Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Bull-Baiting and Alano Espanol

Alano Espanol
The breed is best known for its former use during Spanish bullfights.

Appearance

The Alano Español is a very large dog of the Molosser type, with a large, strong head. Males should be no smaller than 58 centimetres (23 in) at thewithers, and should weigh 34–40 kilograms (75–88 lb) with females somewhat smaller.

The coat is short and thick but never velvety, and is most often a brindle of any color; leonardo (fawn);black and brindle; sable wolf. White chest flashes are acceptable but prevalence of white is not. The face may or may not have a black mask.^[1]

The muzzle is short with the lower jaw slightly concave, and has a very large, broad, black nose. The ears are set high and may be drop or cut short. The skin is very thick, with neck folds and some wrinkles on the face

Besides their use in the bullring Alanos were also used for hunting big game such as wild boar.

The large dogs began to disappear as the work they did began to change. Big game became rare, stockyards were modernized and no longer used dogs to hold the cattle, use in bullfights was outlawed, and by 1963 Alanos were thought to be extinct. In the 1970s a group of fanciers and veterinary students made house-to house surveys in western and northern Spain, and found a few examples of the dogs in the Basque areas ofEnkarterri and Cantabria, being used to herd semi-wild cattle and hunt wild boar

Although the breed in Spain is still small in number and the breed has not yet been recognised internationally by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, examples of the Alano Español have been exported to North America, where a few breeders are promoting for temperament and hunting ability.

Temperament

Since the breed was used for hunting in packs, it is very sociable with other dogs.^[6] All large dogs must be well socialized with humans and other animals when young, if they are to be safely kept as pets. Large working dogs, such as the Alano Español, need regular training and activity all of their lives.

Some people who are passionate about the dog's fighting abilities, similar to Pit Bulls, are also interested in Alano. They expect Alano to be audacious and strong and to assure the feeling of power in the neighborhood by exposing its capabilities hanging on the tire or dragging heavy objects.

Fighting Dogs

Dog blood sport is organized animal cruelty at its worst. Dog fighting is a blood sport in which dogs are made to fight, sometimes to the death. Dog fighting is used for entertainment and may also create a revenue stream from stud fees, admission fees, and gambling. Here is a list of dog fighting breeds.