When it comes to adopting a dog with a calm attitude and a protective nature who loves to sit on the couch, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better breed than the Presa Canario — also known as the Canary Dog of Prey. Stocky, muscular, and drool-happy, this lumbering giant is both self-confident and obedient. While Presa Canario’s size and strength may create minor problems with young children, breed members have demonstrated their balanced temperament and docile nature time and time again.
If you’re looking for a vigilant guard dog that’s suspicious of strangers and loving with their family, consider adopting a Presa Canario puppy.
How Much Does a Presa Canario Puppy Cost?
Presa Canario puppy costs range widely.
©Grisha Bruev/Shutterstock.com
Depending on where you adopt your Presa Canario, the price can range between $250 to $7,000 — quite a jump by any standard. On average, the initial cost to adopt a Presa Canario puppy will be at least $1,500 because of the breed’s near extinction in the twentieth century.
Adoption
Adopting a Presa Canario from a rescue or shelter is much more affordable than getting one from a breeder. However, these unique dogs aren’t often found in these places. Because the Canary Islands outlawed dog fighting in the 1930s and 1940s, the island’s beloved dog breed faltered steeply in numbers. Breeders worked in earnest around the 1970s to build up numbers again, turning the effort into a full-fledged recovery project by the 1980s. As such, Presa Canarios aren’t often found abandoned or in rescues.
Breeder
Reputable breeders will sell their Presa Canario puppies for a few thousand dollars. The lowest prices for trustworthy breeders bottom out at around $1,500. On average, healthy Presa Canario puppies will cost owners between $3,000 and $5,000. If you’re looking to adopt a Presa Canario with either breeding rights or show quality features, you may pay as much as $7,000.
Other sources
While rare, you may find a Presa Canario through unconventional means if you visit the Canary Islands or have a close friend or relative with a grown breed member who has puppies. However, this is most unusual, as the Presa Canario remains a very rare breed in both the United States and abroad.
Other Factors That Influence the Purchase Price of a Presa Canario
Your Presa Canario puppy will work hard to protect its family.
©volofin/Shutterstock.com
Prices of a Presa Canario puppy aren’t only dictated by who sells them. Age, gender, bloodline, and seasonality also affect the price.
Champion bloodlines will always cost more, no matter the breed. Breeders with award-winning lineages will charge more for these puppies because of their superior breeding. Because the breed is still recovering from near extinction, females may cost more than male puppies because they are “more valuable” to keep the breed thriving. Furthermore, some breeders may charge more for younger puppies because they’re in demand by families and adopters rather than older dogs.
Around Christmastime, breeders may or may not increase their prices slightly to capitalize on the spending holiday.
Cost of Vaccination and Other Medical Expenses for Presa Canario
Exercise is key with the Presa Canario.
©Presa Canario laying in the shade/Shutterstock.com
For a large dog, the Presa Canario is a generally healthy dog. Most of the health issues you’d have to contend with later in life run the same as smaller dog breeds. They include medical conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia, joint issues like patellar luxation, and dilated cardiomyopathy.
When you first adopt your Presa Canario, expect to pay around $200 for vaccines alone. This includes initial vaccines and boosters for:
- Leptospirosis
- Rabies
- Bordetella
- Lyme
- Canine influenza
- DHPP (which covers distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and two types of adenoviruses)
Don’t forget that vaccines also come with exams. If you’re choosing to fix your Presa Canario, you’ll want to ask your vet how much the surgery will cost. Spaying a female usually costs more than neutering a male Presa Canario, as it’s a more invasive procedure. Fixing surgeries can cost anywhere between $50 at a low-cost clinic to $600 at a private animal hospital. Remember, some vets also dictate the price of a spaying surgery based on the puppy’s weight.
Finally, as puppies learn about the world around them, they may ingest something that makes them sick — so consider a small emergency fund for unexpected trips to the vet.
Cost of Food and Supplies for Presa Canario
The Perro de Presa Canario is popular because of its low-shedding quality.
©iStock.com/Mary Swift
Expect to spend an average of $600 to $800 for food and supplies in the first year of your Presa Canario’s life. Food is a large factor here — Presa Canario dogs will eat a lot, especially as they begin to grow. After all, adult Presa Canarios eat around two pounds of food a day. Between food, toys (which may deteriorate faster thanks to the breed’s large size and drool), beds, vitamins, collars, leashes, and more, it’s easy to spend a few hundred dollars at minimum to meet your Presa Canario’s base needs.
How Much Does It Cost to Insure a Presa Canario?
Insurance for Presa Canario dogs will cost more than small dogs.
©Marko Marcello/Shutterstock.com
Because the Presa Canario is a rare breed, insurance companies don’t often call out the exact amount a dog owner may pay for pet insurance. Compared to a similar breed, the rottweiler, Presa Canario owners can expect to pay around $50 to $70 a month for a three-month-old puppy. As they get older, you may see a slight increase year over year until they hit senior age (10+ years old). At that point, you may pay as much as $200 a month.
How Much Does It Cost to Train a Presa Canario?
Presa Canarios can have a brindle coat.
©Mary Swift/Shutterstock.com
Depending on how much training you want for your Presa Canario, the costs to train it will vary widely. If you’re an experienced dog owner with training experience, you may be able to train your Presa Canario puppy for free yourself! If you’d like an experienced animal behaviorist or trainer to step in, prices will range between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Chain pet stores like PetSmart offer public and private classes starting around $150, though they do run occasional specials that bring introductory classes down to around $99. Most of the time, these are package offerings for beginner, intermediate, and advanced obedience training with six weeks of class included.
Advanced, private training for things like therapy dog training, intelligence, tricks, aggression, and behavioral issues may cost a few hundred dollars for one to three lessons, or up to $5,000 for a two-week, sleepover camp.
