8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Accurate information for someone new to the breed, February 13, 2006
This review is from: Perro De Presa Canario: Special Rare-Breed Edition : A Comprehensive Owner's Guide (Hardcover)
Withholding the Diane Whipple murder, most people do not know much about this breed of dog. Many people's thoughts towards the Presa is that this dog is more agressive towards people than most dogs its size. I find this viewpoint greatly debatable; Diana Whipple's murder opened up opinions based on one pair of Presa's that were never contained and raised to be over-agressive by a convicted felon set on breeding fighting dogs who gave his dogs to a married couple for holding who had little to no experience with dogs of this nature.
In Spain and throughout the Mediterrean region, one will find Presas who are bred specifically to be gentle towards children and obedient in nature, much like the Boerboel in South Africa. This book touches on the historical aspects of the dog and its health issues from a EUROPEAN standard, not ours, the American. Therefore, we might not be willing to believe what we are reading. This might be due to the fact that our dogs in this country are often overbred and wrongly so due to structural problems in our country's kennel club (after all, our nation's kennel club doesn't even demand physical performance as part of any breed's confirmation).
This book, in my opinion, gives an accurate approach to these dogs from where the book originated. If you are looking to buy a Presa, remember this fact. It is the owner who is most often responsible for the dog's ability to do damage.
As always, remember the author refers to the specimens that have been bred with love and raised with a firm, loving and experienced hand. I will always suggest reading anything Carl Semencic has to say about Presas as well, as he is one of the world's leading authorities on mastiff dogs, and his insight would greatly accompany this book.
If you are experienced in the history of Presas, this book might be a tad mundane. Otherwise, it's a nice, easy read with nice to know information and has pictures I enjoyed viewing. And remember as always, purchase a dog of this caliber from a European breeder or an American breeder or a rescue club who is recommended by the Presa society on the web as you will find on the Molosser Web Ring.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A true fan`s choice, October 7, 2003
This review is from: Perro De Presa Canario: Special Rare-Breed Edition : A Comprehensive Owner's Guide (Hardcover)
Well, beeing one out of two (I think..) books on the Perro de Presa Canario its probably not a great selling argue to be "a true fan`s choice". Its better to say that this book gives something of everything. Training, behavior, health and training is just a few topics cowered in this great book. Also a long section about history gives a more in depth understanding of the temprament of the Presa. I surley injoied it tremendusly, and would recommend it to anyone interessted in educating themselves on this magnifisent breed.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Presa Dog books, August 2, 2007
This review is from: Perro De Presa Canario: Special Rare-Breed Edition : A Comprehensive Owner's Guide (Hardcover)
A must read an a book that should be added to one home's library for those researching a possible family dog companion and guardian and or Dog Fanicer of Working Dog Breeds . In addition, beautiful photos of various Presas. Its author Manuel Curto Gracia is a breeder an expert from the Canary Islands who has played a part in introducing the Presa to Dog Lovers throughout the world .
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