Perro de Presa Canario vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison

Hawaiian Poi Dog is originated from Indonesia but Perro de Presa Canario is originated from Spain. Hawaiian Poi Dog may grow 28 cm / 11 inches shorter than Perro de Presa Canario. Hawaiian Poi Dog may weigh 55 kg / 121 pounds lesser than Perro de Presa Canario. Hawaiian Poi Dog may live 4 years less than Perro de Presa Canario. Hawaiian Poi Dog may have less litter size than Perro de Presa Canario. Both Hawaiian Poi Dog and Perro de Presa Canario requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Molosser dogs
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Indonesia
Spain
Height Male:
36 - 38 cm
14 - 15 inches
58 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
Height Female:
34 - 36 cm
13 - 15 inches
58 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 15 kg
15 - 34 pounds
40 - 70 kg
88 - 155 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 13 kg
13 - 29 pounds
40 - 70 kg
88 - 155 pounds
Life Span:
5 - 8 Years
8 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
7 - 10
Size:
Small
Large
Other Names:
Native Hawaiian Dog, and Hawaiian Islanders’ Dog., Poi Dog, Ilio, Hawaiian Dog
Canary Mastiff, Presa
Colors Available:
any color with white markings, brown mostly
brindle, Different fawn shades
Coat:
short and fine
Short and coarse
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Playful, Stubborn
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Hard
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was a descendent of the dogs brought to the Islands by the Polynesian. These Polynesian dogs were themselves descendants of the kuri dog of New Zealand. These kuri dogs were originally from Indonesia. The Hawaiian Poi dog is now extinct but at one time was considered the spiritual protector of Hawaiian children and also used as food by hungry Native Hawaiians.

The dog was called poi which was the word for a food staple mad from the root of Taro and used to put weight on the dogs before they were eaten. Meat was not fed to the dogs because it was too scarce. There was no large mammals to hunt and so the breed was never given a standard. The Poi dog seen by European explorers were short legged, pot bellied canines that lived with the hogs in the towns. Because of what they ate, the dogs were not highly intelligent but were stubborn and hard to train. Because the dogs were not suited for much beyond food and a spiritual charm, they became extinct when the traditional religion was no longer practiced and eating dogs was no longer acceptable. The breed pretty much disappeared by the early 20th century. Very few images of the dogs remain except for ancient petroglyphs.

There was an attempt by the Honolulu Zoo in the late 1960’s to redevelop the breed using local dogs to determine a standard. Then the local dogs were bred as close to the standard as possible. In the third generation one dog was born with the traits of a Poi dog. There was not much more success with this and then the Polynesian ship travel between Tahiti and Hawaii was recreated and a dog taken along.

Today’s mixed breed dogs in Hawaii are called Poi dogs but also have the stubbornness, unique appearance and ability to eat anything it is given like the original Poi. The dogs are small, and should not be confused with the original Poi dogs.

perro de presa canarioThis large dog, also known as the Canary Mastiff, is a rare Molosser-type dog hailing from the Canary Islands.

It does appear as if, according to records, that these dogs were also consumed at one time. The dog has also been used as a cattle dog as well as being used for dog fighting till the middle of the 1900s. Dog fighting was prohibited in the 1940s but it continued for a number of decades.

As people became interested in other dog breeds, the Presa nearly died out but some breeders revived the breed because of it having some good characteristics – territorial, brave, protective and intelligent. The FCI recognized the dog in 2011.

Description

As previously mentioned the Poi dog is somewhat unusual in size and shape due to what they ate. They looked somewhat like the native dogs of Polynesia and New Zealand. They have short legs, long bodies, somewhat obese and a very flat head. He had a short smooth coat, in any color or any pattern. They were however mostly brown and they might or might not have white markings.

perro de presa canario puppy - descriptionThe Perro de Presa Canario or Canary Dog is large and muscular. He stands at 58 to 66cm in height and weighs anything from 40 – 70kg. He has a deep bark.

The head is broad and the ears are normally cropped to give him a more aggressive appearance. With ear cropping being banned the ears are close fitting to the head and are floppy. This is one of those dogs where the rear of the dog is slightly higher than the shoulders.

The coat is short and there is no undercoating. It is available in all different shades of fawn and brindle. The breed standard requires the dog having a black mask.

Temperament:

Canine experts tell us that this large working dog has got such fearless guardian characteristics that they wouldn’t recommend this dog for first time dog owners. On the other hand however, there are dog owners who claim that with good socialization, this dog becomes docile and amicable around their human family.

He is a clever dog so training and socialization will be easy and it will be worth it. This is a dog noted for its strength, it’s strong personality and potential for aggression, so training and socialization will be most important.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

The Hawaiian Poi dog was very friendly and good with children

Special talents

The Poi was considered a good luck charm and a spiritual protector of children

Adaptability

Given what they faced in life, the Poi dog was very adaptable, living anywhere on the islands and eating anything it could find.

Learning ability

Due to their poor diet, the Hawaiian Poi dog was seriously lacking in intelligence and learning ability.

perro de presa canario dog - characteristicsContrary to what many people think, the Perro de Presa Canario can be a calm, gentle dog when trained and socialized properly.

It is only when you bring an older, unknown dog into your midst that you would have to exercise caution with him as he can then be aggressive.

Dogs become dangerous and aggressive when they are brought up by aggressive, uncaring people. Humans are always to blame for the way a dog turns out. Provide this large dog with a loving, caring home, and he’ll show you what a remarkable pet he can be.

Health Problems

Probably due to its diet, the Poi dog had several problems to their health. Their poor diet led to a sluggishness both in movement and intelligence. Its development was hampered by a lack of protein. Malnutrition and serious over inbreeding caused a weakness and poor oral hygiene. Due to this lack of teeth and chewing the bones in the dogs heads became flat. The Poi had breathing issues and overall lethargy.

perro de presa canario puppies - health problemsThe Perro de Presa Canario can live to be between 8 and 12 years of age. Being a large breed the dog can be susceptible to hip dysplasia and other problems such as cancer and heart problems. It is highly unlikely that a well cared for dog will get any of these illnesses.

Bloat or Gastric Torsion:

It is far better to give your dog two smaller meals a day as opposed to one bigger meal as then he tends to wolf his food down. This can lead to bloat, where the stomach swells up and worse, it twists. This dangerous situation prevents fluid and air from escaping the stomach. Your dog is restless, he paces and salivates, wanting to vomit. Bloat can affect any dog at any age.

Kidney Disease:

Kidney disease can develop because of some other illness or it can develop on its own. It can even be caused by bad teeth when bacteria enters the bloodstream of the dog.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

With meat being rare in Hawaii, none was available for the dogs. They were fed Poi – from the Taro plant roots. Puppies were fed 2-3 times a day.

Feeding the adult

The adult dog was fed once or twice a day the same as Poi puppies were fed.

Points for Good Health

The Hawaiian Poi dog basically has not good health points.

Games and Exercises

The Poi dog did not need and did not get much exercise, leading to its demise.

Grooming:

perro de presa canario dogs - caringThis is a short haired dog, and he isn't a heavy shedder so beyond regular twice-a-week brushing he will simply need to have his eyes and ears checked for infections.

He will also need to have his nails clipped and to check his teeth over too. A sore, bad tooth at the back of your pet’s mouth can cause terrible pain but also play havoc with his general health.

Exercise:

Your Perro de Presa Canario is a high-energy dog and he will need daily exercise. He will love a good walk but he will also need something more strenuous and demanding such as ball- and rope tug-of-war games.

Diet:

Try and provide your large pet with a top quality commercially manufactured food – one that is packed with vitamins and minerals instead of colorants preservatives and toxic fillers.

Break the monotony of feeding him only kibble by mixing in some cooked chicken, brown rice, sweet potato, carrots and spinach. Dogs love consistency and simplicity and simple meals like this with some raw meat thrown in occasionally will keep him healthy and happy. Never leave him without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

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  28. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison