How we raise our Presa Canario puppies

Those first 12 weeks of life make a significant impact on the future of your Presa Canario puppy. Mistakes made in this stage of life can have long-lasting, sometimes lifetime consequences.

When breeding top-quality Presa Canario puppies, we not only study pedigrees thoroughly and pair the best dogs. We make a difference in how we raise our puppies and lay a foundation for the best future companion, family protector, and potential show, working, and breeding dogs.

As experienced Presa Canario breeders, we work hard to produce top-quality puppies.

In Presa Canario puppy development there are developmental periods that we call windows of opportunity. As breeders, it’s our task to know them and to recognize when puppies go from one stage of development to another (as puppies might have their own speed to reach them). Our goal is to produce structurally sound puppies of balanced temperaments who are equipped to reach their full potential with the strong ground we give them followed up by care given to them by their new owners.

Happy healthy mothers give birth to happy healthy puppies

Care for our Presa Canario puppy development starts way before they’re born. I believe strongly that healthy happy mothers are the base of having good puppies. If a mom is stressed and uncomfortable her body produces stress hormones, and they will affect the developing nervous system of puppies this is why the care of the pregnant mother is of utmost importance.

Tupi pregnant with puppies from Gofio. She gave birth to 16 puppies

Primary objective shared by all conscientious dog breeders is to improve the quality of their respectful breeds. The goal is to breed for the perfect blend of:
- type
- genetic integrity
- good temperament
- structural soundness

Pat Hastings

Birth of our Presa Canario puppies

Our Presa Canario puppies are born at home. Presa moms need a safe, clean, warm, and quiet spot where they can peacefully take care of their puppies. I assist with every birth, helping keep the area clean (birth can be messy lol). With experience came more confidence in moms and nature so I observe and keep company, clean when necessary, and don’t interfere with moms doing their thing – some do want to be more hands-on and some prefer you leave the room and just check on the progress.

As a breeder, you must always be prepared to make decisions and help a newborn come back to life if things do not go as smoothly as hoped for.

In these first hours, I don’t stress new moms and I don’t weigh puppies right after they’re born anymore. I just sit with them, watch them, and support mom emotionally.

The day after Presa Canario puppies were born I start describing them and weighing them. Slowly more handling is being introduced.

Newborn Presa Canario puppies are still blind and deaf but they already start learning about human contact and enjoy it! First I introduce them to bottle – once or twice a day I hand feed them, just the second time they start looking for me and crawl all over me knowing I’m the source of food and comfort as well! It helps to create dogs who will seek contact with their owner and bond better.

A lot of times I end up sleeping in the puppy pen or just sitting them and enjoying the view. I used to have a whelping box next to my bed but now having a toddler around moms have a separate room so they’re not distracted by the sounds of playing

Still, my son sometimes sneaks in to watch puppies. And Kalise even let him watch her puppies being born. We use full-size kennels instead of puppy playpens to make sure moms aren’t jumping through because it could potentially harm them or their puppies.