Dogo Canario

The Dogo Canario is an impressive dog with many names, including Presa Canario, Perro de Toro, Perro de Presa and Alano. This Spanish dog breed is known for its patience, good nature and calmness. Despite their large and powerful appearance, they are loving family dogs.

Content: Dogo Canario

• profile
• Special features
• Nutrition
• Health and care
• Origin & History
• The right accessories
• Conclusion

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Dogo Canario - Profile

• Character: Patient, Good-natured, Calm
• Size: Large
• Height: 56-65cm
• Weight: 40-56 kg
• Life expectancy: 9-12 years
• Coat type: Short hair
• Colour: Dark brown, light brown, grey, fawn, brindle
• FCI Group: Pinscher – Schnauzer – Molosser – Swiss Mountain Dogs

Dogo Canario - Special characteristics

The Dogo Canario breed is an extremely powerful four-legged animal that knows how to impress with its beefy nature. The dog from the Molosser group grows up to 66 cm tall as a male and weighs up to 65 kg. Females are a little smaller and lighter, but not as strong as the breeding guidelines actually suggest. The requirements of the breed standards are more a matter of wishful thinking than reality.

The compact body is a little longer than it is tall, but appears well proportioned. The head of the Dogo Canario, on the other hand, is extremely large, broad and angular. The tail, on the other hand, is rather inconspicuous and relatively short. It is usually no longer than the hocks.

Due to some fatal incidents in the past, the Dogo Canario breed is considered a dangerous dog in the federal states of Brandenburg and Bavaria and is also subject to strict regulations in other federal states. It is strongly recommended that you find out about the local regulations and requirements before purchasing a Dogo Canario. This also applies to trips abroad - with a Dogo Canario.

In our article Fighting and listed dogs – what you need to know , you will find all the important questions and answers on the topic.

The Dogo Canario naturally has beautiful, medium-sized floppy ears, but these were often docked, and not only in the past. Even today, this is sometimes permitted in Spain. If the ears are docked, they stand up at a point and give the otherwise peaceful dog an evil appearance.

The coat of this powerful dog is smooth, close-fitting and without an undercoat, which makes its muscles clearly visible. It has a slight sheen, but feels rather rough. The coat is usually brindle and is dark brown, light brown, grey or fawn in colour. It often has white markings on its neck and chest.

Although the Dogo Canario has a bad reputation as a fighting dog and is on the list of banned dog breeds in some countries, it is actually a very calm and lovable dog with a balanced nature. Nevertheless, it has a strong protective instinct and protects its kingdom and its family excellently.

But the Dogo Canario is not easily disturbed and has a high stimulus threshold. This is why it is a popular family dog ​​in its home country and is even considered child-friendly, although this of course depends heavily on its training and socialization. If this is successful, the Dogo Canario can become a loyal, friendly and honorable four-legged friend.

But even though he is physically robust and resilient, he is still a sensitive dog that seeks and needs closeness to his people. In this respect, he differs significantly from other dog breeds in his group. He is also more active and not as overbred as many other Molosser dog breeds.

In order for a Dogo Canario to be happy, it needs good training. As this breed of dog requires some experience in dealing with dogs, we can only advise newbies against this breed. It needs really consistent training and a strict tone from time to time. It is extremely important that these dogs are well socialized, as there must be no incidents with other dogs or even people. If a Dogo Canario becomes aggressive for whatever reason, it is difficult to control and neither other dogs nor people have much hope. Training and socialization should therefore begin at an early puppy age and be carried through consistently. In the process, the dog learns how to deal with other people and how to handle stressful situations. A dog school is therefore almost a must.

Dogo Canario - What should be considered regarding nutrition?

With the muscle mass of a Dogo Canario, it needs a lot of food to feel full. Its calorie requirements are significantly higher than those of many other dog breeds. The food should of course be of high quality and have a high meat content. No inferior ingredients should be used. Care should also be taken with the use of grain . Artificial additives should also be excluded.

However, the amount of food and the nutrient content should be based on the individual life phase and activity of the dog. Whether it is dry or wet food does not make much difference. What is more important is that it tastes good to four-legged friends and is healthy at the same time.

For large dog breeds like the Dogo Canario, slow growth during puppyhood is extremely important, as otherwise joint problems can occur. Ideally, you should seek advice from a vet. His weight should also be checked regularly.

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Dogo Canario - Health and Care

The Dogo Canario requires relatively little care. Its short fur is not a lot of work. With occasional brushing, it stays clean and shiny. In addition to dental care, floppy ears also require cleaning. In addition, the usual vaccinations and worming treatments and, depending on the region and season, something against ticks or other parasites. But you should discuss this with a vet.

It is important for this powerful dog breed to get enough exercise. This is difficult to ensure in a city apartment. If you want a Dogo Canario, it is better to live in the country and ideally even have your own garden. This not only gives the dog more exercise, but also a task to protect its own territory from intruders. This is not unimportant, because the territorial behavior of this dog breed is pronounced. It is only with sufficient exercise that it is calm and balanced.

Dogo Canario - The right accessories

The Dogo Canario requires basic accessories such as a dog leash, collar or harness , drinking and feeding bowls and a transport box for the car. A muzzle may be required depending on local regulations. Toys, chew bones and a comfortable dog bed are also recommended. A secure dog fence in the garden can provide additional freedom and protection.

Dogo Canario - Origin & History

The Dogo Canario is descended from the Spanish Mastiff, also known as the Alano. These were driving and hunting dogs that were used for large herds of cattle. But they were also good guard dogs and guarded the farm. The powerful dogs were even used in war, and the Spanish Mastiffs were also involved in the not exactly glorious colonization of the South American continent. The latter is important for the creation of the Dogo Canario, because the Canary Islands were an important stopover for the Spaniards of the time. The Spanish Mastiffs left behind there and the local dogs gave rise to a new breed of dog: the Dogo Canario. On the Canary Islands, too, it was primarily a guard dog and protector of the cattle and its owners. While its alertness and strong nerves were encouraged in breeding, its fighting and hunting qualities were regressed over the decades. But it was not until the 1970s that this breed of dog was systematically bred. Not on the Canary Islands, but in Spain. There it became so popular that the island of Gran Canaria defined it as its own symbol of nature. From the 1980s onwards, various breeding associations were founded and the reputation and popularity of the Dogo Canario increased significantly through exhibitions. In addition to the Dogo Canario, there are several variants. They are actually the same dog breeds, but different focuses were placed on their breeding. For example, the Presa Canario is more specialized in hunting.

The Dogo Canario has been a recognized dog breed by the FCI since 2011.

Conclusion

The Dogo Canario is basically a loving and good-natured dog, but it requires experienced dog owners to train and socialize it well. In addition, this breed of dog is subject to strict regulations not only in Germany, and this can sometimes mean that the costs for this dog are higher than for other breeds of dog. For example, a higher dog tax or special temperament tests are usually required in order to be allowed to keep such a four-legged friend. This is definitely an additional burden on top of the already demanding task of training a dog. In addition, you may have to justify yourself over and over again with a Dogo Canario, because many people reflexively see it as a fighting dog - and you as an advocate of the same. If these points don't bother you, you may find the Dogo Canario to be the perfect partner and certainly an outstanding protector.

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