Conformation
The terminology used to describe dog shows is Conformation. The Presa Canario Club of America offers many opportunities to participate in Conformation events across the U.S.A. The Club provides expert judges, specifically suited and trained to judge the Presa Canario, unlike any other organization in the U.S.A.
When a judge enters the ring, they are judging each dog against a written standard describing the ideal dog. Dogs are not being initially compared to one another, but by how closely that dog conforms to the breed standard itself. The judge is determining which dog comes closest to the ideal Presa Canario. Each judge, applying their interpretation of the standard, gives their opinion on that day on which dog best represents the breed.
Participating in conformation events allows owners, exhibitors, and breeders to have their dogs professionally evaluated by trained judges of the Presa Canario, and also allows for opportunities to earn prestigious Championships for their dogs.
PCCA US Champion
The PCCA US Champion is arguably the most prestigious award for conformation available here in the USA today, for the Presa Canario.
Requirements for earning the title of US Campeon de Belleza (US Show Champion) of the Presa Canario Club of America
1. Obtain an Excellent rating in either the Intermediate, Adult/Open, or Champion class in either a US Monografica or the PCCA US National Specialty.
2. Win a CAC (Certificate d’Aptitude au Championat) (Best non-champion female or male in the show) or BIS (Best in Show) or BOS (Best of Opposite Sex) at either a US Monografica or the PCCA US National Specialty. This show must be a different show than the one used to fulfill the first requirement.
3. Win 4 CAC's, BIS's, or BOS's at any PCCA sponsored or authorized show with at least 3 different judges. These 4 can include the shows used to fulfill the first two requirements. To earn CAC, the dog must be given an Excellent rating by the judge. The PCCA will allow an owner to go back 10 years and count past PCCA sponsored shows as far as it is possible to accurately determine the results for fulfilling these requirements.
PCCA Club Championships
The PCCA offers the opportunity to event participants to earn points towards different levels of PCCA Championships, including Junior Championships.
PCCA US CH
Presa Canario Club of America United States Champion
PCCA CH
Presa Canario Club of America Champion
PCCA GCH
Presa Canario Club of America Grand Champion
PCCA JCH
Presa Canario Club of America Junior Champion
PCCA TTCH
Presa Canario Club of America Temperament Tested Champion
PCCA WKCH
Presa Canario Club of America Working Champion
PCCA CLUB CHAMPION
Annually, the Club will award a Club Champion Female and Male, based on cumulative points earned from June - May
In regards to the PCCA Club Champion Award, the following is rule;
In case of a final tie between two or more dogs, the winner will be named to the best score obtained in the current year’s Monografica, if one of the dogs does not attend the Monografica, as the Monografica is the most important conformation event of the breed in the US, whoever gets the best score in this will prevail. If it were the case that neither of them attended the Monografica, it was the winner that obtained the best score in the next exhibition.
The PCCA Club Champion awards will be presented in the next Monografica following the cumulative points year-end.
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PCCA Club Champions will receive the honor of their image used on all Club events and related posters throughout that award year.
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An announcement on the Club's website, which will remain permanently, and highlighted announcement(s) in any marketing media used for the year of award.
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Waived Registration Fees for two Club Events.
The PCCA Board has approved the below Judge Training and Qualification information. It is the goal of the PCCA to work to develop a network of Breed Specialist Judges throughout the U.S.A. If you are interested in becoming a PCCA Judges, speak with us today!
PCCA Judge Qualifications/ Requirements
PCCA Judge in Training
1. Be a legal adult
2. Be a member in good standing with the PCCA
3. Be recommended to be a judge at this level by unanimous vote of the PCCA Board of Directors, as a person with
a. Sufficient breed knowledge,
b. Sufficient experience,
c. Business dealings that have been performed in an honest, fair, and ethical manner
d. Deep personal integrity,
e. Loyalty to the PCCA,
f. Unselfishness and lack of bias, and
g. Reliability and capability to follow through with commitments.
4. Complete, submit and be interviewed about the PCCA Breed Standard Exam
5. Complete, submit, and be interviewed about the Structure and Movement Exam based on Dog Steps
PCCA Match Judge
1. Fulfill all the requirements of the Judge in Training, if not already done, plus:
2. Be recommended by unanimous vote by the PCCA Board of Directors as a person with
a. Sufficient breed knowledge,
b. Sufficient experience,
c. Business dealings and judging assignments that have been performed in an honest, fair, and ethical manner
d. Deep personal integrity,
e. Loyalty to the PCCA,
f. Unselfishness and lack of bias, and
g. Reliability and capability to follow through with commitments.
3. Be an official, certified AKC (Standard or FSS), FCI, or UKC Judge
4. Act as a ring commissary for 3 CEDC recognized judges or PCCA Recommended or Specialist judges
PCCA Recommended Judge
1. All of the PCCA Match Judge requirements plus:
2. Be recommended by unanimous vote by the PCCA Board of Directors as a person with
a. Sufficient breed knowledge,
b. Sufficient experience,
c. Business dealings and judging assignments that have been performed in an honest, fair, and ethical manner
d. Deep personal integrity,
e. Loyalty to the PCCA,
f. Unselfishness and lack of bias, and
g. Reliability and capability to follow through with commitments.
3. Ring Commissary at least 5 times for CEDC recognized judges or PCCA Recommended or Breed Specialist Judges
4. Demonstrate to a special PCCA approval committee that:
a. Sufficient actions have been taken over the years to gain a very high level of competence in the breed and in judging
b. Business dealings and judging has been performed in an honest, unbiased and ethical manner
c. Breeding history has been performed with a focus on the breed standard
d. Dog judging has been performed according to FCI rules of behavior and etiquette
5. Fulfill the requirements of an FCI Judge by either
a. Becoming a certified FCI Judge through an FCI member country or
b. Fulfilling the requirements needed to do so through the PCCA as the approval authority
i. Breed or show Dogo-Presa Canario’s for at least 5 years (Per general FCI Judge qualification requirements)
ii. Produce at least 1 FCI-registered litter (Per general FCI Judge qualification requirements)
iii. Be nominated by an approving authority (Per general FCI Judge qualification requirements)
iv. Pass a Written exam administered by an approving authority (Per general FCI Judge qualification requirements)
v. Receive practical training on Dog Judging by an approving authority (Per general FCI Judge qualification requirements)
vi. Take a Practical Exam on judging dogs by an approving authority (Per general FCI Judge qualification requirements)
6. By secret vote, be elected by the members of the PCCA to be a Recommended Judge with over 80% approval of those voting
PCCA Breed Specialist Judge
1. All of the PCCA Recommended Judge requirements plus:
2. Act as a PCCA or CEDC judge for at least 5 years
3. Be recommended by unanimous vote by the PCCA Board of Directors as a person with
a. Sufficient breed knowledge,
b. Sufficient experience,
c. Business dealings and judging assignments that have been performed in an honest, fair, and ethical manner
d. Deep personal integrity,
e. Loyalty to the PCCA,
f. Unselfishness and lack of bias, and
g. Reliability and capability to follow through with commitments.
4. Demonstrate to a special PCCA approval committee that:
a. Sufficient and extraordinary actions have been taken over many years to gain uncommon and noteworthy expertise in the breed
b. Breeding history has been performed with a focus on the breed standard and that offspring of breeding has been a positive contribution to the breed
c. The candidate has made significant contribution to the breed additionally through education and mentorship
d. The candidate has made significant contribution to the US breed club (PCCA) or the Spanish breed club (CEDC)
5. Upon recommendation by the committee, by secret vote, be elected by the members of the PCCA to be a breed specialist judge with over 80% approval of those voting
Judges in Training 1st Level Exam
Once you have contacted the PCCA, and all your Judge in Training qualifications have been met, you will be required to take a Level 1 Judges Training Exam to finalize your Judge Status. You will find this exam below. Answer all questions and send to PCCA Board for review, complete with your Study Guide.
Dogo Canario Breed Standard Test
For the Dogo Canario Club of America
By Jason Baum
Refers to FCI Breed Standard dated July 4, 2011. Send answers to the DCCA for review.
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From which two islands did the breed originate?
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What native breed and type of dog went into making the breed?
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Describe the body length compared to the height at the withers.
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What proportion is the skull to foreface (muzzle)?
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How wide is the skull vs. the length of the head?
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What is percentage of elbow to ground vs. elbow to withers?
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What is the general expression?
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What was the traditional use of the breed?
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What is the bark like?
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How does it act around family members?
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What is the general look of the head?
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What is the head skin like?
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Describe the cranial-facial lines.
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What is the shape of the top of the skull from side to side and from front to back?
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What is the zygomatic arch like?
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How are the cheek and jaw muscles?
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What is the facial stop like?
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Describe the furrow between the frontal lobes.
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Describe the nose.
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How wide is the muzzle vs. the skull width?
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How much should the muzzle taper towards the nose?
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Describe the upper lip.
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What two bites are acceptable?
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What is the maximum undershoot of the bite?
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What is the eye shape and size?
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What is the setting of the eyes in the head?
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What are the acceptable eye colors?
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What is the correct ear placement?
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What is the neck length vs. the head length?
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What is the neck shape?
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What is the topline like?
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What is the difference in the croup and the withers?
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Describe the croup.
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Where does the chest descend to on the arm?
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What is the ribcage like?
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What is the abdomen like?
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What is the thickness of the tail like?
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How long is the tail?
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What is shape of the tail when alert?
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What is the angle of the shoulder like?
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Balanced forearms have what three prominent characteristics?
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Describe the position of the elbow.
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How prominent is the front pastern angle to the forearm?
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What are the toes of the forefeet like?
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What is the general line of the hindquarters from the rear?
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How is the angulation of the stifle?
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What is the rear pastern like?
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How do the hind feet differ from the front?
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What two words describe the movement in the standard?
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How is the reach during movement?
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How is the head carried when relaxed?
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How is the head carried when alert?
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How is the tail carried when relaxed?
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How is the tail carried when alert?
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What two words describe the skin?
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What is the hair like?
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What are the acceptable colors?
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What is the minimum and maximum height for a male?
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What is the minimum and maximum height for a female?
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What is the minimum and maximum weight for a male?
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What is the minimum and maximum weight for a female?
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True / False: Excessive weight is a severe fault.
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True / False: Being under weight is a severe fault.
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True / False: Appearing a bit like a pit bull is a severe fault.
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True / False: Appearing a bit like a mastiff is a severe fault.
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True / False: Appearing a bit like a cane corso is a severe fault.
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True / False: incorrect head proportions are a severe fault.
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True / False: An over pronounced stop is a severe fault.
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True / False: A square profile is a severe fault.
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True / False: A narrow head is a severe fault.
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True / False: A thin tail is a severe fault.
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True / False: A saddle or a roach back is a severe fault.
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True / False: Narrow-set eyes are a severe fault.
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True / False: Lack of mask is a severe fault.
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True / False: Missing multiple teeth other than P1 is a severe fault.
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True / False: Over-shyness is a disqualifying fault.
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True / False: Any physical abnormality is a disqualifying fault.
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True / False: A red nose is a disqualifying fault.
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True / False: White around the neck is a disqualifying fault.
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True / False: White on the face is a disqualifying fault.
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True / False: A down-sloping topline is a disqualifying fault.
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True / False: Blue eye color is a disqualifying fault.
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True / False: A cropped tail is a disqualifying fault.
Dog Steps by Rachel Page Elliott
Study Guide prepared for the DCCA
By Jason Baum
Note: These questions refer to the video version of Dog Steps. Currently, this is published on YouTube at
https://youtu.be/RlEPmaVxNOc, but a clearer version can be obtained in DVD format for purchase at various Internet
sites. Video length is approximately 1 hour 5 minutes.
Complete this study guide and call the DCCA individual responsible for passing off this information and discuss your
answers over the phone. Approximate time to complete this study guide with the video: 2-3 hours.
1. How does the spine of a high-speed coursing dog differ from other dogs? 5:40
2. What happens to the legs, the greater the speed the dog moves? 6:10
3. How does a low, wide body effect movement? 6:50
4. What is single-tracking? 7:15
5. Why is sound structure important? 8:20
6. What determines the position of the elbow? 9:00
7. How does the angle of the shoulder differ in a dog meant primarily for speed? 9:30
8. How does the elbow placement differ in a dog meant primarily for speed? 9:30
9. How does the angle of the shoulder differ in a achondroplastic type of dog (Basset, Bull dog, Dachshund)? 9:40
10. How does the elbow differ in a achondroplastic type of dog (Basset, Bull dog, Dachshund)? 9:40
11. How does the bones of the forelegs differ in a achondroplastic type of dog (Basset, Bull dog, Dachshund)? 9:40
12. The curved shape of the middle ribs is for what purpose? 10:40
13. What are the key elements of good mobility and ground covering action mentioned at 11:30?
14. What is pacing? 12:35
15. How are the shoulders attached to the body? 14:20
16. What joints in the front and back should have similar angulation for balanced movement? 15:45
17. What is one cause of over-reaching mentioned starting 16:40?
18. What is padding? 17:30
19. What is a cause of padding? 17:30
20. A straight rear results in what kind of movement? 18:45 – 19:25
21. What are other reasons for crabbing? 19:25
22. What may happen when a dog lacks both front and rear angulation? 20:20
23. What is hyper-extension of the hock? 21:00
24. What do stiff hocks (Sickle hocks) do compared to normal hocks? 21:40
25. What are other movement characteristics of sickle hocks? 21:50
26. How do strong pasterns help racing dogs? 27:00
27. What can weak shoulder and back muscles cause? 32:50
28. What usually happens with a puppy that moves badly early on? 34:00
29. A roach back can cause what effect in the chest? 37:25
30. What effect may a downward tipping chest have on shoulders? 37:25
31. What movement problems may a roach back cause? 37:40
32. What puppy movements are preferable? 38:20
33. About what angle (for the collie) is the scapular spine from the vertical? 38:40
34. An angle greater than 30 degrees can cause what problems? 39:40
35. Why is it better to judge the dog based on mobility vs. figures and measurements? 4040
36. Viewed from the rear, how should the support be from feet, hock, stifle, to hip? 41:30
37. Viewed from the front, how should the support be from feet, pastern, elbow, to shoulder? 41:30
38. How should toes face in a dog standing naturally? 41:35
39. What happens to the gate of any dog when speed increases? 41:50
40. Which part of the front foot strikes first as seen from the front? 45:05
41. What happens to a dog’s foot-fall that naturally positions his feet straight ahead (elbows slightly out)? 45:40
42. What may happen eventually to a dog with straight ahead feet with elbows out? 45:40
43. How can elbowing out affect stamina? 49:10
44. What does the twisting pasterns (winging) and weak hocks of the sled dog affect his performance? 49:15
45. What are some causes of flat, splayed feet? 49:35
46. What are the issues of pasterns that give too much? 50:00 – 50:20
47. How do pasterns affect jumping?
48. What is hackneying? 51:45
49. When is hackneying often seen? 52:30
50. What is “Moving close” in reference to rear movement? 56:20
51. What are cow hocks? 57:00
52. What are spread (Or barrel) hocks? 57:40
53. Why may be a cause of spread or barrel hocks? 57:45
54. What is pounding? 57:55
55. What can be a result of pounding? 58:00
56. What is patellar luxation? 1:00:00
57. What may be a reason for dogs swinging the rear legs outward? 1:00:15