DOGO CANARIO
In mondial of Portugal (8, 9 and 10 of June of 2001) the Federation Cynologique International (the FCI) has recognized the Perro de Presa Canario under denomination DOGO CANARIO. Well, two news, one good and other bad one; the good one, that the FCI has recognized the Presa Canario Dog; the bad one, that has recognized it under the denomination of Dogo Canario.
As we have already exposed in not few occasions, this decision (completely unfortunate, no matter how hard the pro-officials brandish that of the possibility that some humans associate “presa” with fights of dogs) “kill”, officially at least, the traditional denomination of the canary molosser. Clear is that not due that he will not be let call, in the Canary Islands, and outside the Canary Islands, PERRO DE PRESA CANARIO. The one of DOGO, word derived from the english dog, perro, is left for the official papers and finish.
This recognition is not definitive but provisional. Now we have ten years (provisionals) to continue doing the Presa Canario Dog. If in this time we do not make the things well, said in another way, if we did not take the breed ahead, the definitive recognition not only will not be granted to him but will retire the provisional recognition .
If we start from the base (unquestionable) of which the Presa Canary Dog is a new breed (or that aspires to being it, to be more exact), and therefore little outlined, in ten years we must obtain its genetic fixation, far from easy thing if we consider the diversity of ideas and behaviors that around their breed and selection occur.
We have insisted much throughout not few years on the necessity to select for the reproduction to the most apt units, by its physical health and its functional qualities. Lamentably, little it has been made in that direction, for that reason many presas canarios dogs suffer from serious defects as hip dysplasia, timidity, absence of premolars, deviation of forelegs, etc.
Lately, some fans, who little or nothing know of the Presa Canario Dog, speak of “Presa Canario for work” and of “Presa Canario for show”. There are no presas canario dogs of work and of show, there are only Presa Canario dogs, of true quality some, mediocre others, and bad the majority, consequence of a very deficient selection, or absence of selection, of the units that are destined to the reproduction.
To the Perro de Presa Canario is necessary to understand it like functional animal, otherwise the breed project, that there is to take ahead (in a term of 10 years) with all seriousness, honesty, and competition, will remain in the way.
Until today we have criticized, day after day, the bad management on the part of the Spanish Club of the Perro de Presa Canario respect to the breed that represents, the Presa Canario Dog. From now on, that the Presa Canario Dog is going to begin to compete (of equal to equal) with the rest of the canine breeds recognized by the FCI, would be tremendously beneficial for the breed that all the breeders, nationals and foreigners, select – we select- the best units for the reproduction: correct morphology, healthy hips and elbows, complete mouth and bite in scissors, psychically balance, good character, temperament. And not to fall in the gigantism, error in which has fallen the breeders of most of the molosser breeds.
Manuel Curtó Gracia -20 June 2001
