Ca de Bou (Perro de Presa Mallorquin)
| Size at withers | 52-58 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight range | 30-38 kg |
| Life expectancy | 10-12 years |
| Size class | Large (25–40 kg) |
| Normal resting vitals | Heart rate 60–110 bpm · Respiration 10–30/min · Temperature 38.3–39.2 °C |
| Temperament | Calm, confident and courageous; loyal guardian, can be dominant with strange dogs |
| Common health issues | Hip dysplasia; some brachycephalic tendency, entropion reported |
| Exercise needs | Moderate - 45-60 min/day |
| Climate & housing suitability | Fair - the short coat helps, but the heavy build and short muzzle limit stamina in hot, humid weather. |
| Owner notes | Also called the Mallorquin Mastiff; a compact, muscular molosser. |
Origin and purpose
FCI Group 2. Origin: Spain (Mallorca); molosser used for guarding and historically bull-baiting.
Also called the Mallorquin Mastiff; a compact, muscular molosser.
What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the owner's job is to give it somewhere to go.
Temperament and training
Stated temperament: Calm, confident and courageous; loyal guardian, can be dominant with strange dogs
A guarding breed: it is naturally suspicious of strangers, and that is what it was bred for. Early, broad, positive socialisation — many people, many places, many situations, before sixteen weeks — is not optional for this breed; it is the difference between a discriminating guardian and a dangerous liability. A guarding dog that has not been socialised is a problem you have created, not a temperament you have discovered.
Conditions this breed is predisposed to
Entropion
Hip dysplasia
Health screening — what to test, and when
| Screen for | Test | When |
|---|---|---|
| Entropion | Eye examination | Annually |
| Hip dysplasia | Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring) | Once at 12–24 months; earlier if lame |
Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.
For breeders — test before you mate
- Entropion — Eye examination
- Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
Feeding
Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.
Exercise and enrichment
Stated requirement: Moderate - 45-60 min/day
Moderate daily exercise plus mental stimulation. Adaptable to apartment life provided the daily walk actually happens every day.
Climate and living conditions
Stated suitability: Fair - the short coat helps, but the heavy build and short muzzle limit stamina in hot, humid weather.
Ageing and senior care
Life expectancy: 10-12 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. Senior care →
Before you take one home
- Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
- Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.
