Canary Dog Blog

Let’s make things clear. The name of Canary Island is originated from the Latin term “Insula Canaria” which means Island of the Dogs.
When the Romans first visited this island, they found some people who truly worshipped dogs, so they named they island ‘canaari’ which means: the ones who worship dogs. The breed Canary was developed here, in the mid’ 1800’s, partly from the indigenous dog, and partly from the English Mastiff and English Bulldog. They were originally used for dog fights, so after it was banned, their number reduced significantly and the breed was near extinction in the 1960’s.
Recently they aren’t endangered by extinction, but are still considered as a rare breed.

Don’t be fooled with the “Canary” in the Canary dog. This breed is nothing like a small yellow bird that its name is associated with thanks to the famous cartoon duo “Tweety and Sylvester”. Beginners or novice dog enthusiasts can confuse this dog as a larger or giant sized pit bull due to the cropped ears. But there are many distinguishing marks.

The great thing about this breed is that once the bonding between owner and canine begins, they are very affectionate and become very attentive to the family as they move. They are also very intuitive, able to detect and distinguish what is a real threat to its family. A serious sounding bark is usually an indication that something is wrong and that the master should be on guard. Aside from being a valid threat detector, these dogs can be excellent exercise partners that enjoy rough games or a healthy run.

How does one come up with the names of dog breeds? It seems that it is a rule of thumb that their breed name has the country of origin stated in it as gourmet specialty coffee packs display where it originated from.

It is said that the Canary dog or the Perro de Presa Canario existed way back between 30 and 25 BC when King Juba in Mauritania deployed a expedition to survey the territory. On this journey they noticed huge dogs and brought two back to the King who was pleased by their appearance and attributes. He marked the location as the “Island of Dogs“.  Archaeological digs has also revealed dogs buried along with their masters as guides in the afterlife.

Another historical find is that a tribe called the “canarii” inhabited the island and then it was called the “Islands of Canaria” which had been taken from the Latin term “Insularis Canaria” – Island of the Dogs. Tracing back origins can be amazing and thrilling when trying to know more about one’s dog.