Does anyone here have eperience with the presa canario?
are they good working dogs?
I am interested in getting one of these beautiful dogs,as next dog,in the future.

I instinct tested one on sheep several weeks ago. Nice dog. Worked well, good drive/interest, worked the sheep well, and had some biddability (which would be needed on sheep!). Would love to trial the dog!

Helena,
Try this link. http://www.red-star-kennel.com/index.htm

I watched a Presa for a year and a half. He was a great dog. Very athletic, highly intelligent, very trainable, strong nerve, but he had zero protection instincts. He would have let someone kill the entire family and just stood by and watched. As a matter of fact, we'd been in some scary situations and he did nothing, however his sheer size and intimidating look was enough to deter the situations. I found the dog to be too high profile. He was literally a car stopper. We couldn't get any peace wherever we went without people wanting to know all about him. Awesome dog though!

I thought he could have been a good sport dog in a sport that doesn't require the dog to be civilly aggressive, and was more game geared. He was into play biting, but real, forget it. Who knows though, maybe someone could have brought him out. I'm not into that kind of thing, either the dog is into it or not.

Redstar and Oakleaf are the only titled Presa's I know of off hand, but think there's more. If you want to buy a working Presa for sport, be sure to buy from a breeder who works and earns titles in what you are looking for. I heard there's a lot of junk out there. Also, line a trainer up ahead of time because it's difficult to find one that specializes in the rare breeds.

This is the most titled Presa in I *think* the world, beautiful too:

http://presagirls.tripod.com/id5.html

I also know of two other breeders in the UK breeding working Presas that are tested and worked in PP as well as health tested. If you want I can put you in contact with them.

Presas,like boerboels,are often bred to look good,if i want a working dog it may be hard to find.I have times though,it will be years before i get a new dog.
Thanks for the links!
= )

Dear Helena,
The Alano was used when Spain conquered the Canary Islands, and was mixed with the local prey dogs, but The Presa Canario is not the Alano, like this breeder says. The Alano is now extinct, though some pretend to recover it using prey breeds, it's not the original one, that one is gone forever.
The same was about to happen with the Presa Canario when dogs fights were banned in Spain last century.
The English brought their Bull type breeds to the Canaries a few hundred years ago, and they were also mixed with the Presa Canario which was only used for fighting.
If I were you and liked SchH (IPO) as much as you do, I would start looking into other breeds that are more suitable for sport. Did you start tracking with your dogs?
I'm sure you can find a Presa that can do SchH, but as far as SchH is concerned, you can't compare a Presa to a German Shepperd, Malinois, etc.
Good luck,
Pedro.

Hello Pedro : )
Yes i know that the Alano and the presa are not the same.

I like this breeder though,he is focusing on working dogs.

Yes most working type breeds would maybe be better but the thing is that i really like molosserbreeds.My favourites being boerboels and presas.
You can find good presas,but it is not going to be easy.
Many breeders focus on good looks,i guess more now when the breed is recogniced by the FCI.