Bandogs and Perro de Presa Canario
layna
Pete,
I've noticed your posts asking for information regarding the (Perro de)
Presa Canario and Bandogs. The only problem is, you asked for a
knowledgable person, and I probably don't qualify as knowledgable. I
say this because I've never seen or dealt with either of these two
breeds before. However, I'm about as book-studied as can be...so I hope
you haven't read all the stuff too, and are looking for some genuine
hands-on help! So, if all the following seems repetitive, my apologies.
Regarding Bandogs, I know this about them: Around 1979, a veterinarian
named John Swinford (D.V.M.) began a breeding program with the goal of
producing the world's most capable protection dog. He valued the
loyalty and devotion that an American Pit Bull Terrier possessed, as
well as it's gameness to achieve, but thought that great man-stopper
needed more size. Essentially, he wanted to create a breed of giant
APBTs; dogs that had the physical virtues of large Mastiffs, and the
unmatched ability of the APBT. The "Swinford Bandog" borrowed the name
Bandog from an old English nickname for aggressive protection Mastiffs,
and the name American Mastiff was also monkeyed with.
He kept starting out with 1/2 APBT and 1/2 some-Mastiff, trying to find
the right match. The most common cross was an APBT dog with a
Neopolitan Mastiff bitch. Other crosses involved using an English
Mastiff, preferred by some who cited the tendency of the available
Neopolitan stock, at the time, to carry hip dysplasia. Swinford died
before he could figure out how to get the Bandog to breed true. The
problem was, each time Bandogs bred, the litter mates became
progressively smaller than the parents, until an APBT-sized dog
emerged. The end resulting dog was less capable than a purebred ABPT,
and the same size, thus a failure. Apparently, no one has yet figured
out how to breed purebred Bandogs, and they must be a first-generation
crossbreed everytime. Dog for dog, though, these crossbreeds are as
capable as Swinford had wanted, weighing in at 100-150lbs, agile,
strong, and game. Strangely, the cross between an APBT and a
Bullmastiff is called a Pit Bullmastiff, not a Bandog; these are
considered separate dogs from Bandogs.
The Presa Canario, which others call the Canary Dog, is originally a
crossbreed from the Canary Islands. The now-extinct indigenous dog
Bardino Majero was crossed with imported English Mastiffs in the
1800's. Selective crossbreeding for a fighting dog was the goal, and
today the Presa Canario reproduces true. They are about 22-25 inches
tall, and weigh about 85-110 pounds. I've seen photos of black, brindle
and brown dogs. When dogfighting was outlawed on the islands, the breed
went neglected, and is said to have faced extinction by the 1960's.
Rare guard dog fanciers saved the breed-- American and South American
dogfighters tried to as well, but found it outmatched by the APBT. As a
fighter, it is naturally dog-agressive. The breed is reputed to have a
strong devotion to its owners, but said to be very people-aggressive
(unlike many fighting dogs) otherwise. This is almost always noted as a
special attention area of concern with this breed. "Firm discipline,
strong training" etc.
I know of an Italian site, devoted to the Presa Canario...
http://canari.step.es/presa-canario/
Maybe good, maybe not...haven't been there for a year. However, I do
know that they claim the Presa Canario has a documented existence that
dates back to the 16th century. This could be, but since it is too
vague a reference, I must quote the only other source I have, which is
slightly more detailed. So, I could be very mistaken. Have fun, and
let me know!
Mortie