Are you potentially interested in bringing home a presa canario? If so, it’s important you do a bit of research about this relatively uncommon breed beforehand. Here are just a few examples of some things you should know about the presa before you welcome one into your family:
- It is a low-shed breed: One of the reasons why the presa has seen a big boost in popularity in recent years is because it is a low-shed dog breed. This is beneficial for several reasons, the biggest of which is that you don’t have to worry about the dog leaving fur all over your house. It has short hair and no undercoat, which means very little shedding and significantly easier grooming.
- It is naturally dominant: Some people do not want to deal with highly intelligent, confident dogs. You should be aware, then, that the presa canario is highly confident and dominant, so you are going to need to really invest your energy into obedience training and early socialization. Experienced dog owners should be able to handle the presa’s personality, but if you are just looking for a pet that will be an easy, fun family dog with a low-key personality, you might want to look elsewhere. That’s not to say presas can’t be great family dogs—they absolutely can! They just require a lot more work.
- It can have a relatively short lifespan: You can expect the presa canario to live anywhere from nine to 11 years, depending on the environment in which it lives and its ability to avoid some common conditions and genetic diseases. (Cabeza Grande Kennel’s presas, however, generally live from 12 to 14 years!) Presas are often susceptible to hip dysplasia, mast-cell tumors, epilepsy, patellar luxation, osteochondrodysplasias and other common conditions, so it is important with presas, as with any other type of dog, to regularly take to them to see the vet and be proactive about caring for their health.
- It is highly energetic: Based on the dog being extremely confident and dominant, it should also come as no surprise that the dog requires quite a bit of exercise. You should take the presa for a long walk or jog every day. Presas that do not get a sufficient amount of exercise can become bored, resulting in them getting destructive. They’re known to start chewing things they shouldn’t if they don’t get the attention an exercise they need. Presas also love to jump, which is why they frequently participate in dog competitions. We recommend having a fenced-in yard to give the dog plenty of space to run around. This is not the kind of dog that thrives in apartment living.
- It requires a balanced diet: Presas should eat two to three meals of high-quality dry dog food with protein and carbs each day. Talk to a vet about specific brand recommendations.
For more information about presa canarios to help you prepare for the new addition to your family, contact Cabeza Grande Kennel today. We’d love to answer your questions and introduce you to our dogs!