Over thirty dogs from Lanzarote and Gran Canaria participate in an educational event about the breed’s characteristics. The Town Hall and the Spanish Presa Canario Club also host a series of talks.
The Yaiza Town Hall, supported by the Spanish Presa Canario Club, organised a focused meeting to promote understanding of the breed and generate interest in the world of dog shows. Over thirty dogs from Lanzarote and Gran Canaria gathered last Sunday at the Plaza de la Alameda in Yaiza.
With the aim of providing information rather than competing, the showcase was preceded by a morning of talks focused on the history, morphological characteristics, and temperament of the breed, held on Saturday at the Benito Pérez Armas Cultural Centre in Yaiza, which saw a notable turnout from local residents.
“They are molosser dogs, strong and weighing between 60 and 65 kilograms, with large heads, excellent guardians, and above all, potentially affectionate. They are balanced dogs that adapt easily to any environment,” explained Diego Hernández, Vice President of the Spanish Presa Canario Club, who also served as a commissioner, assisting the judge during Sunday’s event.
During the competition, judge Ricardo Oramas stated that “the idea was to highlight the virtues of the animal while minimising any possible defects.” However, given the educational purpose of the event in Yaiza, the judge went beyond merely evaluating the dogs. He offered guidance to owners on how to handle their dogs correctly and advised them on aspects to improve their development.
The presa canario is an internationally recognised breed by the International Canine Federation (FCI), the largest canine organisation in the world. At the Yaiza exhibition, the public could admire dogs in three coat colours: brindle, fawn, and black, ranging from puppies aged four to six months to champion dogs that have competed on the mainland and abroad. The Mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, and the Councillor for Festivities, Daniel Medina, presided over the trophy presentation, with trophies crafted by local artisan Pancho Ortiz, who was fully engaged in organising the event.
The Yaiza Town Hall intends to organise another meeting in the municipality to continue promoting awareness of this breed, considered a heritage asset of the Islands and very 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 about 20,000 dogs.
