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Working · Canary Islands

Perro Majorero

A walker's guide to the Perro Majorero: how much exercise they need, what to expect on and off the lead, and what to ask the owner before the first walk.

Large, 25 to 40 kgActiveFarm guardianBrindle coatReservedVery rare in UK
Exercise a day60 min plus
Energy3 of 5
Walk styleSteady, alert, guarding
With other dogsWary of strangers

Overview

The Perro Majorero, also called the Bardino, comes from Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, where it guarded farms and helped handle goats and cattle. It is a strong, medium to large dog with a brindle coat, a broad head and a steady, watchful manner. It is recognised in Spain and is an ancestor of the Presa Canario.

Its reputation at home is for devotion to the family, calm confidence and a clear reserve towards strangers and strange dogs. This is a guardian first. It will not greet you like a Labrador, and it will decide for itself how much of you it trusts and when.

Exercise and walking needs

An hour and a quarter a day of steady walking suits most adults. They are not high-energy dogs and do not need to run for miles, but they like a long patrol with time to watch and sniff.

The short coat copes with the heat it was bred in and manages British cold reasonably, though a wet winter walk should keep moving.

Daily minimum75 minutes
Ideal2 walks a day
Off-lead timeEnclosed only

On the walk

  • Trust: Do not walk this dog alone until you have had several introductions with the owner present. A guardian that does not accept you will not cooperate, and it is strong.
  • Strangers: Expect the dog to watch people closely and to place itself between you and them. Keep distance on narrow paths and do not let people reach for it.
  • Other dogs: Reserved and possibly defensive with unknown dogs, particularly on the lead. Walk solo and introduce any companion dog slowly on neutral ground.
  • Pulling: Mostly steady, with real force if it decides to move. A strong harness and a short lead near roads and other dogs.

Tips for professional walkers

  1. Spend time in the home with the owner before the first walk and let the dog set the pace of the relationship.
  2. Choose quiet routes and times rather than busy parks.
  3. Confirm your insurance covers walking a guardian breed of this size.
Every dog is an individual. Treat this as a starting point and go with what the owner tells you about their dog. Anything to do with health belongs with the owner and their vet.

What to ask the owner

  • How does the dog react to strangers in and out of the home, and has it ever bitten?
  • What does it do when another dog approaches on the lead?
  • What commands does it know, and is there a reliable stop or wait?
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