Alano Español Dog: A Glance into Its History, Characteristics, and Care
The Alano Español, also known as the Spanish Alano, is a breed of dog that originated from Spain. These dogs are muscular and powerful, often used for hunting, guarding, and even bullfighting. Here is a closer look at the Alano Español’s history, breed characteristics, intelligence, size, child-friendliness, health needs, grooming requirements, shedding amounts, trainability, exercise requirements, and average lifespan.
Alano Español Dog History
The breed’s origins trace back to the Middle Ages, when it was utilized for big game hunting and as an efficient farmer’s dog. In addition to its hunting abilities, the Alano Español was commonly used for cattle guarding as well as fighting as its large and forceful appearance and abilities made it a formidable opponent. This breed nearly became extinct in the 20th century but through concerted efforts, was revived and currently has a small but loyal following worldwide.
Alano Español Dog Breed Characteristics
Along with the breed’s muscular and powerful frame, they have a short coat which comes in a variety of colors, ranging from black, brindle, fawn, and beige. The Alano Español has a square-shaped head, athletic body, and a deep chest. This breed is confident, loyal, and protective by nature, making them a great companion for families if given obedience training and socialized well.
Alano Español Dog Intelligence
The Spanish Alano is known for its intelligence and quick learning skills. They are attentive, alert, and perceptive making training them less stressful and simple if done properly. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that this breed does require guidance and a patient owner to reach their full potential.
Alano Español Dog Average Size
The Spanish Alano is a large dog breed, with males standing at 23-25 inches (58-63 cm) and females between 22-24 inches (55-60 cm). The average weight of adult males ranges between 80-100 lbs (36-45 kg) with females weighing slightly less at an average of 75-95 lbs (34-43 kg).
Alano Español Dog Child Friendly
Spanish Alanos, when correctly trained, can make great pets for children. The breed is protective, loving, and loyal, meaning children will feel safe with the animal around. However, it’s still important to supervise young children around dogs to avoid accidental injury caused by pulling of the ears and tail, and other unintentional rough play that dogs might not always understand.
Alano Español Dog Health Needs
The Alano Español breed is generally healthy with a lifespan of around 11-13 years. However, Spanish Alanos can be prone to hip dysplasia, allergies, and cataracts, as well as being sensitive to extreme weather conditions. Taking care of a Spanish Alano’s medical needs can become an expensive undertaking if their conditions are not managed correctly.
Alano Español Dog Grooming Needs
The grooming needs for an Alano Español are relatively low, with brushings once a week sufficient to keep their coat in good condition. Bathing only needs to be done if the dog has become dirty, and their nails should be trimmed when needed or routinely to avoid painful splitting and tearing.
Alano Español Dog Amount Of Shedding
The breed’s short coat demands little routine maintenance. However, due to the breed’s coat density, Spanish Alanos do shed hair and produce dander regularly. So, if anyone in the household has allergies, it’s not recommended to bring this breed indoors.
Alano Español Dog Trainability
The Alano Español is highly trainable, generally due to its willingness to please its owner. As long as the owner uses positive reinforcement training techniques, such as rewards-based training, this breed will be more than willing to learn and please.
Alano Español Dog Exercise Needs
The Spanish Alano requires plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to remain healthy and happy. Giving this breed a wide variety of exercises, including slow walks, jogs, and runs, will keep them from displaying any destructive behavior caused by boredom. It’s recommended that owners walk and exercise this breed at least 90 minutes a day.
Alano Español Dog Average Lifespan
The average life span for an Alano Español is around 11-13 years, provided they receive the right amount of exercise, proper care, and attention.
Conclusion
The Alano Español is overall a great breed for many different environment and family scenarios. If you want a loyal, attentive, and fierce protector who loves physical activity, then this breed may be perfect for you. When correctly trained and socialized, Alanos can be excellent family pets. So, if you are an active and caring owner, make the decision to welcome the Spanish Alano to your home – you may love who greets you at your doorstep!