Dog breed · Spain
The Alano Español or Spanish Bulldog is a Spanish breed of medium to large sized dog of alaunt or bulldog type. It has at various times been used as a war dog, for bullfighting, for the management of cattle, for hunting and as a guard dog.
In the later twentieth century it became an endangered breed; a recovery project was launched, and numbers have since recovered. It was officially recognised under national law in 2004.
Characteristics: The Alano Español is a large dog of alaunt or bulldog type. Females stand some 55–60 cm at the withers, and weigh about 25–[dose — ask your vet]; males are on average about 3 cm taller and [dose — ask your vet] heavier.
The coat is short and thick but never velvety, and is most often a brindle; this may be of any colour, including grey or blue, with or without black. Other colours are fawn in any shade from sand-coloured to red, with or without black; and black-and-brindle – a black-and-tan in which the tan areas are brindled. The face may or may not have a black mask; the nose is pigmented black. White markings to the neck, chest or paws are acceptable, but excessive white is discouraged.
The head is large, strong, squarish and brachycephalic. The muzzle is short, ideally approximately 37% of the length of the head, with the lower jaw slightly concave; mild prognathism is tolerated. The ears are set high and are pendent if not cropped. The skin is very thick, with neck folds and some wrinkles on the face.
Since the breed was used for hunting in packs, it is sociable with other dogs.
Characteristics: The Alano Español is a large dog of alaunt or bulldog type. Females stand some 55–60 cm at the withers, and weigh about 25–[dose — ask your vet]; males are on average about 3 cm taller and [dose — ask your vet] heavier.
The coat is short and thick but never velvety, and is most often a brindle; this may be of any colour, including grey or blue, with or without black. Other colours are fawn in any shade from sand-coloured to red, with or without black; and black-and-brindle – a black-and-tan in which the tan areas are brindled. The face may or may not have a black mask; the nose is pigmented black. White markings to the neck, chest or paws are acceptable, but excessive white is discouraged.
The head is large, strong, squarish and brachycephalic. The muzzle is short, ideally approximately 37% of the length of the head, with the lower jaw slightly concave; mild prognathism is tolerated. The ears are set high and are pendent if not cropped. The skin is very thick, with neck folds and some wrinkles on the face.
Since the breed was used for hunting in packs, it is sociable with other dogs.
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 in the subjugation of Native American peoples, as well as in the re-capture of slaves. Becerrillo, a ferocious war-dog owned by Juan Ponce de León, may have been of this type.
Dogs of this type are shown in the bullfighting ring in an etching by Francisco de Goya in his series La Tauromaquia of 1816.
