Description of the Alano Espanol dog breed: character, care, purpose

History of the origin of the breed

The peculiarity of the ancient Alano breed is that they are the progenitors of many dogs belonging to the Molosser family. The Spanish bulldogs themselves were domesticated in ancient times and came to Spain along with the nomadic tribes of pastoralists and warriors of the Sarmatians - the Alans.

A universal dog was needed that could serve as a shepherd, protector and fighter - the tribes fought wars of conquest. All these qualities were perfectly combined in Alano.

Alano-Bulgarian nomads brought dogs to the territory of the Iberian Peninsula at the beginning of the 5th century, then they were expelled to Africa, but the dogs remained. Some of them were brought by the conquistadors to the New World.

The first mention of Spanish bulldogs dates back to the 14th century in the “Book of Hunting,” dedicated to the praise of fighting dogs. It was noted that the Alan’s jaws were as if they were made of metal; the dog was ready to grab everything that moved.

Since the 19th century, Alanos became regular participants in bullfights and accompanied their owners on driven wild boar hunts and participated in fights. In 1883, bullfighting was officially banned due to its cruelty, and subsequently driven hunting was also banned.

The breed practically disappeared; some individuals survived only in distant regions of the country - they grazed and guarded livestock.

At the end of the 20th century, a group of dog handlers became concerned with the issue of restoring the breed. The remaining Alano representatives were collected and the selection of breed lines began.

In 1997, the first Spanish bulldog was recreated, the Spanish Society for the Development, Support and Breeding of the Alano was created and in 2004 the breed was officially recognized in Spain.

There are currently about 1,000 dogs of this breed in the world.

The purpose of the Spanish Alano

Since the appearance of Alanos in Spain, their power and strength were appreciated, dogs were often used in hunting deer, wild boar and bear. Farmers used them to tame bulls. They also served as brave and courageous guards and protectors. Alano helps in hunting But for these purposes there were many other working dogs.

The Spanish Alanos, thanks to their “death grip,” were better known as participants in dog fights and bullfights, which is why they almost paid with complete extinction. Currently, Alano dogs are bred as guard dogs and domestic companion dogs. Also, dogs often take part in various competitions, and some of its representatives, as in the Middle Ages, take part in battles. You can often find Alanos serving in law enforcement agencies as sniffer dogs, as well as security dogs and bodyguards. Farmers sometimes use these dogs as shepherds to guard and herd cows and sheep.

Description of the breed

• the head is large, the skull is brachycephalic;
• short muzzle with contrasting black lips;
• The ears are miniature compared to the head. Shape: triangular or pointed with rounded edges;
• the eyes are elliptical in shape. Color: from black to amber;
• the neck is short, but very dense and muscular;
• wide chest;
• paws are muscular, smooth and parallel;
• The toes are long and the pads are hard. The breed does not have dewclaws;
• tail shape: saber. Thick and fairly short;
• the skin is rough. There are many folds on the body, mainly on the muzzle;
• the coat is thick, but short and harsh;
• There is no uniform standard for color. It can be very diverse: shades of red, fawn, copper, gray and similar shades. A black mask on the face and white spots on the paws and chest are allowed.

Dossier

Adult height: males - 65 ms, females - 61 cm. Weight: male - from 38 to 45 kg, female - 33-38 kg. Characteristic color: different shades of brindle. Coat Length: The coat is short and smooth to the touch. Life expectancy: from 10 to 13 years. Advantages of the breed: patient, balanced, not picky, intelligent. Difficulties of the breed: too independent. Average price: from $500 to $2800. Classification: medium breed; hunting, guard dog, companion dog.

Character and behavioral characteristics

A dog's temperament is determined by its origin; these are true Spaniards. They are energetic, dexterous, and have lightning-fast reactions. In battle and hunting, they are result-oriented, show innovative thinking and independence in decision-making. This does not mean that the dog will disobey the command.

Despite their impressive size and reputation as a bloodthirsty fighter, dogs are absolutely subordinate to humans. The breed shows virtually no desire to win authority from the owner and test his strength.

At home he shows himself to be an affectionate and good-natured pet. They are very people-oriented and love children. They get along well with other animals without showing aggression.

Alano is only suitable for indoor living. This does not mean that they can live in an apartment - they need constant movement and being outside, the best option for keeping them is to live in a private house.

Education and training

Raising a puppy begins from the first days at home, teaching it its name, collar and place. Gradually they are accustomed to a diet and walking regime.

Despite the serious size and myths about the bloodthirstiness of the Alano, the owner can cope with their upbringing and training on his own. Although, experienced dog handlers do not recommend having such a dog as your first pet.

During training, consider the following points:

• you cannot use physical force or roughness;
• achieve a trusting relationship with your pet;
• make it clear that you are the leader.

Dog names

Considering all the power and strength of the breed, a characteristic nickname should be selected for the Alano. A puppy with a pedigree, as a rule, already has an assigned name, which will always be officially assigned to it. Often new owners give their pet nicknames derived from this name. But no one is forbidden to call a dog by a more acceptable pet nickname.

For example, a male dog can be called Bacho, Vasco, Diaz, Crispo, Matias, Ruben, Tobias, Hugo and so on in Spanish. For a bitch, the names Alda, Berta, Gladis, Caro, Marita, Celia, Erna and the like may be suitable.

Diseases

The ancient breed has a strong immune system, which allows such a pet to live a long time and practically not get sick.

It is believed that Alanos have practically no genetic diseases. Like all large dogs, Spanish Bulldogs are susceptible to:

• articular dysplasia;
• arthrosis;
• otitis;
• allergies.

A feature of Alano Hispaniol is its rapid blood clotting. This has a positive effect on the health of dogs, since neither their ancient activities nor their current ones are safe. Alano simply needs fast wound healing and protection from large blood loss.

Dogs need timely vaccination against the most common diseases. Only in this case will the pet be healthy and live a long life.

How to choose a puppy

Before you buy an Alano Espanol puppy, you must:

• get to know the puppy’s mom and dad, assessing their appearance and character traits;
• find out from the breeder what genetic characteristics and hereditary diseases the animal’s relatives had;
• choose the most active, well-fed baby;
• check if his ears and eyes are clean.

If a person liked several kids at once, then he needs to stay with them longer. You can drop your keys or try to play with the puppies by trying to establish contact with one of them.

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  Photo from Instagram account marvelgirl1977

The cost of Alano Spanish bulldogs will depend on their class; it is fixed at 600 – 1,500 dollars.

Feeding

Both ready-made industrial diets and natural food are suitable. You cannot mix the two types of food.

Dry food is chosen from the premium segment and above, taking into account the label “for active dogs”. Since the Spanish Bulldog requires a large portion of food, ready-made food is the best choice. This will make life easier for the owner, saving him from preparing and preparing a balanced diet on natural food.

Natural food type:

• 80% of the diet should be a source of protein: meat, offal (large pieces);
• fermented milk products (up to 9% fat content);
• eggs;
• sea ​​fish;
• cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal, rice);
• vegetables and fruits – raw, potatoes – boiled;
• There should always be water available to saturate the muscles with oxygen.

Exclude from the diet:

• sweets and smoked foods;
• salty foods;
• spices;
• tubular bones and chicken.

Dogs are prone to allergic reactions, so you need to strictly monitor their diet and eliminate the product that causes suspicion or change the food.

Diet

An adult Alano should eat 1/20 of his body weight per day. Considering the average weight of a dog is 40 kg, it needs 2 kg of food. The basis (2/3) is meat products. They are served fresh to the animal. The remaining third is filled with vegetables and cereals. The cereals are boiled, the vegetables are better raw. But if the dog does not eat them in this form, then they are also subject to heat treatment.

Expert opinion

Anna Abramenko

An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.

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The dog quickly gets used to dry food. But in this case, the diet is supplemented with fresh meat. Puppies need dietary supplements for the development of the musculoskeletal system. An adult dog is fed twice a day.

Mating, pregnancy and childbirth

Physiologically, the bitch is ready for mating in her first heat, but it cannot be mated so early! The best age for the first mating is the age of 2 years - for a bitch and a dog.

The owner can detect external signs of pregnancy starting from the fifth week, when the mammary glands swell and the abdomen enlarges. The psychological state also changes - the bitch is more affectionate and affectionate.

During pregnancy, the dog needs to be supported with a special complex of vitamins, taken to the toilet more often and equipped with a comfortable place.

From mating to birth it takes from 55 to 73 days. The owner should note the day of mating in order to calculate the due date and track its violation. Early or late birth can lead to the death of the litter, so you need to contact a veterinarian in advance to control the process.

Appearance

The Spanish Alano is a Molossian type dog with a harmonious, athletic build and cat-like grace. The appearance should be associated with speed, agility and strength. Stretched case. Sexual dimorphism is well expressed. Height at withers for males - 58-63 cm; weight - 30-40 kg. Bough height - 55-60 cm; weight - 25-35 kg.

The head is large, powerful, square in shape. The profile is slightly convex, the skull between the ears is flat, wide with well-defined frontal sinuses. The skin on the head is smooth; during excitement, small folds may appear between the ears. The muzzle is relatively short, accounting for 35-37% of the total head length. The chin is wide, the lips are moderately thick, black, the upper one slightly covering the lower one. The jaws are well developed and strong. The teeth are healthy, large, bite: reverse scissors, slight undershot. The absence of the first premolar is allowed. The cheeks are well developed. The eyes are medium-sized, round, amber or yellow in color. The eyelids are black and taut. The ears are medium in size and set wide apart. Traditionally, ears are cropped short.

In its natural state, hanging.

The body is stretched, the length exceeds the height at the withers by 10%. The back is straight. The loin is relatively long. The croup is slightly sloping and wide. The chest is deep, of medium width, descending to the elbows, the width is approximately equal to 30% of the height. The abdomen is moderately tucked. The tail hangs down to the hock and is straight. The legs are strong, with well-developed muscles, straight. Rear with moderate angles. The toes are curved, not pressed too tightly together, the nails are short, strong, and the pads are strong.

The skin fits tightly over the body, is slightly looser in the head and neck area, and thick. The coat is short and dense. The spine has a durable texture. The undercoat is short and fine. Color: yellow, yellow-brown, brindle, wolf. All colors with or without black mask.

Owner reviews

Ivan K.

I am the owner of a beautiful red male. Before this, a Stafford lived in the family. A wonderful dog, but he is more focused on protection and has a fair amount of aggression, including towards people.

I was surprised to read that Alanos were also used to breed Staffies. The dog impressed with its versatility: it will not let you down as a guard or watchman, even on a hunt. I purchased it from a European nursery. We hunt together, even for a bear. An excellent home protector, he never aggressions in vain.

Alexander O.

We have a large family and we chose a dog of such a breed that it would treat all family members almost equally, without singling out one. We planned to breed and sell purebred puppies, so we chose a female.

Indeed, the dog has one owner, with whom it hunts, but the rest of the family members are not empty space. She doesn’t take instructions aggressively and gets along well with children – such games are great!

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Lifespan

Spanish Alano life expectancy
The Alano dog is distinguished by good health, it does not have a genetic predisposition to many Molosser diseases. The average life expectancy reaches 14-15 years, while the dog remains active and vigorous until the end. But animals require standard vaccination against most canine infections and protection against parasites. Among the diseases that can shorten the eyelid are hip dysplasia and inflammation of the middle ear.

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Briefly about the main thing

1. Alano is an ancient breed of dog.
2. The breed is not officially recognized by the FCI.
3. Purpose: guard, hunting, shepherd.
4. They can only live in a private home and require intense exercise.
5. Alano breeding began in Russia - in Ossetia, the main nurseries - in Europe and the USA.
6. The cost of dogs is from 500 to 1500 US dollars.

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