderately high and reaches to the hock. The overall impression is that of an imposing, solid guard dog.
The essential characteristics of the Presa are those which enable them to drive and herd cattle as well as to guard their home and family. These tasks require a powerful, agile, and courageous dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The Presa is extremely affectionate, docile and well behaved with its owner and family, but is wary of strangers and aggressive with other dogs.
Serious Fault: Unstable temperament
The head is massive and cuboid in shape. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are roughly parallel to one another which is joined by a well-defined, but not abrupt, stop. When the dog is alert, the skin forms several symmetrical wrinkles in the median furrow.
Fault: Excessive wrinkling.
Serious Faults: Skull and muzzle not in correct proportion, abrupt stop.
SKULL – The skull is cube-shaped, broad and slightly domed but without occipital protuberance. The width of the skull is about 3/5 of the length from occiput to nose. The zygomatic arch is very pronounced and there is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. The cheek muscles are well developed without being pronounced.
MUZZLE – The muzzle forms a smaller cube that tapers just slightly from the stop to the nose. The length of the muzzle is roughly 2/5 of the length of the head, while the width is about 2/3 as wide as the skull. The bridge of the muzzle is flat and straight. The lips are moderately thick and pendulous with a black pigment. The top lip should fall naturally over the lower without excessive flews. When viewed from the front, the lips form an inverted “V” where they join.
TEETH – The Perro de Presa Canario has a complete set of evenly spaced teeth which are set within a wide jaw. A scissors or reverse scissors bite is preferred; however, a level or slightly undershot bite is acceptable.
Fault: Missing any tooth other than the first premolar.
Serious Fault: Excessively undershot bite.
Disqualification: Overshot bite.
NOSE – The nose is wide and black. In profile, the nose fits cleanly into the square formed by the nasal bone and the front plane of the muzzle. The nose does not protrude beyond the front plane of the muzzle which would give a snipey look to the head.
EYES – The eyes are slightly oval, sit level and wide apart, and range in color from medium to dark brown in accordance with coat color. Eyelids are close-fitting and black.
Serious faults: Light eyes, droopy eyelids, eyes sit close together or obliquely.
Disqualifications: Blue, gray, or yellow, non-matching eyes.
EARSEARS – The ears are of medium size, set just above the line of the eye and wide apart, and covered with short, fine hair. The ears may be natural (pendent or rose) or cropped. Pendent ears drop effortlessly to the sides of the head and rose ears are close fitting. Cropped ears are erect.
Fault: High set ears.
The neck is cylindrical, thick, well-muscled, and slightly shorter than the length of the head. There are loose folds of skin at the throat which form a slight dewlap.
Serious faults: Excessive dewlap, long or weak neck.
The shoulders are muscular and well laid back. The upper arm is of good length and well-angled so that the front legs are well-set behind the point of the shoulder. The elbows are set slightly outwards from the body. The front legs are straight, well-muscled, and heavy boned. The pasterns are strong, short, and nearly vertical.
A properly proportioned Presa is about 20% longer (measured from prosternum to point of the buttocks) than their height (measured from the withers to the ground) and length of the front leg (measured from point of the elbow to the ground) should approximately equal one-half of the dog’s height. Females may be slightly longer in body. The withers are slightly elevated. The back and loin are strong but without prominent musculature. The back-line ascends slightly toward the croup which is just slightly higher than the withers. The croup is of medium length, wide and slightly sloping. Females normally have slightly wider croups. The loin is moderately short, muscular, and deep with moderate tuck-up. The ribs are well arched. The brisket extends to the elbow. The chest is broad and deep with well developed pectoral muscles. Ideally, the circumference of the deepest part of the chest should equal almost 1½ times the dog’s height at the withers.
Serious faults: Shallow chest, croup and withers equal height, body too short, swayback, roach back.
Disqualification: Croup lower than withers.
The hindquarters are powerful and well-muscled. In profile, the croup is sloping. The angulation of the hindquarters is moderate. When the dog is standing, the rear pasterns are short, perpendicular to the ground. When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Serious faults: Overangulation, sickle hocks, cow hocks.
Feet are round, compact, and cat-like. The rear feet are slightly longer than the front. The pads are well developed, tight, black, and not splayed. The nails are a solid color such as white or black depending on the coat color of the toes.
Fault: Splayed feet.
The tail is a natural extension of the topline and set moderately high. It is thick and muscular at the base then tapers to a point. A tail of the correct length extends to the hock but never below. The tail carriage ranges from a pump handle tail when the dog is relaxed to a saber tail when the dog is alert.
Serious faults: Fine tail, curly or blunt tail, low tail set.
Disqualification: Docked tail.
The Presa has a short, flat, single coat that is harsh in texture. It is very short and fine on the ears while slightly longer on the withers and the back of the rear hindquarters.
Serious faults: Satiny, fine coat.
The Presa can come in any shade of fawn, black, and brindle or any combination of these colors. Their face must have a black or dark brown mask that does not extend over the eyes, with or without a white blaze or patch on the head. Minimal white markings may appear anywhere between the chest and the throat or on the toes.
Serious fault: Mask that extends over the eyes.
Disqualifications: Absence of dark mask, white markings covering more than 20% of the dog, coat color or pattern other than described above.
The desirable height at withers for a mature male is 23 - 26 inches. The desirable height at withers for a mature female is 22 - 25 inches. The minimum weight for a mature male and female is 100 pounds and 85 pounds, respestively.
When trotting, the Presa's stride is long, effortless, and well coordinated. During a trot, the tail is carried above the backline.