Presa Canario

Presa Canario or Perro de Presa Canario is a large mastiff-type dog with origins in the Canary Islands. The name "Perro de Presa Canario" means Canarian Dog of Prey. The Presa Canario was originally bred as a fight dog and also used as a farm dog.

Originally bred for dog fighting, the Presa Canario was the likely the product of mixing the Iberian Presa, English bulldogs and mastiffs and a native sheepdog called Bardino Majorero. When dog fighting was banned on the Canary Islands in the 1940s, the population of the Presa Canario declined dramatically. The breed was rediscovered and nurtured starting in the 1970s. They were first imported to the United States during the 1980s.UPPCC: Breed History