Presa Canario Puppies

Your Presa Canario puppies were dewormed and provided their preventative shots at Cabeza Grande Kennel based on the following protocol:

  1. 2 weeks Pyrantel
  2. 4 weeks Pyrantel
  3. 6 weeks Pyrantel
  4. 7 weeks, 4 days they are given a 3 day course of Panacur
  5. 8 weeks DHP-P
  6. 12 weeks DHP-P
  7. 16 weeks DHP-P and Rabies.

The amount of shots your Presa Canario puppy will have been given is based on the age you receive your puppy. If you receive it at 8 weeks, he will have had his first puppy booster. If you receive him at 12 weeks, he will have received 2 boosters, etc.

PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW YOUR VET TO RE-ADMINISTER ANY OF THESE VACCINES! They do NOT need to be redone, even if I had never given them, find a vet who will allow the series to be continued and not redone. They do not need the 8 week shot for the next shot to be effective. If they attempt to re-administer these shots, please find another vet. Over vaccination is a real issue. I have provided you will a sheet containing the batch numbers and type of vaccine given, that should be enough.

Allowing a vet to revaccinate your puppy prior to 4 weeks since I gave the last shot, per my records, will VOID the guarantee.

Please take a stool sample to your vet on his initial visit to check for worms. Your puppy should be dewormed once per month until 6 months, then twice a year minimum.

​Puppies: By 8 weeks, our Presa Canario puppies are used to eating only 3 times per day. They get 2 kibble meals and a raw meal. The raw meal is not mandatory but we find it the easiest way for them to eat the probiotic and the Vitamin C.

The puppies are eating between 2 and 3 cups 3x per day. They dont always eat that much but thats what we offer.

Adults: We never feed our adults more than 4.5 cups at any one sitting. If they need only 4 cups, they eat once per day. If they need 6 to 8 cups, they eat twice a day. In the rare case they need more than 9 cups, they eat three times per day. 3 to 4 times a week we substitute one meal for a raw, ground mix called Titan Blue. Its made by Eureka Pet Foods and is also what we feed as our first puppy gruel and to weaning Dogo Canario puppies.

Food and Supplements

Feed your puppy a high quality, grain inclusive kibble with around 22 to 28% protein. We don’t recommend puppy food but are not against it if the protein levels are appropriate. We also add raw meat a few times a week, bone in. Chicken quarters are a good bone to meat ratio for a supplemental protein source.

We don’t recommend any supplements other than Ester C and Liquid Health 5000. Ester C is a must. We recommend 500MG 2x per day until they are 3 months then 1000MG 2 x per day until a year. After than they should get 1000MG to 2000MG 2x per day until growth is finished. You can continue for life.

Puppies and dogs should be on a regular probiotic for life. New research is starting to show the possible correlation between bad or lacking good gut flora and bloat. We recommend Bene-bac powder or Fortiflora.

Link to Bene-bac Powder for puppies.
Link to ProBios for puppies and adults.
Link to Eureka Titan Blue

​Please do NOT spay or neuter your puppy prior to 18 months. The more research that is done on alteration of dogs shows that spaying or neutering at all has damaging effects on the health and temperament of your dog. Early alteration is particularly dangerous. A few links to check out.

  1. Dog Neutering is an Emotive Subject for Welfare and Population Reasons but let’s Take a Look at the Facts…
  2. Early Spay Neuter: 3 Reasons To Reconsider
  3. Is Early Neutering Hurting Pets?
  4. Health Implications in Early Spay and Neuter in Dogs
Your puppy has been implanted with a Microchip. This will be permanently registered to both of us. My name must remain on the microchip or your guarantee will be voided. If you move or change phone numbers, you will need to contact me to have that changed.

If your Presa Canario puppy has had his ears cropped, you will need to do minimal after care. Most cases, no taping is needed. If the ears have a breathe rite nasal strip taped in them, the stitches do not need to be removed, they will dissolve. If there is a stitch between the ears and no nasal strip, the stitch between the ears needs to be removed 3 days after the crop and the regular stitches will need to be removed within 10 to 14 days.

Be careful with rough play. Don’t bath the puppy or allow him to swim until after they’ve healed.

If the ears flop over on top of the head, please contact me for taping instructions. Here is a DIY video but I can also walk you through it if necessary.

Click here for a video on how to tape Ears

Flea and tick treatment needs to start by 8 weeks. We give NexGard for fleas and ticks, Ivomec for heartworm. These treatments are given on the 1st Sunday of every month. Please continue these treatments with this or a vet recommended medication of your choice.

Please be aware that many flea and tick medications on the market are NOT good for breeding dogs. If you plan to breed or if you co-own a dog with me, DO NOT give flea and tick meds without consulting me. NEVER give Trifexis or Comfortis to breeding animals, of any age.

Allow your puppy to exercise at his own pace. Do not force long walks or strenuous exercise until the growth plates have closed (10 to 18 months).

Your puppy was raised using Puppy Culture Protocols. Here is their advice about activity and Presa Canario puppies. Contact us if you have any questions.

Puppy Culture Appropriate Activity

We are big supporters of PennHIP method of testing. We find it gives us much more information about the potential health of the hip than OFA. You should schedule your PennHIP test around 7 to 8 months. If using OFA, those tests mostly require the dog to be greater than 24 months old. Please schedule as soon as possible after the age of 2 for these evaluations.

 

Training and socialization are a MUST with this breed. Your Presa Canario puppies have been raised using Early Neurological Stimulation — Super Dog Program and Puppy Culture Protocols.

Meeting new people, places, surfaces, sounds, sites, activities are critical for the first 5 months. After that period, the critical socialization period is over. Here is a wonderful checklist you can use to socialize your puppy.

When searching for a trainer, please find one that has experience with large breeds and uses at least mostly positive methods. This is a very smart breed and in my dogs case, are generally pretty food or toy motivated. Find what they want, show them how to get it and work together to become a team at training. Training is something you should do WITH your dog not TO your dog.

Link to Association of Pet Dog Trainers approved trainer locator.

While this is a training issue, we gave it its own section because it is one of the most common issues new Presa owners have with their dogs. Dogs guard resources when they feel like you will take it away from them. It’s important to teach them right from the beginning that you will not only not take things from them, but you are also the source of all good things. Providing more food when you approach the bowl, providing a better treat to trade for the one they’re chewing, etc. are all basic steps you can use to teach your puppy to anticipate great things with your approaching their potential resource. With that pattern of learned behavior, you should be able to take anything away from your adult Presa at any time under any circumstances. Below is a link to a very simple, easy-to-follow pamphlet on how to handle resource guarding.

Mine! by Jean Donaldson — A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs

Teaching kids to interact properly with dogs can be a very daunting task. Kids under 6 years old or kids without a basic understanding of how to interact with dogs should never be left unsupervised with a dog, ever.

Here is a quick mnemonic device called WAGS for Dog Safety
By C.& N. Holmes with NH Pets Online.

  1. Wait! Always wait for an adult before approaching a strange dog.
  2. Ask! Always ask the owner’s permission before petting a dog.
  3. Gentle! Be gentle when petting a dog.
  4. Slow! Move slowly when meeting and petting a dog.
  1. ​Never run up to a dog, even one you know.
  2. Approach dogs from the side or front – do not sneak up on a dog from behind or while the dog is sleeping or eating.
  3. Never approach a dog without adult supervision – even if the dog belongs to a friend or neighbor.
  4. Always let the dog sniff you first and do not stare him in the eye, some dogs may be threatened by this.
  5. Pat under the chin or on the back, some dogs may get nervous if you touch the top of the head.
  6. If approached by a dog, stand still. If you are on a bike, stop, put the bike down and stand still. Never run or ride away!
  7. Never approach a dog that is acting afraid or one that is growling or showing teeth – even if the owner is there.
  8. Never hang over fences or put your hands through fence openings to touch a dog, even one you know.
  9. Leave a mother and pups be – she may become protective!
  10. Avoid rough games such as tug-of-war, jumping up for toys/food, wrestling and chase the kid.
  11. Never tease or hit a dog or pull ears, tail or feet.
  12. Always inform an adult if you see a loose dog.
  13. Never run away from a dog – it can encourage a chase.
  14. If a dog threatens you, avoid eye contact, hold a rolled up jacket or book bag in front of you and back away slowly. Do not scream or run. The dog could chase you.
  15. If a dog attacks, roll up like a ball and put your hands behind your neck
  1. ​Begin training and socializing your dog or puppy starting the first day it comes into your house. Enroll in a positively based Puppy or Adult dog obedience class. To read about the dangers of punishment based training please visit this page and read the many wonderful pieces.
  2. Get your dog accustomed to having every part of the body handled.
  3. Never allow a child to scream, yell or run around a dog. Even if the dog and child belong to you.
  4. Keep your dog securely fenced and not tied in your yard. Tying can encourage unwanted behaviors. Electric fences offer no protection for your dog from others and many dogs learn to ignore the fence over time and escape.
  5. Keep your dog leashed when in public. If you want to let him run, go to an area designated for off-leash dogs such as a dog park.
  6. Never leave your dog unattended in the yard when you are not home or are asleep- the temptation for children to “visit” can be too great.
  7. Make sure your dog knows the rules of greeting: always sitting calmly. If the dog cannot sit, the dog cannot be greeted.
  8. Never let a child walk a dog unsupervised. Even a medium-sized dog can pull down a child or the child may become frightened and drop the leash.
  9. Always supervise children (even teenagers) with dogs. And do not hesitate to reinforce the behaviors from both that you want.
  10. Never force your dog to “say hi” if he is acting wary of a person.
  11. Make sure people wishing to greet your dog are behaving nicely.
  12. Monitor your dog’s behavior and address any concerns immediately with a trainer or behaviorist.
  13. Use every opportunity to teach about dog safety.
  1. Above information taken from the Kids Safe, Dogs Safe Project Website
  2. Stop the 77 Website
  3. Kids and Dogs: How Kids Should and Should Not Interact with Dogs