Great Dane (Canary Dog)
History
In the Canary Islands, from time immemorial, there have been
tribes of aborigines - the Guanche Indians, who for several millennia of their
history have formed certain customs, cultures, and beliefs. An integral part of
the culture of these Indians is the dog - a breed of Presa Canario, which today
we know as the Canary Dog, or Canarian mastiff.
At first glance, it is clear that these animals belong to
molasses, but it remains unclear exactly how they got to the islands, as well
as how long ago this happened. However, it is absolutely known about the role
of these animals in the life of the Indians.
As can be seen from various archaeological finds, dogs took
part in various religious rites, where they were assigned a certain role. In
addition, often the animal was buried together with its owner, and there are
popular opinions that the Canary Dog, according to the beliefs of the Indians,
could serve as a guide to the other world, and protected the owner in this
afterlife journey.
Another role that dogs played was hunting. Due to its size
and strength, as well as innate aggression and fearlessness, the Canary Dog is
able to hunt a large beast, and therefore he significantly helped the Indians
in this matter. That is, in addition to some supernatural properties, the
Indians considered dogs as a working, universal breed that can, if necessary,
be a watchman, help in hunting or in clashes between tribes, and even drag a
small cart.
However, this does not explain why the Indians ate their
dogs. And the fact that this is exactly what happened, that's for sure. After
the islands were conquered, the lives of the Indians and their dogs are often
mentioned in official documents. The first such mention refers to 1501.
European settlers often used the Great Dane to protect herds of livestock from
attack by wild dogs and other predators.
Due to the peculiarities of the character, for a long time, there was a ban on the ownership of dogs of this breed - on the islands, only
hunters and farmers were allowed to have them. They were also used in dog
fights – such bloody entertainment was very popular on the islands until the
middle of the 20th century, when, after prohibitions and the struggle of the
authorities, the underground fighting was still stopped. Gradually, dogs began
to spread in Europe and America, receiving official recognition in various
canine organizations. Today, the Great Dane canary breed is considered rare.
Characteristics of the breed
popularity 01/10
training 03/10
size 08/10
mind 06/10
protection 09/10
Relationships with
children 02/10
Dexterity 07/10
Molting 01/10
Breed Information
Country |
Canary Islands, Spain |
Lifetime |
8-12 years |
Height |
Males: 58 – 66 cm |
Weight |
Males: 45 – 64 kg |
Length of coat |
short |
Color |
brown, gray, fawn, bronze |
Price |
850 - 3500 $ |
Description
The Canary Dog has a large size, massive, strong, muscular
physique. The limbs are slightly shorter than average, with pronounced
musculature. The head is massive and square in shape, covered with flabby skin,
which gives it a wrinkled appearance. The snout is short, strong, and broad,
with a black nose. The eyes are medium-sized, oval in shape, and dark brown in color.
The ears are medium-sized, raised in the shape of a rose petal, or maybe
slightly lowered (may be stopped). The thorax is voluminous and wide, and the coat is
short. The tail is of medium length. The color can be brown, gray, or striped.
The Great Dane can have white spots on the neck and chest.
Personality
The Great Dane is an ambiguous breed that can cause serious
damage to an animal or a person, and, at the same time, can be a wonderful
friend and companion for its owner and his family. These dogs have internal
aggression and can be ruthless in combat. There are even several judicial
precedents when the Great Dane, with connivance, and sometimes with the
indulgence of the owners, caused serious injuries to people.
Moreover, there are judicial precedents when the victim
died, and the owner was sent to prison for many years. We have given these
examples not to dissuade you from buying this dog, but so that you understand
the full responsibility for the development of your pet's personality. After
the moment of purchase, only you are responsible for what kind of disposition
your dog will have. It is naïve to believe that if you do not engage in
education, and ignore the recommendations of dog breeders and specialists, as
well as ours, then everything will be perfect by itself.
First, you need to take care of the early socialization of
your pet to make the character as open, harmonious, and flexible as possible.
People, animals, situations, new sounds, and smells - all this is beneficial.
Also, you will be required to constantly correct behavior, so to speak,
education on the go. Also, don't forget to muzzle in crowded places, and use a
leash if possible. In relationships within the family, the Canary Dog can
rarely show negativity or, especially, aggression, usually, these qualities are
manifested in relation to strangers or other dogs.
If you have children, remember that it is better not to
leave them alone with the animal for a long time. Even if the dog does not want
to harm the child, only because of its size it can accidentally knock him down.
The Canary Dog needs daily physical exertion, and exercise walking. His large body
will quickly begin to overgrow with fat if you do not maintain the necessary
level of physical activity.
The dog can sometimes show stubbornness or want to act in
his own way, but in general, he understands the owner well and, with proper
upbringing, behaves obediently. Another issue is that with strong excitement or
anger, only commands and cries the dog will be difficult to stop, because at such
moments if you foresee danger, it is better to take the animal on a leash.
They can perform guard functions if they need to protect their family and owner
- the dog will not hesitate to give his life for them.
Teaching
As we said above, basically, education will be reduced to
the daily formation of the right behavior. In fact, over time, the dog just
learns to behave as it should, do not think that the Dog of the Canarian breed is
an eternal headache. It's not that. The pet must be taught basic commands, and
achieve their unquestioning implementation, through a gradual increase in
distractions.
During the training process, you need to maintain patience,
dedication, and consistency, you do not need to lose your temper over trifles,
it is better to show a positive attitude that will be transmitted to the dog.
Also, so that the training does not look monotonous, you can alternate the
execution of commands with any physical exercises.
Care
The Great Dane breed has a short coat that needs combing 1
time per week, and this will be enough. The claws are usually trimmed 3 times a
month, the ears are cleaned 3 times a week, and the eyes are cleaned daily.
Bathe the dog at least 1 week.
Common diseases
The Great Dane is a powerful breed, characterized by good
health, but there are still some problems. These include:
- hip dysplasia;
- dislocation of the patella;
- eye problems - due to sagging of the skin around the eyes in adulthood, dust particles and dirt get there, which can cause irritation and various infections.
Beautiful Pictures of Great Dane
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