Presa Dane

The Presa Dane is a rare hybrid dog. In order to understand more about his history, one should study his parentage and their origins. The Presa Canario's exact origins are unknown, but most experts believe he is a descendant of the now-extinct Bardino Majero and imported English Mastiffs. The Presa Canario is native to the Canary Islands, hence his name. He was originally intended to be a farm utility dog. He caught rogue cattle and wild boars. He protected livestock from wild predators. Unfortunately, he was also used in dog fighting until it was outlawed. The Great Dane is a majestic dog that hails from Denmark; however, dogs resembling the Dane have been depicted in ancient Egyptian artwork and also in Babylonian temples. It is believed that this ancient ancestor of the Great Dane was traded to the Greeks and Romans by the Assyrians. The dog was originally referred to as a Boar Hound as they were bred to hunt wild boar. In the late 1600s, German nobility began keeping Boar Hounds. A French naturalist visiting Denmark gave the Dane is current name (Grand Danois). While the Dane is native to Denmark, it was German breeders who developed the breed into the Great Dane of today. It is uncertain when the Dane was brought to America, but we do know that the American Kennel Club registered the first Great Dane in 1889.