The Canary Mastiff is the national symbol of the island of Gran Canaria (Spain) and one of the oldest dogs in the country. They are out of the ordinary with their powerful physical characteristics and their noble and faithful character. If you are considering adopting a puppy or an adult dog of this breed, do not hesitate to consult this complete PlanèteAnimal file in which we will inform you of the appropriate way to care for it, to train it as well as on the various he alth problems to which it can be submitted:
Origin
- Europe
- Spain
FCI Nomenclature
- Group II
Physical Characteristics
- Rustic
- Muscular
- Lying
Size
- Large
Height
- 55-70
Adult Weight
- 45-100
Life expectancy
- 10-12
Recommended physical activity
- High
Character
- Balanced
- Shy
- Very loyal
- Active
- Dominant
Ideal for
- House
- Walking
- Shepherd
- The guard
Recommendations
- Muzzle
- Harness
Recommended climate
- Hot
Hair type
- Short
- Hard
Origin of the Canarian Mastiff
As its name suggests, this mastiff comes from the Canary archipelago, mainly from the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria (Spain). In fact, a law from the Canary Islands government designated the Canary Islands bulldog as one of the symbols of the island of Gran Canaria.
" These dogs are descended from the ancient majorero dogs that existed in the archipelago since pre-Hispanic times, before the 14th century.At that time, the natives used the large dogs of the islands as guards, protectors and also as shepherd dogs. Later, with the arrival of Europeans in the islands and in particular with the subsequent conquest of it by the Crown of Castile, majoreros began to be used as butcher dogs. They are also beginning to experiment with interbreeding with other dogs from the continent."
However, the modern race finally came to be defined in the eighteenth century, when the English migrated heavily to the islands. The English brought bulldog and bull terrier dogs to the archipelago which they used for cruel dogfighting, a very popular practice at that time. Logically, the local molossers were also employed for this horrible pastime, as well as for crosses between majoreros and bull-type dogs.
Thus, the current Canarian Mastiff mainly has blood from the local majoreros of the islands, but also that of English molossers.Currently, the Canarian Mastiff is a very popular dog almost all over the world. As with other breeds, the Canary Mastiff is considered a potentially dangerous dog in France and other countries.
Physical characteristics of the Canarian Mastiff
The Canary Mastiff is a medium-sized Molossian dog. His appearance is imposing and, although his height at the withers is similar to that of the German Shepherd, he is much more robust and muscular. The measurements of the Canary Mastiff are:
- Males: height between 60 and 66 cm at the withers and weight between 50 and 65 kg.
- Females: height between 56 and 62 cm at the withers and weight between 40 and 55 kg.
The head of this bulldog is massive, compact and covered in thick, loose skin. Its nose is black and the naso-frontal depression (stop) is pronounced. The muzzle is shorter than the skull, broad and powerful.Its eyes are medium to large in size, slightly oval and brown. Its ears are medium and fall on both sides of the head. The current standard does not require them to be amputated, but unfortunately we can still see many of these dogs with their ears cropped.
The body is longer than it is tall (rectangular profile). The topline is straight and rises slightly from the withers to the croup. His chest is wide and deep, while the flanks are slightly restrained. Its tail is thick at the base, of medium insertion and should not exceed the hock.
The coat of this dog of prey is short, smooth and rough. According to the breed standard approved by the International Cynological Federation (FCI), the coat must have a brindle tone and always be black on the head, like a mask. There may also be white markings on the chest, throat, front feet and back toes, but these markings should be minimal.Standards recognized by other organizations also allow the color solid black.
Character of the Canary Mastiff
The Canary Mastiff is distinguished by its tranquility and calm temperament. He is generally very attentive and above all confident. His past as a guard dog predisposes him to adopt a shy and reserved attitude towards strangers, but very noble and serene towards his close relatives. It is without a doubt one of the most loyal dogs there is. In addition, the Canary Mastiff is a very obedient dog, with which we can work superbly on obedience and all activities that include mental stimulation, such as various obedience exercises.
Canarian Mastiff Care
The Canarian Mastiff is an easy dog to care for. Weekly brushing will be enough to remove the remains of dead hair or dirt. For this we will use a soft comb with short pins, since his coat does not have a double layer and the use of metal brushes could irritate or damage his dermis.On the other hand, you will have to wash it every 6 or 8 weeks, although it is advisable to wait until it is really dirty so as not to remove the natural protective layer of its skin.
The Canary Mastiff needs at least 2 to 3 moderately long daily walks (between 30 and 40 minutes) to exercise its muscles and stay active. In addition, it is essential to dedicate part of the walk to physical exercise, an activity that will free him from stress and tension that can accumulate.
Education of the Canarian Mastiff
The Canary Mastiff is not the most suitable breed for inexperienced owners because it needs a responsible and experienced person who can guide it appropriately in education and socialization. A dog with these characteristics must be properly trained to avoid unwanted behavior or behavioral problems.
" The socialization of the puppy is probably one of the most important factors to take into account when training a Canarian Mastiff, as it will allow him to be able to interact with other people, dogs or animals of company. We must introduce him, from 3 months of life, to all kinds of people and animals, in this way, when he is an adult he will not be afraid. If we avoid socializing our dog to improve his guarding instincts, we may face a serious problem in the future when we are not able to invite people into our home or have to consider our own dog to be dangerous."
Another fundamental aspect of their education is fundamental obedience, essential for their safety, that of other people, animals and for our peace of mind. For a better response and communication with our Canary Mastiff, it may be interesting to visit a professional canine trainer who will help us work with him and who will indicate the exercises that we must practice regularly so that our Canary Mastiff assimilates easily. basic orders.
Remember that when properly socialized, Canarian Mastiffs make excellent companions, but even though they are usually reserved with strangers and great protectors, you should always be present during the first interactions with people they don't know. Also, the Canary Mastiff can be clumsy when playing with children due to its strength. Training is not difficult with this breed, but you must take into account its independent temperament and work through positive reinforcement, a technique that works very well as long as the guardian is constant and firm.
Finally, remember that if you want to educate a Canarian Mastiff for protection, defense or guarding it is essential that you bring it to a professional because we should never try to instruct our dogs in this type of activity which can be dangerous for us, our environment as well as for the mental he alth of our best friend.
He alth of the Canarian Mastiff
The care we can give our dog will help keep him he althy. However, like other large dogs, the Canarian Mastiff is susceptible to the following illnesses:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Gastric Torsion
In addition to respecting the dog's vaccination schedule as well as its deworming (internal and external), it will be essential to consult a specialist every 6 to 12 months to ensure its good he alth and detect any disease in time. Remember that degenerative diseases, such as elbow or hip dysplasia, may be less serious if detected early. If you follow our advice, you will enjoy a he althy and happy dog for a long time, remember that his life expectancy is between 9 and 11 years!
Photos of Canary Mastiff
