Two dog owners in Scotland have been heavily criticised for breeding “presweiler” pups. James Bell, 29, of Irvine, Ayshire and Mark McCallie, 24, of Dumfries, have been labelled backyard breeders after crossing a Presa Canario with a rottweiler to produce the pups.
After spending months finding a Presa Canario breeder who would allow them to use a dog, Bell and McCallie used McCallie's rottweiler bitch. They kept two of the pups from the resulting litter for breeding and are offering them to owners for mating with other large dogs. The remaining puppies were sold to families. Although McCallie, a livestock yardsman, and Bell, a mechanic, are aware they could be criticised as backyard breeders, they have defended their actions.
“Our presweilers are fantastic dogs and they are good with children,” McCallie told a newspaper,
describing their temperament as “great” and their look “stunning”. He went on to defend the breeding, saying that genetic problems caused by breeding closely related dogs in the two pure breeds were eradicated by crossing the rottweiler with the Presa Canario, also resulting in dogs with improved temperament. He said the pair hope to see their 'presweiler' recognised as a proper breed and would ensure the dogs would not be used as status symbols or fighting dogs by the “shell-suited fraternity”. It is unclear what they charge for a 'presweiler' puppy.
An online advert offers Bell's 14-month 'presweiler' for breeding with “any large breed bitch”, stating he has a “wonderful temperament” and is “great with children, cats and other dogs”. He is also referred to as “a great guard dog” and described as “still growing … 58 kg … very athletic and muscular”.
Paula Boyden, veterinary director at Dogs Trust criticised the breeding. “It is totally irresponsible and potentially dangerous for these people to experiment like this. You cannot predict what you are going to get out of it. I question the motivation for trying to create this dog. It could be a superdog for all the wrong reasons.”
Referring to claims of improved health and temperament Paula Boyden called them “nonsense”. “The presa is susceptible to the same health problems as the rottweiler and both are aggressive, strong, powerful dogs renowned for guarding instincts. If you cross them, you may exacerbate these problems.”
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