The following books contain well written information on the Presa Canario, both are by

Dr. Carl Semencic:

1)Pit Bulls & Tenacious Guard Dogs, 1991

2)Gladiator Dogs, 1998

The following videos contain info on the Presa Canario:

"Dogs That Protect"

"The Presa Canario"

Both are by VideoTel Productions and are available through 1-800-895-6925

Red Star Kennels also have a great video of their dogs, I'd highly recommend it.

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"Official Translation of the Breed Standard of the Club Espaņol del Presa Canario".

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BREED STANDARD
Aspects to be considered by judges

I.- Breed Name and synonym

Name: Presa Canario (in Spanish)
Synonym: Perro Basto and Verdino for brindled specimens.

II.- Origins and extension of the breed

Molosoid dog, native to the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, in the Canary Archipelago, where it was originally bred for fighting purposes.
Basically the Presa dog is the result of crossbreeding between the Bardino or Majorero from the island of Fuerteventura and molosoid dogs that were introduced to the islands from abroad.
Its fiery temperament is inherited from the Bardino, a pre-hispanic, hard working and aggressive cattle dog, widely distributed throughout the islands. The resulting crossbreed has a black mask and a brindled or fawn coat with white spots.
A few decades ago, a group of breeders began the process of recovering the breed, drawing on tradition and their experience. Since then, the Canary Presa dog has been carefully bred and widely promoted.

III.- General Appearance and character

1.- Physical Description

Of medium height, eumetric, straight profile. Robust and well proportioned, mesomorphic, the body being longer than the height at the shoulder, more so in females. The head is large, square and wide-skulled. Slightly flaccid overlapping flews. Black mouth lining. Strong teeth, wide apart, generally fitting. Chestnut coloured eyes of medium size. Ears set high. Round, powerful, muscular neck with thick fur and loose skin. Slight dewlap. Short, straight back. Wide tail base. Chest wide and deep. Stomach slightly updrawn. Forequarters straight, wide-boned and strong cat feet. Powerful, muscular, hindquarters with moderately angled stifles, with cat feet slightly longer than front feet. Thick, elastic skin. Short slightly rough hair without underhair. Coat in brindled specimens should be fawn and black with black mask.

2.- Character and Temperament

Powerful appearance, severe expression. Especially suited to protecting, guarding duties and traditionally used for herding cattle and dog-fighting. Impetuous temperament. Low, deep bark. Obedient, reliable family protector, unfriendly towards strangers.

IV.- Morphological data

1.- Height at shoulder

Males: 61 to 66 cms, (24 to 26 in).
Females: 57 to 62 cms, (22.5 to 24.5 in).

2.- Head

Brachycephalic type. Cubic tendency. Large and solid. Skull to face ratio 6:4. Furrow not accentuated.
2.1.- Skull. Convex in anteposterior and transversal direction. Zygomatic arches very pronounced, with greatly developed jaw and cheek muscles. Marked depression between frontal lobes.
2.2.- Muzzle. Shorter than the length of the skull, normally about 40% of the total head. Very wide. Straight or slightly convergent wrinkle.
2.3.- Lips or flews. Fairly thick and fleshy. Upper flews not too pendulous, but forming an inverted V when viewed from the front. Inner lips may be pinkish but preferably dark.
2.4.- Jaws. Teeth with very strong wide base, generally fitting. Slight prognatism (slightly undershot) acceptable, given the dog's origins. Bite typical of Molosoid dogs. The absence of one or two premolars is not a fault, since the dog's function depends on its canines and incisors which should be well in line and well placed.
2.5.- Palate. Well marked pinkish grooves.

3.- Eyes

Slightly oval. Well separated. Black eyelids. Colour varies with coat from medium to very dark brown.

4.- Ears

Hanging when complete. Medium sized, set high and wide apart. Generally rose. If, in accordance with tradition, they are cut, they stand erect or semi-erect and are triangular in shape. Full eared dogs compete on equal terms with others.

5.- Neck

Round, straight, solid and highly muscled. Shortish between 18 and 20 cms. Loose skin below the throat forms a medium ridge.

6.- Forequarters

Perfectly straight, well boned, set well apart, powerful musculature. Elbows turned neither in nor out. Compact cat-like feet. Strong nails, either black or light according to the coat.

7.- Body

Longer than the height at the shoulder by about 20%. Wide chest, deep brisket level with elbows, with marked pectoral muscles. Thoracic perimeter at least 30% greater than shoulder height. Well arched ribcage, almost cylindrical.
7.1.- Dorso-lumbar line (from withers to loin). Straight, ascending slightly to the loins. Slight saddle effect just after the withers.
7.2.- Loin. Straight, medium length and wide. Normally 1.5 cms. higher than the withers.
7.3.- Flanks. Unpronounced.

8.- Tail

Set on high, flexible, strong at the root and tapering to the hocks. At rest there may be lateral deviation. In action, elevated sabre-like with the tip pointing forward but not curled.

9.- Hindquarters

Hindlegs powerful, straight when viewed from the side or front. Very muscular second thighs, unpronounced angles. Cat-like feet. No spur normally. Hocks low and neither sickle nor cow. The presence of a spur is a fault but does not merit disqualification.

10.- Coat

10.1.- Hair. Short all over, generally denser at withers, throat and top of loins. No underhair. Compact tail hair. Rough looking, coarse.
10.2.- Colour. All types of brindle, from very warm dark colours to grey or very light brown or blonde. Full range of fawn to sand-coloured. Occasionally there are markings around the neck or legs, where white marking is least desirable. In general, there are more or less long white markings on the chest. The mask is always dark and may extend around the eyes.

11.- Weight

Average male: 45 - 57 kgs, (100 - 125 lbs).
Average female: 40 - 50 kgs, (88 - 110 lbs).

12.- Defects

12.1.- Slight defects.
Excessive wrinkling of craneo-facial region.
Presence of spur.

12.2.- Serious defects.
Poor nose pigmentation.
Excessive dewlap.
Excessive prognatism.
Specimens with slightly hound-like appearance.
Poor mask.
Sickle legged or cow hocks.
Unbalanced character.
Frail or thinnish appearance.
Craneo-facial disproportion.
Curled tail, of equal thickness all the way, amputated or mutilated.

12.3.- Total disqualification.
Monorchid, cryptorquid or castrated specimens.
More than 20% white markings.
Totally unpigmented nose or mouth lining.

Most important aspects:
1.- Head (typicality).
Massive. Muzzle well filled out. Dark coloured eyes, well separated. Stop defined, but not too abrupt. Straight nose, not arched. Upper lip not withdrawn. Sufficient wrinkle. Well aligned bite, but not level. Reject specimens with level bite.
2.- Body.
Rectangular, longish, medium sized. Reject height that is neither functional or characteristic. Well sloped shoulders. Very arching ribs. Chest deep and the wider the better. Very well developed pectorals. Separate elbows, not turned out. Strong-boned. Loins higher than withers, well developed. Slight angulation of hindlegs.