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.
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.
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.
Interesting Facts
Here are some interesting facts about this Spanish breed:
- have an extremely independent disposition;
- the International Association of Cynologists has not yet officially recognized this breed;
- Alanos continue to be used as guards;
- in relationships with other pets they take a leadership position.
The breed is still rare because no one has been breeding it for a long time. But thanks to this, it was possible to maintain the purity of the genes, so her original appearance remained almost unchanged. Alano is a breed for experienced dog breeders who can raise an obedient and devoted pet.
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.
Possible diseases
Alanos need physical activity. A quiet lifestyle leads to the development of cardiovascular diseases. These are heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Heart problems are indicated by a blue tongue, wheezing, and intermittent breathing. The dog may lose consciousness. In this case, the animal must be immediately taken to a veterinary hospital. The only preventive measure is active walking. Running for a stick, jumping, playing with a ball will give the dog the opportunity to avoid diseases.
The scourge of large dog breeds is damage to the limbs. These include not only sprains and fractures. Spanish Alanos suffer from arthritis, bursitis and arthrosis. Diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system are expressed in limping. The animal's physical activity decreases. Preventive measures for such diseases include taking dietary supplements with chondroitin and glucosamine. When feeding homemade food, vitamins are needed in courses.
Important! Preparations for maintaining joint tissue are especially relevant during the growth period of puppies. Young animals are not recommended to take hurdles or carry heavy objects. Their workload is running and active games.
Large dogs, including Alanos, may have digestive problems. They suffer from bloating. The dog's belly increases in volume. The dog is breathing heavily and may groan. The condition occurs after eating and requires veterinary intervention. You won't be able to cure your pet on your own. If you notice this condition in a dog, you should immediately take it to the clinic for examination by a veterinarian. Sometimes the only way to help is surgery.
Illiterate breeders are to blame for the occurrence of the disease. The amount of food should be sufficient to ensure the dog’s vital functions, but it should not be overfed. You cannot feed the animal before a walk. Food intake should be provided 20–30 minutes after physical activity.
Alano's diseases, symptoms and treatment
Centuries-old history has made Alanos into healthy and strong dogs with good immunity, in addition, they have a unique feature of the circulatory system - rapid blood clotting, which reduces blood loss during injuries and rapid healing of wounds.
Like any breed, these dogs are not immune from dysplasia, viral and bacterial infections, so do not forget about timely vaccinations. The life expectancy of representatives of this breed is 12 -16 years.
Lifespan
The Alan 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.
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.
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!
How to choose a puppy
You should take the choice of an Alano puppy very seriously. This breed is not very numerous and has a fairly high price. Unscrupulous breeders often pass off a cross of this breed as a purebred Spanish bulldog. Therefore, it is best if you contact a nursery or trusted people who breed this breed.
Experts will tell you how best to choose a dog depending on your goals: whether you want to breed, take part in competitions, or just get a companion dog.
Photo
Briefly about the main thing
- Alano is an ancient breed of dog.
- The breed is not officially recognized by the FCI.
- Purpose: guard, hunting, shepherd.
- They can only live in a private home and require intense exercise.
- Alano breeding began in Russia - in Ossetia, the main nurseries - in Europe and the USA.
- The cost of dogs is from 500 to 1500 US dollars.
Share your experience of keeping representatives of this ancient breed in the comments. Your experience is very important and interesting.
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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.
