Canis Panther Dog Breed

Below are details and specs for the Canis Panther dog breed.

A large-sized breed. Males weigh 120-140 pounds, and stand 27-30 inches tall at the shoulder; females weight 85-105 pounds, and are 24-27 inches in height.

This breed is intensely loyal and affectionate to those it knows, and extremely aggressive to those it doesn't. As they consider themselves part of a family "pack," these dogs treat their owners with a lot of love, and will be highly suspicious of (and hostile towards) anyone or anything they consider a threat. Early socialization with children and other pets, along with some extensive discipline training, is highly recommended for this breed.

The Canis Panther is fairly low-maintenance. Little grooming is necessary, but quite a bit of training, particularly to minimize aggressive behavior, will be required.

This breed originated in the early 1970s in the Chicago area. Three dog breeders that specialized in raising guard dogs ??" Michael "Gypsy" Stratten, Cleotha "Scorpio" Jones, and Lucas Lopez ??" sought to develop "the ultimate dog for personal protection." For about a decade, they crossbred local dogs including Great Danes, American Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Labrador Retrievers, and Doberman Pinschers, finally arriving at what they considered to be a purebred "Canis Panther"; according to Stratten, they chose this name "to make the breed sound frightening, and to reflect the lean lines and [often] black or chocolate coats."

Today, this somewhat rare breed exists almost exclusively in the U.S., and is normally obtained only through a professional breeder.

Because it was bred for this very purpose, the Canis Panther is large and extremely menacing in appearance. Its fur is short, sleek, and usually solid in color. The body is usually equally proportionate in height to length. A Canis's powerful head is the shape of a shallow wedge, with wide, muscled jaws, small, round almond-colored eyes and floppy, triangular ears; the ears are normally cropped when the dog is a puppy. The chest is deep, wide and muscular; the medium-length legs are equally muscular, and the tail is long and low-hanging, and usually docked to a quarter of its length.

The disposition of a Canis Panther can be easily summarized: if it knows you, it will be utterly devoted to you – and if it doesn't, it will not be friendly to say the least.

These dogs are intelligent, sensitive, hardworking, and fiercely loyal, and they are extremely easy to train. A Canis considers itself an integral part of its family "pack," and will be extremely protective (and highly aggressive) when presented with a potential threat. Experts highly recommend that new owners raise these dogs from a young age, and that the owners use consistent (but gentle!) discipline techniques to establish themselves as the "pack leader." Early socialization with people and other pets is also recommended, as this will help dispel some of the dog's aggressive tendencies. (Because these dogs are bred for personal protection, some of their aggressive nature will likely always remain.) As a mature animal, though, this breed is an extremely affectionate and loving member of the family. A Canis is also athletic and fun-loving, and will excel in obedience and agility trials.

Life expectancy is 10-12 years. As might be expected of such a tough breed, the Canis Panther is extremely healthy and robust; no health issues are known. Regular trips to the veterinarian can help prevent unforeseen health issues.