The Yaiza Town Hall, supported by the Spanish Presa Canario Club, recently held a dedicated meeting to promote the breed and foster interest in dog shows, featuring over thirty dogs from Lanzarote and Gran Canaria gathered last Sunday in Yaiza’s Plaza de la Alameda.
The aim, rather than competing, was to provide information about the Presa Canario. According to a press release from the southern institution last Friday, the exhibition was preceded by a morning of presentations focused on the history, morphological characteristics, and personality of the breed, taking place on Saturday at the Benito Pérez Armas Cultural Centre in Yaiza, with significant attendance from local residents.
“They are molosser dogs, strong, weighing between 60 and 65 kilos, with large heads, excellent guardians, and most importantly, potentially affectionate and balanced dogs that adapt easily to any environment,” explained Diego Hernández, Vice President of the Spanish Presa Canario Club, who also acted as a commissioner assisting the judge at the Sunday event.
During the contest, Judge Ricardo Oramas stated, “the aim was to highlight the virtues of the animal and minimise its defects.” However, due to the educational nature of the event in Yaiza, the judge did not only evaluate the animals but also advised the owners on how to properly handle their dogs and offered recommendations on aspects to improve their development.
The Presa Canario is an internationally recognised breed by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the largest canine organisation globally. At the Yaiza exhibition, the audience could appreciate specimens in three colour patterns: brindle, fawn, and black, ranging from four to six-month-old puppies to champion dogs that have participated in competitions both on the mainland and abroad. The Mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, and the Councillor for Festivities, Daniel Medina, presided over the trophy presentation ceremony, with awards crafted by local artisan Pancho Ortiz, who was fully involved in the event’s organisation.
The Yaiza Town Hall intends to organise a new gathering in the municipality to further educate the public about this breed, considered a heritage symbol of the Islands, and highly popular throughout the Canary Islands and beyond due to its imposing stature. According to the Spanish Presa Canario Club, 40% of the breed is found outside the Archipelago, with an estimated global population of 20,000 dogs.
