Breed of gripping or prey dog ​​of very ancient origins. Medium in size and considered to be breed of Spain. When mixed other races are created as the Bull Dog in Spain, the alano of vautre (grip) in France, the Old bulldog in England, the extinct Bullenbeisser in Germany, or own Dogo Argentino.

Molosser light dam and corridor. The traditional functionality It is the handling of cattle bravo and semibravo, Iberian trunk, in extensive regime. Big game hunting was also used., as tooth dog for holding deer and wild boar. Its modern implementation is care and defence, as well as for guarding livestock against any type of predator.

The existence of Alans dogs Spain dates back several centuries ago, Although it is not very clear what its origin was. Some believe that this race was extended by moloso Europe by the alano in the fourth century and was taken to the Iberian Peninsula and to the north africa by the hooligans.

In 1350 publishes the rey Alfonso XI their «Book of Montería». In the fifteenth century it is published «Treaty of Montería», anonymous, which performs a deep somatic description of the dog.

When he is talking about perro Dane everyone knew that it was a running dam that to justify its name had to meet certain features:

With strong head, of longilinear proportions, high rump and good bones. Also your character It was clearly defined by its function gripping dog. "not taking for hunger or reward, but by right nature that God gave him." (we call it today prey).

Of which there is no doubt is that these dogs were very extended, as evidenced by his appearance in paintings. There is a alano that plasma Velazquez in the hole hunt, which it is in the National Gallery de Londres, those of Goya in his Capturing a bull or those of an engraving of the French romantic Blanchard. They are also appointed by Cervantes and Lope de Vega Alans of Thirds.

It is believed, according to the most probable hypothesis, they reached the Iberian Peninsula, accompanying the Alano people, shortly after the fall of Roman empire, about him V century. The alano used primarily for war, hunting and ranching, They were robust and primitive specimens. Later, his unbeatable psychophysical qualities (robustness, bravery and loyalty) They make the Alano play a remarkable role as a member of the Spanish armies, especially during the conquest of the Americas.

More complete data can be found in 1347, in the book of the hunt, gift Alfonso XI "The Justice". Other mentions of importance on Alano, worthy of mention occurs in Utrera in 1603, by Fray Francisco de Tamayo.

In the conquest of New world dogs played a key role, animal unknown to the natives. These, coupled with the horses, armor and arquebuses contributed to the victory.
They were the terror of the natives, thus the stories of the time did not spare impressive descriptions such as the following:

The Friar Bernardino de Sahagun refers to testimonies of Indians attacked by "huge dogs, with ears cut, fierce yellow eyes Bloodshot, huge mouths, hanging languages and teeth in the form of knives, wild as the devil and spotted like jaguars¨. The description has an inevitable tone of admiration and fear; let us not forget that in pre-Columbian times (before the arrival of the conquistadors) the Indians had dogs of small size and small body. In this way, the indigenous called the dogs of the Spaniards "a diabolical invention.

Bartholomew Columbus and Fontanarossa, brother of the discoverer and Adelantado and governor of Hispaniola, they say the Chronicles employed 200 men, 20 horses and 20 Alans, It was the "debut" of the Alans in the Conquest of America.

The Spanish Alano It is supported primarily by its huge courage, with special mention when dealing with wild pig, disregarding even his own life. Its functions have changed little during these centuries. War Dog, livestock (especially for the beef and veal), big game hunting and nursery. It is in the eighteenth century when they appear the first written evidence of Spanish Alano, on their participation in the bravo bull party.

His qualities will cross the Spanish borders, becoming very significant exports, both American continent as to countries of Europe as France, England or Germany in order to improve their own races, especially the Bulldog and the Dogue de Bordeaux. even the international press echoes its characteristics, as happened in 1873, in the british press, where a Spanish prey specimen is described in detail (Alano), called Toro and says so: «…fighting holds his opponent only by the head, is silent and immune to pain…».

At the end of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th, begins the decline of the alano, motivated by multiple factors:

Exclusion of hosts, Changes in the tradition of hunting and livestock activity, definitive exclusion from the Festival of the bull and custom. This resulted in the gradual replacement of alano other imported breeds, in most of the times, in an unjustified way. Years later, you get even speculate about the possible disappearance of alano, since his last public appearance took place in Madrid, in the year 1963 (exhibition at the Retiro Park).

But they weren't gone, some population gaps remained in certain marginal areas, difficult to access, as are certain mountains Cantabria, Basque Country, Burgos and Salamanca. These remnants of the population managed to survive thanks to its functional qualities, as for the farmers and hunters in the area, outside all fashion and with an enviable sense of practicality, there was simply no better animal for such tasks than the Spanish Alano.

Today, and thanks to the excellent recovery work of some professionals and public bodies, the Spanish Alano practically, remains unchanged, It's a medium dog of prey, strong, agile and very serious. Specially equipped for the handling of cattle, for hunting and for custody.

Little barking by nature, very resistant to pain and disease, he is usually suspicious and distrustful of strangers and submissive and very affectionate with his owner and family.

The Alano is an animal slow in their development, reaching maturity, physical and mental, about two years. From that moment you will find a powerful animal, determined and very noble. As it's a dog selected primarily by their willingness to work, there is a certain variety of “types”, from the lighter Alans, gifted for hunting, even the heaviest, suitable for grazing and save (cattle lines or old bulldog).

Perhaps in recent times less attention is being paid to the latter, in favor of the most appropriate lines for hunting. Perhaps the lovers of this type of alano (Bull Dog), have to consider its viability as a separate race.

In 1880 the fate of “dogs the bull” and for this reason the bullrings stopped keeping dogs.

On the other hand, by ceasing to practice "round hunting", the montería is organized in a different way so that it is no longer interesting that the cattle fall grabbed by the dogs, but that they arrive at the posts where the huntsman is stationed, who is who pays the entertainment. Due to these circumstances, the Rehalas got rid of the Alans who had.

In the old days a dog was useful if it carried out some task. The Spanish Alano “stopped having a job” after the selection of more docile cattle breeds, thus this race regresses at breakneck speed until it reaches extinction.

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