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Presa Bulldog |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
Spain <> Great Britain -> U.S.A. | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen |
A brief presentation of the Presa Bulldog |
| The Presa Bulldog is a strong, well-built hybrid breed created from the combination of the Presa Canario and the English Bulldog. As you might imagine, a Mastiff breed and an English Bulldog mix form a very robust and intimidating hybrid. The Presa Bulldog is indeed an impressive figure who tends to be attentive, confident and obedient with a strong distrust of strangers. Thanks to the English Bulldog's loving, playful nature, however, it's not all gunpowder and lead, but there's no doubt that the Presa Bulldog needs an owner who is willing to devote time to training and educating the dog properly. That way, no undesirable personality traits come to the surface and become a serious problem. The Presa Bulldog, with its working dog background and raucous barking, is perfect for those looking for a strong, reliable watchdog. He won't hesitate to protect his family, as the Presa Canario breed has a strong bond and loyalty to those who raise him. While this loyalty is a fantastic trait, it can become a problem if left to develop unchecked, due to the fact that both parent breeds have a tendency towards aggression that was necessary for the jobs for which they were created. Early socialization and training are essential to keep these tendencies at bay and this big dog docile and calm. |
History of the Presa Bulldog |
| Although the Presa Bulldog hasn't yet had much time to develop an origin story, due to its appearance in the early 2000s, its parent breeds certainly have. To find out more about what makes this hybrid special and why it was created, we need to take a look at the English Bulldog and Presa Canario individually. Their history and creations will give us an insight into what people may have been looking for when they decided to combine the two to create the Presa Bulldog. |
A little of the Presa Canario |
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| Let's start with the Presa Canario. It is thought that the history of this breed clearly dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, and that it may be descended from the Dogue-type breeds that were brought to the Canary Islands by Spanish explorers. Most probably, the dogs that were included in the making of the Presa Canario were Iberian Presa (Mastiff type) as well as Bulldog breeds. One of the last breeds to be added to the Presa Canario mix was the Bardino Majorero, a type of sheepdog that contributed to the breed's intelligence and courage. With such combinations, the Presa Canario was created to work as a guard on family farms against stray or wild dogs, as well as a trainer for livestock. As you can imagine, this kind of power and intimidation wasn't going to be settled for living peacefully on the farm. People started playing Presa Canario at dog-fighting events, which inevitably led to a significant decline in the dog's population in just a few years. It was only when fighting was banned and the Presa Canario was once again designated solely for farm work, that they began to make a comeback. In the 1970s, people began to take a greater interest in the Presa Canario, as the idea of a strong, confident, loyal and calm breed was very appealing as a guard dog for family homes. The breed has been popular ever since, and was accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1996. | ||
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| Standard of the Presa Canario |
A little of the English Bulldog |
| The English Bulldog is another breed that has been around for a very long time, at least 500 years. While you can imagine the little dogs we know today running around the old-fashioned streets of small English villages, the first English Bulldogs were in fact very large and used to be extremely ferocious. Such ferocity and height were necessary for the English Bulldog to accomplish the task for which it was created - bull baiting. This sport was not only for entertainment among the people, but also had a very important purpose. The English Bulldog would grab the bull by the nose to hold it in place for situations such as castration or breeding. As one can imagine, such work was not for a weak dog, so the English Bulldog was strong, fierce and fearless. While the appearance of the English Bulldog remained unchanged for many years, it was eventually modified due to a different form of entertainment that arose, dog shows. As the popularity of dog shows increased, the English Bulldog shrank. He was bred and reproduced until the traits of short legs, massive head and thick, stocky body were achieved. Alongside its appearance, the English Bulldog's personality was also modified. Gone were the intense ferocity and fearlessness of the past, now English Bulldogs were gentle and courageous with a relaxed yet dignified nature. Eventually, the English Bulldog made its way to the United States, where the American Kennel Club accepted it as an official breed in 1886. It was then a successful show dog and faithful family companion, and remains so today. |
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| Standard of the English Bulldog |
Appearance of the Presa Bulldog |
| The Presa Bulldog, being a hybrid breed, will combine the physical traits of the Presa Canario and the English Bulldog. As a result, its appearance can vary considerably, even within the same litter, from coat color to body structure. Most often, the Presa Bulldog will be a large dog with a massive head, rectangular body with square shoulders, medium to short legs and large, intelligent eyes. Its ears are folded and loose, just like the two parent breeds, and its skin will be slightly wrinkled around the face. In summary, the Presa Bulldog will generally have the body type of the Presa Canario, with a face that more closely resembles the features of the English Bulldog. Its coloring can vary considerably and its coat is short, making the Presa Bulldog a breed that prefers warmer climates. |
Temperament of the Presa Bulldog |
| This particular hybrid breed is certainly not for the faint of heart. It's big, determined, strong-willed and tends to have a low tolerance for children and other pets. While these are a few traits that need to be carefully considered before buying the Presa Bulldog, there are also many very good traits that make up this breed. It's a responsive, loyal, affectionate, intelligent, easy-going and playful dog that loves its family more than anything, making it ideal for those looking for an easy-to-train watchdog. Many of these traits can be traced back to the English Bulldog, whose more clownish personality offsets the more serious side of the Presa Canario. With these two sturdy, strong breeds combined, there's no doubt that the Presa Bulldog is the one that will need a lot of attention and training right from the start. Homes with young children and other animals will want to think carefully about buying this breed, however, with early socialization and the opportunity to grow up around children or other animals, the Presa Bulldog will have a better ability to adapt around them. All in all, while perhaps not suitable for the novice dog owner, with the right person, the Presa Bulldog is an excellent companion who will love you forever, protect you with his life and enjoy all sorts of different activities, from a light jog to a comfortable nap. |
Needs and activities of the Presa Bulldog |
| Because the English Bulldog is a low-energy breed while the Presa Canario is a more active breed, the Presa Bulldog will fall somewhere in the middle. A few hours of physical activity a day will be enough to keep this breed healthy and happy. In addition to this, it's important to remember that, as a rather intelligent and well-trained working dog, the Presa Bulldog will also need a good dose of mental stimulation to tire him out. This can be achieved through training and stimulating toys that make him think in order to solve the toy, whether it's for treats or a small toy hidden inside. Although the Presa Bulldog is very easy-going and adapts quite well to life in smaller environments, such as an apartment or townhouse, it is a larger breed. So, activities such as a short jog, a long walk or playing in the yard with you will be very important in keeping his body healthy and fit. |
Maintenance of the Presa Bulldog |
| The Presa Bulldog is a very low-maintenance hybrid thanks to its short coat and non-existent dog odor. Although it tends to shed quite often, especially at the change of season, brushing at least once a week will be sufficient to keep shedding to a minimum and the coat healthy. Bathe your Presa Bulldog whenever it becomes particularly dirty, but other than that, there's no need to bathe it frequently. Because this breed has folded ears and loose skin around its face, these are areas that will need a little more attention than anywhere else. Clean the ears often and always dry them thoroughly after bathing or swimming to avoid any potential ear irritation or infection that could result from residual moisture. Wipe the face downwards if you notice the folds getting dirty from food, but otherwise this area should remain clean for the most part. Finally, trim your dog's nails every few weeks or so to keep them at a healthy length and avoid any excessive scratching that might occur when the dog jumps. |
English (United Kingdom)