THE ALANO, BEHAVIOR.

Javier Parra with "Taranto" (l.) and "Pantera" (r.)

That mild-mannered animal, that answered to the name of "Chato," usually was stretched out in front of the door to the market. I would never have thought of him again, had it not been for the unusual scene that he was involved in: enmeshed in a fight, with a firm grip on his adversary who had dared to dispute his bitch. During the quarrel he didn't change his expression; didn't growl or thrash his opponent, maintaining that remarkable indifference that was so much his character. It was seventeen years later, when I relived an identical scene, produced in this case by "Taranto" my current Alano.

They are intuitive and intelligent in their work, calibrating their strengths although without previous experience. My Alano was eleven months old when he had to face his "test of fire." This came in the form of a fighting calf weighing about 250 kilos. The objective was to bring in an animal that had spent more than a year roaming the hills of a magnificent estate in Constantina (Sevilla.) 

"Taranto" rounding up calves

After a pursuit of two thousand meters, the scene was of the cow running with its head twisted by the weight of "Taranto," firmly clasped to its neck. A point was reached where the cow stops, moos and struggles vainly to get rid of its oppressor until finally giving up.

"Taranto"

As a defender of animals, I should make it clear that these practices usually have the objective of the well-being of the livestock (treatment of injuries, vaccines, recovery of strayed animals, etc.,) producing less harm than other more modern methods, and even occasionally impractical, like lassos, anesthesic darts, etc. The dog captures the cow, causing the surrender by tiring it and the stress produced by the chase rather than through pain or bodily harm.

Subsequent captures corroborated my opinion regarding the intelligent manner in which these dogs work: biting in places chosen to avoid harm, applying just enough force, refraining from the traditional shaking of the head so typical in other breeds and that only serves to cause unnecessary exhaustion when facing cows weighing so much more, as well as being undesirable for the rancher who tries to avoid hurting his calves, and finally, the very rapid recuperation both physical and psychological.

In regard to playing, they are relatively serious in their adulthood; the "eternal puppy," so common in our show dogs, is not practical in the countryside: it is necessary to conserve fuel,and - applying a metaphor - the Alano is a diesel engine: strong, practical and for heavy-duty. Affectionate and especially protective, they are able to differentiate perfectly between what is work and what is sport. Very rarely will an Alano remain with just a sleeve in its jaws while the dummy escapes: he will pursue the main object.

Despite the fact that full development is slow - care is required in training - certain attributes of Taranto surprised me for his precociousness - dominating but not agressive with other males from an early age; he made a bitch pregnant when only six months old, and lifted a hind leg to urinate at the same age.

"Pantera"

Shortly after acquiring him - eighty days after birth - his first night at home was curious: he didn't utter a single cry, but in the early moring hours he startled us with hoarse but puppy-like barks. On opening the door from the hall I found him in the living
room, positioned defiantly, growling, with his hair bristling and his gaze fixed on the intruder - my sister. His thoughtful temperment makes him very obedient; after a few weks of living with us, he performed a number of basic commands. From the manner in which they seemed to emerge almost spontaneously and without a systematic pre-training, I began to believe in the very controversial "learning by imitation", since this development took place alongside of a Boxer and a "perra de aguas" who were trained dogs.

He won't do anything that might displease you, in the house he looks like a life-size sculpture:
you don't realize he's there (I can't say that about my other dogs.) He lets you hang him from his scruff and falls with the same smoothness of a blanket dropping on itself. 

But all of his tranquility changes abruptly when his territory is invaded. If you run with him, he adapts to your pace without the slightest sign of tiring. All of these characteristics spring from his ties to the rural background, where a dog is needed that respects the challenges of the farm animals, including its companions - with whom he'll have to work as a team. A dog that obeys exclusively his master's voice, that is sufficiently adjusted so as to release its prey on command, that has the physical ability and the temperment to endure hard work with minimum effort; a
dog that, in summary, is capable of living with little pampering, and that knows how to dodge the hostilities of who can be his best friend or worst enemy: man.

These are the characteristics that make our present-day Alanos the heirs of bearing to a large degree the purity of the genes of their mythical ancestors. In this sense it is pointless to try to reconstruct their genetic background: it is already in place since antiquity.

It is a breed with values that can be defended worldwide, and as Spaniards, it is a challenge to fight for the conservation and promotion of this keepsake that distills a deep sentiment in its very existence. The alano breed, brave and full of courage, with its rustic appearance symbolizes the valor and capacity for suffering of the
history of our Country. 

"Taranto"

Page maintained by J. A. C.
alano@biosys.net
Copyright(c) J. A. C.
Created: 3/05/97 Updated: 22 ago 2000