Character
The Perro de Presa Mallorquin is best described as a dog with a happy and playful temperament. This breed is quiet by nature. It makes a good guard dog as it would show its ferocious temperament to people the dog considered as its enemies. However, the dog is loyal to its family. He is very protective and respectful to his human family and their children. The Ca de Bou is gentle and careful towards children of every age, they really adores children. In the 1800s pit bulls were often called "nanny dogs" because of the protective behavior they exhibit around children. Personally, I think that this is also the correct definition for the breed Ca de Bou.
This breed is an inseparable partner and an enormously affective dog towards their owner. The dog is naturally distrustfull towards strangers but surprisingly, it is extremely loyal and devoted to its human family. The dog forms a strong attachment to its master. Unlike other breeds that would pick out a single person to bestow their affection, this breed loves the entire family.
Because of this bond and his perfect instinct a Ca de Bou can 'read' the right mood and feelings of its owners .....
The Ca de Bou is emotional and psychologically well-balanced, and a independent dog with a combative personality. He can under some circumstances be extremely courageous and brave. He is confident, intelligent, alert and vigilant. As a watch and guard dog, he is unsurpassed. He can lay down in the garden, quiet for a long time, but does not need more than a fraction of a second to resume his task as a guardian. In quiet situations, he is trusting and self assured. The Ca de Bou is laib-back and reserved and certainly no attention-seeker. When aroused, his expression is piercing. His dominant and protective temperament demands a good socialization and strict training, start at an early age. During this education much of the focus should be on the socialization with people. You don't have to worry that this will turn the dog into a 'everybody's friend' the dog will only become more stable and easier to deal with. His abilities as a guard and defender dog do not deviate. However the bull baiting characteristics will surface from time to time.
Living with one or more domestic cats and other pets is quite possible, provided the dog gets used to them at a young age. He can be quite dominant and combative towards dogs of the same sex. A Ca de Bou will not look for a confrontation with another dog by itself but when provoked his reaction will be fierce.
The Ca de Bou needs to get a lot of activity every now and then. The influence of the Ca de Bestiar caused by breeding back the Ca de Bou with the Ca de Bestiar, make many dogs of this breed suitable as working dogs, so it is good to excite their senses. The dog may accompany you on walks and most Ca de Bou's love to swim. When you can't give the dog his usual activity or playtime for one day, the dog will adjust to that for that day. He appreciates being outdoors and they are not sensitive for temperature changes. They don't bark a lot, but when they do, mostly there is something going on.....
A Ca de Bou owner has to be firm and able to show the dog that he/she is the leader of the pack. Firm handling is very necessary. You must earn the respect of the dog, if so you have the best dog of your lifetime. A well balanced and calm owner, with a firm stance in life, will get the best out of this dog. In fact it's just like the saying: What you put in is what you get out....
This breed is not recommended for a novice dog owner.
Of course, characters can vary due to the different bloodlines but it is well known that dogs with pure Spanish and Puerto Rican blood show more temperament .....
