Perro Majorero

The Perro Majorero is the native farm and guard dog of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, and one of the founding breeds behind the larger Presa Canario.

History

It has worked the dry volcanic ground of the eastern Canaries for centuries, herding goats and guarding property, and is often brindled with a distinctive doubled dewclaw on the hind legs. Interbreeding with imported dogs nearly erased the pure type before regional recognition arrived.

Temperament

The breed is known for being alert, territorial and devoted to its own household, calm at rest and decisive when the yard is approached.

Care and training

It needs regular exercise, secure boundaries and early socialising. The short coat suits the climate it comes from and needs almost nothing.

Health

A landrace shaped by hard country, it is generally robust with nothing widely documented as breed-specific. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.