Overview
The Villano de Las Encartaciones is a large Spanish working dog from the Basque province of Biscay, also found in Álava, eastern Cantabria and northern Burgos. It traditionally helps manage Monchina cattle, especially when bringing them down from mountain pastures.
It is rare, with fewer than 200 dogs in the stud-book in 2009.
History
The Villano is bound up with the Monchina mountain cattle: it has been said that one could not exist without the other. It was once smaller, and was used to cut out and drive selected cattle toward heavier Alano Español dogs that would hold them.
From the 1960s breeders crossed the two types to get one dog able to do both jobs, producing the modern Villano. A breed society was formed in 1997, a standard was published in 2003 and Spain's government recognised the breed in 2005.
Appearance
Males stand roughly 57 to 60 cm at the withers and females about 55 to 57 cm. The coat is hard, straight and short, 1 to 3 cm long, lying dense and close to the body.
The colour is brindled fawn, from pale to dark.
Temperament
It is a steady, strong and capable herder with the courage needed to handle semi-wild mountain cattle. It remains a working dog at heart, though it may also be kept as a companion today.
Care and exercise
Being a big, active working dog, it needs space, daily exercise and purposeful activity, ideally in a rural setting. The short coat needs little more than occasional brushing.
