Alano Español

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Alano Español or Spanish Alano - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alano_Espa%C3%B1ol

The Alano Español or Spanish Alano is a Spanish breed of large dog of molossoid type. The dogs have been used as cattle catch dogs, hunting, and guarding. It was formerly used during Spanish bullfights, and is sometimes called the Spanish Bulldog in English.

History:
The origins of the Alano Español are unknown. One hypothesis is that it derives from dogs brought to Spain in the Migration Period in the fifth century by the Alani, a nomadic pastoralist people from Central Europe.

The first written reference to the breed in Spain is in a chapter of the fourteenth-century Libro de la Montería de Alfonso XI ("Book of the Hunt of Alfonso XI"), in which hunting dogs called Alani are described as having beautiful colours. Dogs of this type travelled with Spanish explorers and were used as war dogs (as was their role in Eurasia before migration) in the subjugation of Native American peoples, as well as in the capturing of slaves.

Becerrillo was the name of a ferocious Alano Español owned by Conquistador Ponce de León.


An etching by Francisco Goya portraying the dogs in the bullfighting ring as they were used in 1816. Note that the dog's ears are uncropped, indicating they were only used for bull-baiting and not dog fighting.
Bull-baiting, done in the bullfighting ring with dogs of this type, was recorded by Francisco de Goya in his series on La Tauromaquia in 1816. In 1880, use of dogs in the bullfighting ring was outlawed, so the breed numbers began to dwindle as the work they performed began to change. Big game became rare, stockyards were modernized and no longer needed dogs to hold the cattle, using dogs in bullfights was outlawed, and by 1963 Alanos were thought to be extinct.

Characteristics:
The Alano Español is a large dog of alaunt or bulldog type, with a large, strong head. Dogs should stand no less than 58 centimetres (23 in) at the withers, and should weigh 34–40 kilograms (75–88 lb); bitches are somewhat smaller.

The coat is short and thick but never velvety, and is most often a brindle of any color; leonardo (fawn); black and brindle; sable wolf. White chest flashes are acceptable but prevalence of white is not. The face may or may not have a black mask.

The head is the shape of a cube and is brachycephalic. The muzzle is short with the lower jaw slightly concave, and has a very large, broad, black nose. The ears are set high and may be drop or cut short. The skin is very thick, with neck folds and some wrinkles on the face.

It should not have a flat muzzle or show signs of prognathism. The cranio-facial proportion should be 65:35, meaning a significantly longer muzzle than for instance the Boxer has.
Since the breed was used for hunting in packs, it is sociable with other dogs.

Use:
The Alano was used from Mediaeval times as a war dog. It has since been used for hunting of boar and deer, as a guard dog, and in the management of cattle, both at pasture and at slaughterhouses.  Until about the end in the nineteenth century it was used in the bullring; this use declined with the development from about that time of the new practice of bullfighting on foot.

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Alano Español

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Alano Español

Highlights: Energetic, Sociable, Brave

Also called the Spanish Bulldog, the Alano Espanol originates from Spain, like the Ca de Bou. They were bred to be catch dogs, hunting companions and guard dogs. In the past, they even served as bullbaiting dogs in Spanish bullfights.

Alano Espanol dogs are believed to have arrived from the Iranian tribe, called Alani. They were a nomadic tribe that migrated to Spain during the 5th century. As such, they brought these dogs with them on their journey out west.

It didn’t take long for the Spanish Bulldog to become highly sought after in Spain. Shortly after, the Alano Espanols became widely used by Spanish explorers. In addition, Alanos became war dogs during the subjugation of native Indians.

Spanish Bulldog Temperament
The Spanish Bulldog is a highly outgoing and sociable dog. Not just with people, but also with other dogs and pets in the pack. After all, they were bred to hunt in packs. Thus, many Spanish Bulldogs retain their pack-dog mentality.

Due to the sheer size of these dogs, they must be socialized and properly trained. They’re not at all aggressive, but they can get a bit rowdy when excited around humans. So, they’ll need to learn how to properly interact with other people.

As multi-purpose working dogs, the Spanish Bulldog has a lot of energy. Even more than other bulldog-type breeds on this list. To remain healthy and happy, they’ll require regular exercise and training throughout all their lives.

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Alano Español

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Alano Español

www.dogzone.com/breeds/alano-espanol/

The Alano Español is a large, hard-working, sociable breed that descends from dogs brought to Spain by nomadic Iranian tribes after the Roman Empire fell in the 5th century. The breed is also sometimes known as the Spanish Bulldog. The Alano Español was traditionally used for bullbaiting, herding wild cattle and hunting and guarding and is often still used as a working dog, requiring plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. It is therefore best suited to a rural environment.

The breed works well alongside other dogs and therefore tends to have a sociable character, both with dogs and humans, and is also gentle with children. Although, saying that, it should be well socialised from a young age and children should always be supervised, particularly due on account of its size. The Alano Español loves to work and is very amenable to training, which means that house and recall training are not usually a problem. It has a short coat that requires little care and there is little or no record of any breed related health problems.

The Alano Español is a breed of dog originating from the Iberian Peninsula. It is considered a native Spanish breed with references which go back as far as the 14th century, although its ancestors are thought to have arrived with the nomadic Iranian Alani tribe after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. The breed is sometimes known as the Spanish Bulldog. The breed is a brachycephalic dog of mastiff type, but should be functional and agile, with an athletic physique and elasticity. The Alano Español is a large but light set bull breed used for protection and herding and was predominantly developed for bull baiting, and to manage fierce cattle, roaming over large areas of countryside, as well as for hunting and holding deer and wild boar.

Although the breed has been in decline over the last century after the use of dogs in bullfights was banned there were, however, still some villages where the breed remained popular as working dogs. These populations have been used to establish a more uniform and recognised breed and to increase its numbers. Today, the breeds common uses have changed slightly but it is still very much a working breed and is used as a guard dog, as well as for herding and protecting cattle and other livestock.

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The Alano Español is a large breed, whose height is 55 to 63 cm tall ( 22 to 25 inches ) at the withers and weighs somewhere between 25 and 40 kg. ( 55 to 88 pounds ). Like most breeds, the females are a bit smaller than the males.

The Alano Español is a noble, hard-working dog that learns quickly and is sociable and gregarious. It loves people and is reputed to be very gentle and patient with children. Although the breed has an imposing physique it has a well-balanced character and makes a good family dog, although its large size and potential power should always be kept under consideration. The breed does not typically suffer from separation anxiety and makes an excellent guard dog but must be kept active with plenty of mental stimulation to ensure it does not develop unwanted behaviours as a result of boredom.

The Alano Español is a breed that loves to work and is quick to learn, meaning training is generally easy and that training recall is not a problem. It is a sociable breed and gets on well with other dogs, as well as being able to work as part of a team. It is, however, important, largely due to its size, to ensure that it is well socialised from a young age. Its willingness to please and capacity to learn mean that the Alano Español usually picks up quickly on house training, especially when it has a well-established routine and plenty of outdoor access.

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Alano Español

www.dogbreedinfo.com/alanoespanol.htm

Other names: Alano Perro de Toro, Spanish Alano, Spanish Bulldog.

The Alano Español is a molosser (a large sturdy dog whose origins are in Molossia). It has a primitive appearance whose general physiology fits him especially well for running at high speeds for long periods of time and firmly holding wild game or cattle for a long time when ordered. With a well-proportioned body structure, the rib cage is arched, not cylindrical, the chest reaches elbow level, with strong and solid shoulders and withers. The front legs are stronger than the back ones, and are straight whether viewed from the front or from the side. The paws are generally much larger than those of other dogs of the same size and weight. The profile of the Alano's backbone outline is slightly ascending toward the back end or, at least, straight, but not descending. The muscles in the hindquarters are well developed and the back legs show very well defined angles ending in strong feet. The tail is thicker at the base tapering to a point and is never cropped because it is used as a rudder in the dog’s sharp turns and dribbles when hunting or working with half-wild or wild cattle. When the tail is carried low, none of its length rests against the dog’s hind area. The belly is retracted inwards, giving him a more athletic appearance than other heavier molosser breeds. The neck is strong, powerful and wide, showing two double chins that should never hang to low. His head is brachycephalic (Bulldog type) in shape, squared in appearance and with a serious expression. The muzzle is wide and represents approximately 35% of the total length of the head, with a vertical stop. The nose is large, wide and black with open nostrils. The ears are usually cropped, slightly rounded at the tip. Uncropped ears are medium in size and carried folded over the face. The Alano has very powerful jaws. The teeth are wide, well separated from each other with a very strong and firm scissors bite or inverted scissors bite. An under-bite is allowed if it is 2 mm or less. When walking, the Alano has the stride of a sly panther, because of its habit of carrying his head low, slightly and slowly bouncing it from side to side making its strong shoulders more visible. Alanos are tireless molossers that can maintain a constant, graceful, agile trot for a long time. When galloping, they are fast and flexible, fully stretching in and out their whole body in each step, sorting obstacles with enormous agility, making it look as if they will never get tired even if they were required to maintain the gallop for miles. Coat colors include yellow and wolf gray, fawns and reds (in either light or dark tones), with or without tigering (brindling) and or black mask. Black and tan—always with tigering on the tan markings which is described in the Spanish standard as "negro y atigrado" translating as black and tigered. White markings are allowed, but only on the snout, neck and chest, lower legs, belly and at the tip of the tail; the white should never predominate the body.

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The temperament of the Alano is very dominant and serious but very controllable by his master, acting submissively toward him/her. This breed is very affectionate with the family and people it knows. It is also extremely patient and good with children. They are reliable, stable, very obedient and bark very little. However, the Alano will watch strangers with suspicion, attacking with little warning, only when the situation requires it. When holding wild animals with its jaws, regardless of the size, nature, or aggressiveness of the animal, the Alano totally ignores feelings like pain or fear and will not surrender until he is told to do so or until he achieves the orders given. The Alano will fight to the death to follow orders, fighting the wild boar or the bull until the end. They are a fearless, loyal, devoted, hard worker. Well-balanced and stable, self-confidant with a very high pain threshold. Powerful and protective, but not aggressive. These characteristics of the breed are not fully apparent until the animal reaches full maturity, which usually happens when the dog reaches 2 1/2 years old or older. Because this breed is bred to function in packs as a team, he is good and sociable around other dogs, enjoying a good romp, playing and just having fun. However, the Alano will not back down if challenged by them. The Alano Español, like all mastiff type breeds, should have a dominant owner who understands instinctual canine behaviors. They can climb trees with amazing cat-like agility and are capable of leaping to great heights from a stand-still position. The Alano can be difficult to housebreak, which makes this breed best as an outside dog. Male Alano puppies tend to chew and be more destructive than female Alano puppies. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader; lines are clearly defined. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success.

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This breed has never been a bred for looks. Instead it is an ancient rustic dog that has been used to work hard in the country under rough conditions for ages, where only the fittest would survive. This may be the reason for the Alano Español being a very resistant, healthy breed, not prone to suffer from any disease in particular. The owner of Curro states, "When injured or ill, their recovering time is also outstanding. For example: At the age of 80 days Curro caught parvovirosis (Parvo virus in Spanish). The veterinarian gave me no hope for Curro to live more than a week after detecting the virus. It only took him 5 days to cure himself." Along with the Cane Corso, the Alano is one of the very few molosser breeds that do not drool, slobber or snore.

Height: Males 23 - 25 inches (58 - 63 cm) Females 22 - 24 inches (55 - 60 cm)

Weight: Between 75 - 89 pounds (35 - 40 kg); always showing harmony between size and weight.

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Best suited to live in a yard and sleep outside, the Alano can stand hot and cold temperatures, dryness and humidity with no problem. For example: during inland Spain winters, the temperature reaches from the low 30's to the high 20's (below zero Celsius). In the north of Spain, the humidity is extremely high. In the central area the weather is dry with cold winters and very hot summers, whereas the south could be dry or humid (depending on the province) but with mild to hot temperatures. The Spanish Alano always sleeps outside and will adapt to all these climates with no problem.

If they are not being used as working dogs, but are a family pet, you need to give them a lot of daily exercise. At least three walks daily, one of them a bit longer in an open space where they can run and play, ideally in the country.

The Alano is a shorthaired dog that requires little grooming. An occasional brushing with a rubber brush will help him to shed his coarse, rustic hair and will prevent him from dropping a lot of hair inside the house. However, he is an outside dog and should be outside the house most of the time. Bathe only when necessary as it will remove the natural oils in the skin. This breed is an average shedder.

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The Alano is a very ancient breed. There are several theories concerning its origin. Most people relate today's Spanish Alanos to the dogs the Alanos (Alans) brought with them when they invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 406 AC. These dogs did not originate from any breed known today, but instead, were the ancestors of many of the molosser breeds that are very popular today, such as Great Dane or the Dogue de Bordeaux. There used to be Alano dogs not only in Spain, but in other places across Europe invaded by the Alans, however, only in Spain have they survived for more than 1500 years until the present time. A group of Alano enthusiasts spent a lot of their time in the early 1980s working toward the goal of finding out the exact demographic situation of the Alano. The breed was never in dog shows or bred for beauty. At the time everyone thought the Alano had probably disappeared from most of the wild boar hunting expeditions and cattle ranches of Spain. Carlos Contera and his colleagues thoroughly searched all of rural Spain looking for this legendary molosser, whose decline started when its participation in bullfights was banned in 1883. The search was a success. They found a few Alanos in Extremadura (southwest of Spain) and Castille (central plateau) but also a large and stable population of about 300 Alanos in the Encartaciones Valley in northern Spain. These were the same Alano dogs that had been used for centuries to handle a local half-wild breed of cows. The restoration of the breed started from the best of these Alanos. Their DNA was analyzed by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Cordoba to assure their authenticity. The Spanish Alano, in the past, has been used in five basic purposes: Wild or half-wild cattle handling. Bullfights (this use was banned by Spanish laws back in the 19th century). Big-game hunting. Guard and defense. War.

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Today it is used for cattle handling and hunting only. When working, the Alano Español depends on its powerful bite, its obedience and its well-balanced personality. The grip of the Alano Español's jaw has become legendary. It is extremely effective not only because the dogs bite using the whole jaw, extending the grip back to the molars steadily and maintain it for a long time, but also because they will release the prey when they are told to do so. The release is as important as the holding when working with the dogs. Some of the Alano's talents include herding, hunting, tracking, watchdog, guarding, police work, Schutzhund, weight pulling, competitive obedience and agility.