The Yaiza Town Council, with the support of the Spanish Presa Canario Club, held a focused meeting to increase awareness of the breed and generate interest in the world of dog shows. Over thirty specimens from Lanzarote and Gran Canaria gathered last Sunday in the Plaza de la Alameda of Yaiza.

Educational Focus of the Event

The primary aim of the event was not competition but to provide information about the Presa Canario. To this end, the exhibition was preceded by a morning of lectures, centred on the breed’s history, morphological characteristics, and personality. This took place on Saturday at the Benito Pérez Armas Cultural Centre in Yaiza, enjoying notable attendance from local residents.

“They are large, strong dogs weighing between 60 and 65 kilos, with big heads. They make excellent guardians and are, 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 acted as a commissioner assisting the judge at Sunday’s event.

Judge’s Insights During the Competition

During the competition, judge Ricardo Oramas stated that “the idea was to highlight the virtues of the animal while minimising any potential defects.” However, due to the educational nature of the gathering in Yaiza, the judge did not limit his role to simply evaluating the animals. He also advised owners on how to properly handle their dogs and provided recommendations for improving their development.

Celebrating the Presa Canario

The Presa Canario is an internationally recognised breed by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the largest canine organisation in the world. During the exhibition in Yaiza, the audience could appreciate specimens in three colour variations: brindle, fawn, and black, as well as puppies aged 4 to 6 months and champion dogs that have competed in events on the mainland and abroad. Yaiza’s mayor, Óscar Noda, and the councillor for Festivals, Daniel Medina, presided over the trophy presentation ceremony. The trophies were crafted by local artisan Pancho Ortiz, who was deeply involved in the organisation of the event.

The Yaiza Town Council intends to organise another gathering in the municipality to continue promoting this breed, which is considered a heritage of the Islands and is very popular throughout the Canary Islands and beyond due to its impressive stature. According to the Spanish Presa Canario Club, 40 percent of the breed is located outside the Archipelago, with an estimated global population of 20,000 specimens.