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PERRO DE PRESA MALLORQUIN |
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Ever since the days of the great Alaunts, the sports of bull-baiting, and later dog-fighting, have been notorious spectator sports in Spain. Large, agile fighting dogs were renowned in Spain, where they are generally called Perro de Presa, meaning a gripping or holding dog and loosely translated as bulldog. Although bull-baiting is no longer practiced, dogfighting still has avid followers in Spanish rural areas and places settled by Spaniards (South America, Puerto Rico, etc.). For many centuries
the local fighting breeds were the white Cordoba Dog (see Dogo Argentine)
and the dark-colored Perro de Presa Es-pana, the Spanish Bulldog, very
like the original bulldogs of 16th-century England. The Presa had long,
straight legs, even or slightly undershot mouth and great power with agility.
He was around 100 pounds, with a long neck and a long tail held high;
he was said to look much like the old smaller Doguin form of the Dogue
de Bordeaux. He has long been extinct. The Cordoba Dog's influence is
still seen hi the Dogo Argentine and those brought to the Americas, forming
various white dogs used to hunt wild boar.
As organized
dog-fighting waned on the rest of the continent, it continued on the islands
off the Spanish coast. On the Balearic island of Mallorca, one breed has
been recognized by FCI. Officially called the Perra de Presa Mallorquin,
much controversy exists over whether he is now extinct or not. Although
he is still listed on the FCI roster, Spanish judges and dog breeders
say the Mallorquin has completely disappeared. Americans at a recent rural
Spanish show for Pit Bulls and other fighting dogs said, however, six
times as many Mallorquin Bulldogs were entered as Pit Bulls. Whether these
dogs represent a reconstruction of the breed or a revival is a matter
to be settled in time.
The Mallorquin
Bulldog was often called Ca de Bou in the native Catalan language.
Up to a hefty and impressive 150 pounds, he had his ears cropped in a
short, rounded cut to make him look like a panther. The Mallorquin Dog
was brought in great numbers to Puerto Rico and other Spanish islands
of the Caribbean where, in the early part of this century, dog-fighting
was common. Although laws have not been passed against it, the "sport"
is no longer organized. This breed was the fighting dog of the islands.
Puerto Ricans say many Mallorquin crosses exist, but are not sure whether
any pure specimens remain.
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