Despite its appearance and history, the Spanish Alano is a dog that can serve as an excellent life companion, even in small apartments. Of course, you must offer him physical and mental stimulation and he must be properly socialized and educated from his first weeks of life in order to control certain aspects of his natural character. This is a very old breed that nearly became extinct, but is still respected and valued today for its talents and history. He is a medium-sized dog with a short muzzle, endowed with great strength and courage and who is very loyal to his master.
Continue reading this breed sheet from PlanèteAnimal to discover all the characteristics of the Spanish Alano, its origin, its character, its education, its care, its he alth and where to adopt one!
Origin
- Europe
- Spain
FCI Nomenclature
- Group II
Physical Characteristics
- Rustic
- Muscular
- Proportional
- Long ears
Size
- Average
Height
- 55-70
Adult Weight
- 25-45
Life expectancy
- 10-12
Recommended physical activity
- Average
Character
- Balanced
- Strong
- Very loyal
- Active
- Quiet
- Dominant
Ideal for
- Apartment
- House
- Walking
- The hunt
- Sports
Recommended climate
- Temperate
Hair type
- Short
- Big
Origin of the Spanish Alano
" The Spanish Alano is a very old breed. It is believed that these dogs entered Europe with the arrival of the Alano tribes in the 4th and 5th centuries, when they were highly valued for certain jobs such as big game hunting, guarding and herding.They were the companions of the Spanish conquest of America and the first written historical references date back to 1247 by Gonzalo de Berceo. This appreciation has spread to other countries on the continent such as Germany, France and England. In the latter country, the press wrote the following about a specimen of the Spanish Alano: when fighting, he only holds his opponent by the head, he is silent and insensitive to pain. "
In the 19th century and after the changes in the way of life of humans, the Alano lost much of its importance and other breeds became more important and it almost disappeared It is only thanks to the efforts of certain cynologists, in the 80s, that he was able to survive because they undertook to recover this prestigious canine breed.
Characteristics of the Spanish Alano
The Spanish Alano is a medium-sized dog, it has a height at the withers of 60-65 cm and a weight of 40-45 kg.Males are larger than females. It has a straight, long, rustic and harmonious profile and a body structure that gives it agility, endurance and speed. Its limbs are well attached, firm and muscular and the tail is low set, thick and it does not usually exceed the height of the hock. His chest is wide and deep with a rounded rib cage.
The head of the Spanish Alano is brachycephalic and it is equipped with a short, deep and wide muzzle, a marked nasofrontal depression and a strong and broad skull with a square appearance. Its ears are high insertions, rather folded over the face, set well apart and pointed. Unfortunately, to this day, many people still crop the Spanish Alano's ears, a cruel and totally unnecessary practice. Her neck has wrinkles and folds that create a kind of double chin. Its nose is broad, black and large and its nostrils are well defined. His eyes are slanted, amber, yellow or hazel in color, which gives them a serious expression.
The colors of the Spanish Alano
Its coat is short and thick and it usually has characteristic colors like brown in all its variants, including grayish and bluish. Other shades of color that may appear in the Spanish Alano are:
- Wax
- Bay
- Carbon
- Gray
Some specimens may show a black spot on the head and other black spots on body parts such as the neck, chest or limbs.
How the Spanish Alano Puppy?
As this is a dog with the right proportions, you can see from a young age that he will become very tall. They should stay with their mother until they are at least 2 or 3 months old, then be fed kibble made for puppies that gives them the amount of protein, fats and essential nutrients they need to grow up he althy. he alth.
The Spanish Alano is a potentially dangerous dog?
The Alano is not on the list of breeds considered potentially dangerous. However, since many of its physical characteristics coincide with those mentioned in established law, if a dog exhibits behavior that can be described as dangerous, it is possible that it will be considered potentially dangerous and it will be necessary to have the corresponding permit for the possession of a PPD dog.
Character of the Spanish Alano
The character and behavior of the Spanish Alano is the result of the nature of its breed and the uses to which it has been subjected over time. It is characterized by being a courageous, self-confident, balanced, calm and constantly alert dog. He is not a barking dog and he is very noble.
" He tends to be the dog of a single master, to whom he obeys and he will be faithful until the end of his days.He is not a very affectionate dog, but he will show affection towards his guardian. Provided it has been properly trained and socialized and its instinct for strength and aggression reduced, it tolerates strangers and other animals well."
Training and Education of the Spanish Alano
As we have already mentioned, it is important that these dogs are well socialized from a young age because this is what will prevent aggressive behavior with strangers. Education is also very important to make them an excellent companion dog and to curb their determined and aggressive instinct. This training must of course be done by positive reinforcement, otherwise we would not obtain the expected results and the well-being of your dog will be affected.
Positive reinforcement is a form of conditioning that involves rewarding desirable behavior without punishing undesirable behavior.In this way, learning is much more efficient, faster and more pleasant for the dog. Find out how to educate a puppy in this other article.
Spanish Alano Care
The Spanish Alano is a dog that adapts to both indoor and outdoor life. He needs a minimum of three walks a day, at least one of which will be dedicated to off-leash outdoor physical activity, such as play in a park, long runs, or outdoor sports.
In addition, they should be offered mental stimulation so that they do not get bored, develop repetitive behaviors or stereotypes. To achieve this, it will be essential to ensure adequate enrichment of the environment, as well as dedicating some time each day to play with our Spanish Alano.
As his hair is short, the hygiene of the fur requires practically no care.It should be washed when it is very dirty and it should be brushed at least once a week to remove hair and dead cells and promote blood circulation in the skin. Teeth, ears and eyes should also be cleaned to prevent disease and infection.
The diet must be complete and intended for the canine species, in order to guarantee that it obtains all the nutrients necessary to maintain its he alth and quality of life.
Spanish Alano he alth
The he alth of these dogs is very good, they have a life expectancy of about 12 years. They are strong and he althy canids with no hereditary diseases. Nevertheless, the folds of the skin can predispose to the development of contact dermatitis, as well as the accumulation of dirt, grease and dander which can lead to infection and itching.
It is essential that these dogs receive routine checks and preventative medicine through neutering, vaccinations and deworming.
How to adopt a Spanish Alano?
The Spanish Alano is a dog found today in some shelters and shelters, especially in European countries such as Spain. In this country, it is an easy dog to adopt. Before adopting it, it is essential to ask yourself the question of whether you are capable of taking good care of a Spanish Alano, taking into account that they need proper training and education. from an early age, daily physical activity and care that will enable them to enjoy a good quality of life. A dog is not a toy, but a member of your family that you should care for, love and respect as it deserves.
Photos of Spanish Alano
