Villano de las Encartaciones

The Villano de Las Encartaciones is a Basque cattle-gripping dog — it holds a cow by the muzzle, which is what its whole build is for.

History

It worked the Encartaciones valleys of Biscay, where half-wild cattle had to be caught and held for marking, treatment or slaughter, and the dog did it by seizing the animal's snout and not letting go. Mechanised handling ended the job and the breed nearly went with it; Basque breeders rebuilt it from the surviving farm dogs in the late twentieth century.

Temperament

The breed is known for being determined, calm at rest and unyielding at work, attached to its handler and serious with strangers. It is not a companion breed and does not pretend to be.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise, secure boundaries, thorough socialising and an experienced owner. The short coat is easy.

Health

Generally robust from working selection, with hip dysplasia among the known tendencies for a heavy-boned dog. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.