Presa Canario vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison

As a working dog breed, the Giant Schnauzer, known also as the Riesenschnauzer, hails from Germany.

It is believed that the first Giant Schnauzers emerged in Bavaria in the 17th century already. It is the largest of the 3 Schnauzer dogs – Miniature, Standard and Giant. There are quite a few breeds which have been used in its development – Bouvier des Flandres, Great Dane and the German Pinscher among other.

The dog was bred to work on farms and also used as a military dog during the World Wars.

Known also as the Canary Mastiff, the Presa Canario hails from the Canary Islands. He was originally bred for guarding livestock.

This isn’t a new breed by any means, and it is believed that the dog dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. The roots of the dog can be traced back to the Iberian Presa, a medium sized mastiff breed. A number of other Hispanic breeds have contributed to the formation of the Presa Canario, such as the Presa Espanol.

Its numbers have dropped over the years, but in the 1970s, reputable breeders bred Presa Canarios, a courageous, territorial dog.

Because of its aggressive tendencies, the dog has been banned from quite a few countries. It is found in the USA but not recognized by the American Kennel Club.

With a thick, medium length double coat to protect him from the weather, the Giant Schnauzer’s coat is essentially wiry and hard and in solid black or in a greyish salt and pepper color.

The dogs have always traditionally had their ears and tails docked at the 2nd or 3rd joint to set them apart in looks, but these days both the ears and tail are left.

The tail is always held high. He has dark eyes. Like all Schnauzers, they have that distinct beard and eyebrows. The dog is large and well built and stands at 60 to 70cm in height and weighs anything between 25 and 48kg.

Temperament:

Intelligent, strong willed and energetic, the Giant Schnauzer is actually a quiet dog who doesn’t respond too well to strangers, being reserved around them.

He has a natural guarding and territorial instinct. When he is trained and socialized he makes a wonderful pet, responding well to a firm, consistent owner.

He loves his human family, and as a stable, reliable kind of dog, whether you’ve got children in the home, pets or elderly people, you can rely on your Giant Schnauzer to be a dependable, gentle pet at all the right times, being playful and energetic at other times.

The Presa Canario is a large Molosser-type dog breed originally bred for working livestock.He stands at between 56 to 65cm in height and weighs between 38 and 60kg. He has a thick, muscular body with a black mask over the broad head.

The ears were always cropped which just added to his aggressive appearance. When left they are high set and floppy, being of medium length. The coat is short and coarse and he is a low shedder. The coat comes in colors such as fawn, tan, or brindle.

Temperament:

Strong willed, confident and determined, the Presa Canario may well have an intimidating look.He looks both powerful and even a bit aggressive, but with training and socialization, the highly intelligent Presa Canario is actually a calm, docile dog, totally loyal and loving with his human family.

These dogs are suspicious of strangers and this makes them excellent watchdogs. For new dog owners, the Presa Canario isn’t a good first choice as he is strong-willed and can be aggressive when in the wrong hands. There are however, always exceptions, but he isn't considered to be a good choice of dog when there are children in the home.

The Giant Schnauzer has many excellent characteristics which make it such a great pet. He is composed, alert, intelligent, loving and loyal to his human family.

He is also playful, being happiest when roped into everything going on in the family. He has a solid, balanced nature, is robust and hypoallergenic.

He is powerful and needs a good dose of exercise and will love to join you on your cycle- and hiking trips. Good with children and pets in the home, this is a dog breed that will make a splendid, reliable pet.

The Presa Canario is a formidable looking dog and has received quite a lot of negative media attention for being aggressive and dangerous. And yet non-aggressive owners who have brought the dog up properly tell of how well mannered and calm their dogs are.

The dog is confident and powerful and can be loyal and loving while also being well adjusted. Just like children are the fruit of their parents upbringing, so dogs turn out much the same as the kind of owners that reared them, and in the right hands, this big dog can be loyal quiet, loving and trustworthy.

A healthy Schnauzer can reach 10 – 12 years of age, but even so, they are a dog breed prone to high rates of hip- and elbow dysplasia, hereditary eye disease and thyroid disease.

Blood-clotting diseases and epilepsy are also concerns with Giant Schnauzers as well as bloat. As with all deep-chested breeds, Giant Schnauzers are more at risk with this gastrointestinal syndrome known as bloat and which can be life threatening.

It is your right to ask the breeder about the medical history of your puppy’s parents.

These are large dogs so they are susceptible to hip- or joint dysplasia and canine leishmaniasis.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a skeletal condition, found more often in large dogs. The ball and socket don’t fit properly, grinding as opposed to sliding smoothly. This eventually leads to loss of function of the joint.

There are a few factors that lead to the development of hip dysplasia in dogs, but it is also hereditary. That is why it is so important to provide your dog with the correct nutrition – one that is specially formulated for large breeds.

Canine Leishmaniasis:

This is a deadly disease caused by a protozoan parasite found in dogs, mostly in rural areas, and in quite a few areas of the world.

The parasite is transmitted by a sand fly. The clinical signs of dogs with this disease include weakness, fever, swollen lymph nodes, anorexia, weight loss and diarrhea with blood in the stools.

Treatment will require the administration of a special drug. Prognosis for a pet diagnosed with Leishmaniasis is unfortunately not very hopeful.

He is a particularly low shedding dog and so brushing him twice a week will suffice. He loves the closeness with his human family during these grooming sessions.

If you don’t know how to groom yourself, the Giant Schnauzers coat will require hand-stripping or clipping. If you want to keep your dog with that typical Schnauzer look, a visit to a professional groomer will be required as they will also tidy the hair around each paw as well.

Now that the ears are no longer cropped, he has fairly short floppy ears and it will be necessary to ensure that dampness, ear wax and dirt don’t build up to cause ear infections.

The teeth must also be brushed 2 or 3 times a week otherwise plaque buildup can cause dental disease as well as lead to other more serious diseases such as kidney- and heart disease.

Diet:

If you’re a new dog owner, it can be hard to know which dog food to buy and which ingredients to look out for. Nutrition is of vital importance, and bad ingredients can make your dog sick and shorten his life.

A mix of the best commercially manufactured kibble mixed with home-made food full of the right balance of vitamins and minerals will be important as well as including some raw meat into the diet.

If in any kind of doubt about how to feed a large, energetic dog breed like this Giant Schnauzer, speak to your vet.

Exercise:

As a big, energetic dog, the Giant Schnauzer needs to live on a property where there is a garden. He will be requiring some hectic exercise every day.

The Presa Canario will require being brushed twice a week to rid him of loose hair although he isn’t a heavy shedder.

Keep his nails trimmed.

Check inside his ears for signs of redness and the possibility of an ear infection.

When you brush him, check him over for any unusual lumps.

Make sure the dog is neutered or spayed if you don’t want puppies.

Get your vet to the vet if he shows signs of illness.

Make sure his vaccines are up to date to prevent some deadly canine diseases.

Ensure he has a nice comfortable, dry, warm place to sleep.

Ensure he has a top quality diet to enhance longevity and health. Commercially manufactured dog foods are a convenient means to feed your pet, and there are some excellent brands. Avoid the ones with low quality ingredients that don’t have the right balances of vitamins and minerals.

High quality dry kibble can become exciting when you add in some home-made food. Dogs thrive on simplicity, so boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will be 100% sufficient for him. Chop this food up and add it into the dry kibble twice a week as a tasty treat.

Also, your pet will thrive on a bit of raw meat added in from time to time. Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Make sure that your large pet gets a good quota of daily exercise outdoors. Lots of hectic ball- and rope games will keep him happy and keep him slim. Take him for a walk every day.