BREED STANDARD
"Taranto" Breeder: Javier Parra

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPANISH ALANO BREEDERS     (ASOCIACION NACIONAL DE CRIADORES DE ALANO ESPAÑOL) (ANCAE)
Address: Antioquia nº 1 Bloque 7, 5ºB. 41007 Sevilla . Phone: 00 34 955750907

Thanks to Javier Parra Gordillo and Diego Bermudez Aguiar, breeders, for this standard.

• GENERAL DESCRIPTION
• ORIGIN
• CHARACTER AND FACULTIES
• MORPHOLOGY
• MOVEMENT
• SKIN
• DEFECTS
• NOTE

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A hunting dog, straight shaped, rough y well-proportioned. Brachycephalic form of head, squared in appearance and with a serious expression. Its body structure is graceful; its movements are agile, and almost feline. The bite is very strong and firm. It has a serious and resolute character, and shows distrust toward strangers.


ORIGIN:            

The breed originated in the Iberian Peninsula; there are references of its existence dating to the 14th century. Possibly it is descended from the hunting dogs brought by the barbaric tribes after the fall of the Roman Empire.

CHARACTER AND FACULTIES:

The Spanish Alano traditionally has been used in three basic functions:

1) Herding of cattle.
2) Big-game hunting.
3) Guarding and defense.

In all of these functions the Alano depends on its most outstanding characteristics: its forceful bite. The grip of the Spanish Alano is known and praised since ancient times. The dog bites with its whole jaw, extending the grip back to the molars. The grip is very steady and is maintained for a long period.

Its character is very serious and reliable. It is not tolerant with strangers who are watched with suspicion. It shifts to attack with little outward sign of excitation. When biting wild or brave animals it seeks specific spots of these beasts such as the ears or snout.

Its psychological development is slow as it does not achieve maturity until it becomes twoyears old. Before reaching that age the dog may show signs of insecurity, and it isnot advisable to try to force the development of its character. On achieving maturity the dog doesn't fear aything, and reacts with self-assurance when threatened. With its master it acts submissively and with willingness to be trained.

MORPHOLOGY:       

Height and Weight.

Males 58-63 cms
Females 55-60 cms
Weight  between 35 Kg. and 45 Kg.

Note: There should be some degree of harmony between the weight and size, allowing variations of 2 cm. from the sizes shown provided that the dog is well proportioned.

Head Skull.

Brachicephalic in form, large and bulky, with prominent androunded frontal temples, and emphasized frontal nasal depression. The skull/face ratio is 65/35. The temple muscles are well developed.

Face and Muzzle.

Shorter than the skull, very wide and powerful, and usually comprising about 35% of the total length of the head.

Eyes.

Appreciably separated, slightly ovaled, and with a serious expression. Clear hazel or yellowish in color depending on the color of the cape, producing the characteristic expression of the breed. Noticeable Zygomatic facial arches.

Ears.

With medium insertion and usually cut back from their base; small in size and slightly rounded at the tip. If they are not cut, they are of medium size and carried folded over the face.

Jaws.

Strong and sound teeth, the incisors should be well aligned and the canines short and wide and well separated from each other. The bite is scissor-like with a slight prognathism allowed, of not more than 2 mm.

Nose.

Large, wide and with open orifices.

Skin.

Adhered to the muscles. Slightly hanging lower lip. Some wrinkles appear in the forehead when the dog is attentive. Black pigmenation of the nostrils and eyelids.

Neck.

Very strong and powerful, short and wide, with a slight double-chin that should never be extreme.

Torso Rib Cage.

Arched, not cylindrical, dropping to the level of the elbows. Back and withers strong and solid.

Backbone Outkine.

Straight or slightly ascending.

Brisket.

Medium wide and deep, very muscular.

Shoulders.

Well developed with large powerful shoulder-blades, providing an ample width for the insertion of the front extremities.

Abdominal Region.

Retracted belly without reaching a greyhound-like appearance.

Croup.

Wide and moderately short. Slightly inclined.

Tail.

Medium at birth, thick at the base, it gradually tapers, thinning at the tip. The length reaches the dog's breech. It is carried high, arcing slightly toward the rump without becoming curled.

Extremities Forearms.

Long, straight and quite vertical, viewed from the front or side. Strong-boned and well developed. Long, inclined upper arms. Compact paws with firm fingers in the form of cat paws.

Extremities Hind Legs.

Strong, with well-developed muscles. Quite vertical and correctly angled. Breech is moderately high and solid. Paws with same characteristics as the front paws, do not reveal salient bones.

MOVEMENT:       

Walking.

When stepping the weight is carried by the forward train giving the appearance of a chained movement, more like that of a feline than a canine. The head is carried low.

Trotting.

Ample and long, with a style similar to walking.

Galloping.

Rapid and elastic with considerable stretching and flexing of the torso. Very fast.

SKIN:        

Adhered to the body but rather elastic, somewhat looser at the neck and head.

Hair.

Short and dense, rather thick, without undergrowth.

Color.

The following colors are acceptable:

- Tigered and lion-like in all variations.
- Black and tigered.
- Wolf-like.
- White, spotted with the above colors.

The lower legs as well as the chest, neck and muzzle may be white.

DEFECTS:        

Slight.

- Prognathism over 2 mm.provided that the canines remain interlocked.
- Missing up to two first molars. 2 premolares.
- Heavy appearance.

Serious.

- Excessive prognathism (over 5 mm.).
- Missing more than two first molars.
- Lack of front nasal depression.
- Unsociable character.
- Salient leg bones.

Very serious. Ineptitude. In general, lack of reproduction.

- Long hair.
- Abnormal colors.
- Weak character.
- Mastin-like structure.
- Greyhound-like structure.
- Twisted mouth.
- Castrated dogs, or having a displaced or missing testicle.

And in general all characteristics that deviate from those described in the breed standard.

NOTE:         

This breed standard refers to the type of Alano used fundamentally for big-game hunting and herding cattle in the field over long distances. It should be noted that in letters there are frequently instances of the type used traditionally for short-distance chases in bull-rings, slaughter-houses and as property watchdogs: they are generally smaller dogs of heavier build, usually with short muzzles and powerful heads.

This type of dog that the English call BULLDOG (used for recuperation of the English Bulldog), is known here as "perro de presa" or "pug", among other names. We do not discount the possibility that in the future it may be chosen as a separate breed.

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