Many experts believe that the presa dog , Alano, Dogo and Bull Dog are different names applied to the same type of dog with a wide variety of physical characteristics.

      The existence of the Alano in Spain dates back several centuries, although it is not very clear what was it's origin, something lost in the twilight of time. The Alano has always used to guard farms and cattle, and used as a hunter.

       There are various theories of its source. One of them points to possible Iberian origin, based on its introduction into the peninsula with the invasion of the Barbarians in the 15th century. As early as the year 1,350 King Alfonso XI published his Book on Hunting , and in the 15th century Treatise on Hunting, author unknown, there is a detailed physical description of the dog. When talking about the Alano everyone knows that it relates to a speedy attacker, and that in order to warrant the name, must posses certain characteristics: pug-nosed and with a solid head, with long-bodied proportions, high croup and well boned.

Also its character was clearly defined around its function as a clutching dog; "not seizing out of hunger or for a prize, but due to his god given natural temperament" (what we call today an "attack (presa) instinct.") There is no doubt about the fact that these dogs were very widespread, as demonstrated by their appearance in the works of the great painters, who were the authentic chroniclers of the realities of the epoch. Thus, as examples, Alanos are the dogs hunting scene hanging in the National Gallery, London; shown by Goya in his capture of a bull; or those that appear in an engraving of the French romanticist, Blanchard, or described in the writings of Cervantes and Lope de Vega.

                  Impressed by the appearance and performance of our Alanos, also called "Bull-Dogs" and " attack dogs" during the 17th century, the English, Germans and French imported them into their countries, as shown by writings of the period that refer to them as strains of Bulldog, Bullenbeiszer and Boudreaux Dogo, respectively. These breeds gave rise to others, such as the Boxer, Bullmastiff. Argentine Dogo, etc.

                      In the year 1873 there appeared in the British press a description of one of the Spanish "attack dogs" called the Bull that was exported there to renew the bloodlines of their Bulldogs, and that stated: "When it fights it holds its adversary only by its head, in absolute silence and totally indifferent to any pain. It is rather slow in its movements, with a sort of swaying when it walks carrying its head low."

                       With the inception of breeding in Spain the first Alanos appeared in shows. The last pair of Alanos were exhibited in 1963 in the Retiro Park in Madrid. There followed the conjecture about its extinction, and the affirmation that the Alano had disappeared, without any scientific basis to justify this audacity.

Where have the Alanos existed?

                           In all the Mediterranean Europe, and in Germany (source of the ancient Mastiff and Bull-mastiff.) in Germany (source of the ancient Boxer and German Dogos,) in France (source of the ancient Bordeaux Dogos,) in Italy (source of the Neapolitan Mastiff and the ancient Corsican Cane.) I all of these countries their present day breeds stem from the same common origin, in turn the same as the Spanish branch.

                              In Portugal they call the Alanos "Caes de Fila," synonym for a dog that pursues, seizes and holds.

Casa Hidalgo, Alanos Españoles
Saúl Saltares Díaz, Owner Breeder
718/963-3106, perromorro.ny@netzero.com