A Presa Canario German Shepherd mix is one of the successful improvements in the dog-breeding society. Today breeders are crossbreeding for more urgent reasons to shore up the health of certain purebred dog lines that have a narrow gene pool.
For this reason, the German Shepherd plays a crucial role in achieving a healthy dog breed. The Presa Canario and the German shepherds have a lot in common in terms of genomic lines.
Breeders wanted to add back the much-needed genetic diversity of the German Shepherd dog to give rise to a strong, persevering, and healthy dog for future tasks. Therefore, a crossbreed with the Presa Canario was considered useful in meeting these objectives. Therefore, the Presa Canario German Shepherd mix is a hybrid characterized by unmatched herding skills, guarding, and protective breed.
The Presa Canario German shepherd Mix: Explained
The genes inherited from a particular parent breed will determine the Presa Canario German Shepherd mix’s characteristics.
However, since both parent breeds have impressive skills as herding and guarding dogs, the resulting hybrid is more likely to inherit the parents’ intelligence, strength, and health traits.
If you have ever come across the Presa Canario, with its massive and long body, and then looked at the German shepherd, be sure to be amused by the puppy a combination of the two can produce.
If you ever visit a breeder or a breeding society where the two parent breeds are present, you will notice that both dogs are big and intelligent.
Additionally, the Presa Canario dog is quite big and more imposing than the German shepherd. A side-by-side view of the two will reveal this reality that a Presa Canario is bigger than the German shepherd.
History of the Presa Canario German shepherd Mix
One fact you need to know is that the Presa Canario German Shepherd mix is yet to be registered as a purebred by American Kennel Club or any other nationwide dog registration society/club.
Therefore, since it is not easy to predict which parent’s genes the hybrid puppy will inherit, and the hybrid is yet to be recognized by the AKC, it isn’t easy to know what to expect from the Presa German Shepherd mix.
Additionally, when you decide to acquire this hybrid, it is good to understand that there is little information about its predictable behavior and association with household members.
However, in this section, we will assess the history of the hybrid’s parent breeds to shade you some light on the Presa Canario German mix’s possible appearance. Some quick facts about the parent breeds (Presa Canario and German shepherd) are available in this section.
Presa Canario
The history of the Presa Canario has carefully been recorded to evoke mystique and awe for the breed. This history dates back to the 15th century when the Spanish conquistadors brought the first breed to the Canary Islands.
This explains why the breed is also known as the Canary Mastiff or Canary Dog.
Traditionally used for herding cattle, it’s intimidating appearance and hyper-awareness make the Presa Canario an ideal guard dog. The Spanish conquistadors brought them to serve significant roles of guarding farms, herding cattle, and even exterminating wild or stray dogs since they were large.
However, as time changed, these island dogs underwent an evolution that turned them into differentiated breeds.
As a result of the evolution, the Presa Canario gained popularity for its intelligence, courage, physical resistance, and ability to exude natural guardian instincts.
The breed could effortlessly exude its guardian abilities, even without the need for excessive barking.
In the mid-20th century, dogfighting was banned throughout the Canary Islands. However, in 1950, the fighting continued throughout the decade.
Presa Canario dogs’ population declined as new breeds such as the Great Dane, and German Shepherds were introduced in the fight. This nearly caused the Presa Canario’s extinction, as they were no longer engaged as fighting dogs.
Eventually, they were relegated in small numbers of farmers and herdsmen to serve as guard dogs.
Fortunately, in the 1970s, breeders made some improvements in breeding the Presa Canarios. These new breeds were massive, courageous, and functional with acute watchdog instincts. Also, they were characterized by a headstrong, courageous temperament and extremely territorial nature.
These newly improved traits saw the demand for the Presa Canario breed gain recovery in 1982. This resulted from the support provided by a group of breeders from the island of Tenerife.
The breeders started an association that targeted the support for the resurgence of the Presa Canario.
In modern society, Presa Canario serves as the animal symbol of Gran Canaria. Also, it has been recorded in the Foundation Stock Service since 1996.
Despite its resurgence, however, some countries have banned Presa Canario due to its aggressiveness.
Although the Presa Canario is allowed in the United States and even accepted by the AKC Foundation Stock Service, it is currently not recognized by the American Kennel Club.
For this reason, the breed is yet to be permitted to compete in the AKC companion events.
German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherds have a more wolf-like resemblance than other dog breeds. Their physical appearance makes potential GSD owners relate the breed to the wolves.
This breed is intelligent and has a high working capacity. Also, the GSD’S have unmatched devotion and courage.
Breeders of the Presa Canario German Shepherd mix are attracted to the German Shepherd Dog’s intelligence and excellence in performing almost everything they are trained to do.
The GSD performs essential tasks such as guiding and assisting the disabled, performing police and military services, and herding livestock in ranches.
Additionally, the GSDs conducts searches and rescues, detecting hard drugs, competitive obedience, and make an excellent, faithful companion.
History of the German shepherd
The German shepherd history dates to the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz created the first breed.
While attending an exhibition in Germany in 1899, Max von Stephanitz purchased the dog. He was interested and attracted by the breed’s wolf-like resemblance.
The dog’s intelligence, strength, physical appearance, and obedience contributed to Max von Stephanitz acquiring one. He later renamed the dog Horand von Grafrath, which became the ‘father of German shepherds.’
Von Stephanitz made it his mission to create a breed ideal for working as a herding dog. Von Stephanitz and other breeders with similar ambition tried different dogs’ strains from Germany’s northern and central districts. As a result, they created the ancestors of the contemporary German Shepherd Dogs (GSD).
General Appearances of German shepherd
The GSD stands at a height of 26 inches at the shoulder and presents a smooth and gracefully curved picture rather than an angular dog.
The German Shepherd Dogs are characterized by loyalty, courage, the ability to learn commands for many tasks, and the willingness to risk their life while defending their masters and companions. These features make this breed stand in the front rank of canine royalty.
A fully grown German shepherd presents a well-muscled, strong, agile, ever-ready, and healthy dog. The GSD also has an outstanding balance, with a harmonious development of the forelegs and hind legs.
| Vital Statistics | Presa Canario | German shepherd |
| Other names | Canary dog, Dog Canario | Alsatian wolf dog, Berger Allemand |
| Group | Foundation stock service dog | Herding dog |
| Height | 22-26 inches | 22-26 inches |
| weight | 84-110 pounds | 50-90 pounds |
| Temperaments and personality | Courageous, self-confident, obedient, Guarding dog, alert, physically strong | Loyal, intelligent, alert, aloof of strangers |
| coat | Short coat with no undercoat. Coarse to the touch | A double coat of medium length, harsh outer coat |
| Coat color | All shades of brindle and all shades of fawn to sandy with white markings acceptable | Most of the colors are acceptable. Pale-washed colors, liver or blue colors are serious faults. White color not acceptable |
| Shedding level | low | high |
| Grooming needs | medium | High |
| Barking level | low | medium |
| Relation with other pets | medium | medium |
| Exercise needs | high | high |
| lifespan | 9-11 years | 12-14 years |
Personality and Temperament of the Presa Canario German shepherd Mix
The hybrid will inherit a very complementary mix of each parent’s temperament and personality traits.
Expect your hybrid puppy to show vigilance and on-watch around strangers, as befits protection and guard dog.
However, your dog will show eagerness to spend as much time as possible with you as his master and trainer.
As it is with a Presa Canario parent, your hybrid may appear intimidating and considerably dangerous. However, expect it to be a friendly, pleasant, and loyal giant dog.
Health Longevity and Health Issues
Modern hybrid dog breeding comes with several health benefits for puppies. The enhancements include improved health, increased genetic diversity. The puppies also show low chances of inherited health problems.
However, the hybrid remains susceptible to health issues that affect other large dogs. For instance, although Presa Canario is generally a healthy dog, it is susceptible to:
- Hip or joint dysplasia (these are joint defects that can cause lameness)
- Heart and eye problems
- Epilepsy (a neurological disorder that causes seizures)
- Canine Leishmaniasis (a disease caused by Leishmania parasites that are transmitted from the bite of infected phlebotomine sandflies)
Training and Exercise Needs for the Presa Canario German shepherd Mix
Irrespective of the genes the puppy will inherit from either parent, your hybrid will require many exercises because it is a crossbreed of two large, intelligent, and playful breeds.
As you observed in the above section, Presa Canario is a self-confident and attentive guarding dog. The Presa Canario is also committed to his master, and their dominant streak can make them aggressive.
On the other hand, the German shepherd is recognized for its loyalty, courage, intelligence, and willingness to risk its life while defending its masters.
Therefore expect a committed, high-energy, and canine athlete dog.
However, you must be careful not to expose your puppy to too much exercising. If you expose your Presa Canario German shepherd puppy to lots of exercising before they have fully grown, it will attract health complexities.
Therefore, you must visit a veterinarian to take an X-ray and confirm if the hybrid has fully grown before introducing many exercises.
Generally, you will be expecting a dog that is intelligent and eager to learn new skills. Also, the hybrid will enjoy canine athletics such as obedience, agility, and rally.
The only challenge you will have is to keep up with the dog’s drive for athletics and eagerness to learn new skills.
Grooming and Caring for Your Presa Canario German shepherd Mix
Since one parent will contribute a single-layer coat and another introduces a double-layer coat, expect to either conduct a lot of or less grooming on your hybrid puppy.
If it takes after the Presa Canario parent, then you will have minimal shedding to deal with. The breed does not have the traditional double-layer working-dog coat.
Since the Presa Canario has a short, neat, and single-layer coat, you will only need a weekly bath and occasional bathing.
However, you will have a lot of grooming to perform if the hybrid takes after the German shepherd parent’s coat. The German shepherd has the traditional double-layer coat.
Therefore it tends to shed a lot.
How Dangerous Is the Presa Canarios German shepherd Mix?
The above information illustrates how the German shepherd and the Presa Canario present. You may have noticed that the two-parent breeds share a lot in common on the physique.
However, they have shown slight differences based on their history and some behaviors.
Henceforth, you can predict how the resultant Presa Canario German shepherd mix will be in terms of body size and temperament.
We have revealed that if an experienced trainer does not train your Presa Canario, the breed’s natural tendency to be combative can lead him to be aggressive towards strangers or other pets.
If the puppy inherits most of the Presa parent’s genes, then expect it to show aggression at some point if not properly trained.
Additionally, Presa Canario has a powerful biting force. With a bite force of 540 PSI, this breed makes the perfect guarding dog. They are recognized for being attack-drive.
From the above statement, if your hybrid acquires most of the Presa Canario genes, which you may not know, it may pose a threat. He will become a threat when not properly trained.
Unfortunately, the Presa Canarios have been recorded to cause deadly attacks occasionally. One documented incident was in 2001 when the Presa Canarios breed launched a deadly attack, leading to lacrosse coach Diane Whipple’s death. In 2017, a mother from County Galway was attacked by her son’s three Canary Dogs.
Therefore, the Presa Canario German Shepherd mix is more likely to inherit some of the parents’ traits. If, by any chance, it takes after the Presa Canario parent, then more care must, and experienced trainers are mandatory.
If your hybrid puppy successfully takes after the German shepherd parent, you will not need a lot of monitoring. German Shepherds are generally suitable for lazy or busy owners because it needs minimal maintenance effort.
Final Thoughts
A Presa Canario German Shepherd mix is one of the successful improvements in the dog-breeding society. Today breeders are crossbreeding for more urgent reasons – to shore up the health of certain purebred dog lines that have a narrow gene pool.
For this reason, the German shepherd plays a crucial role in achieving a healthy dog breed. The Presa Canario and the German shepherds have a lot in common in terms of genomic lines.
One fact you need to know is that the Presa Canario German Shepherd mix is yet to be registered as a purebred by American Kennel Club or any other nationwide dog registration society/club.
Therefore, since it is not easy to predict which parent’s genes the hybrid puppy will inherit, and the hybrid is yet to be recognized by the AKC, it isn’t easy to know what to expect from the Presa German Shepherd mix.
The Presa Canario German Shepherd mix inherits the traits of both parent breeds. If, by any chance, it takes after the Presa Canario parent, then more care must, and experienced trainers are mandatory.
If the puppy takes after the German shepherd parent, you will not need a lot of monitoring.
