Spain has many dog ​​breeds to the point that one can speak generically of the Spanish breed dog  and the ENCI recognizes some of them also marketed in Italy. Spain, like Italy, is a country with extremely heterogeneous geographical characteristics and also the canine selection in relation to the environment includes very different specimens from each other in morphology and original uses.

The best known breeds are:

• Galgo Espanol
• Bracco of Burgos
• Sabueso Espanol
• Perro de Agua Espanol
• Catalan Shepherd Dog
• Mastiff of the Pyrenees
• Mallorquin Shepherd
• Dogo Canario

Some Spanish dog breeds are also widespread in our country and known for their size such as the Pyrenean Mastiff, others are less famous but well regarded by expert admirers, because they are very structured specimens.

Galgo Espanol, an elegant greyhound

It is an ancient dog, its existence since the second century BC then exported between 1500 and 1700 in Anglo-Saxon countries. The Spanish Golgo  is a medium-sized greyhound that can weigh around 25 kg in the adult male, height around 70 cm at the withers. 

Like all greyhounds, it has an athletic, lean physique with harmonious proportions. The snout is elongated and pointed merging into the nose, the eyes are small and curious, the tail thin. The coat is short and dense, dark brown or brindle in color. Thanks to its agility it is used for races in dog tracks, but also in hunting for hare and rabbit. The Galgo is a very intelligent and very sensitive dog , he lives emotionally attached to his owners and shows distrust of strangers. Given its small fat mass, it fears the cold in winter, and suffers from the heat in summer.

Bracco di Burgo

The Bracco di Burgos is a hunting and pointing dog from the northern areas of Spain. It seems it was particularly in vogue in the Renaissance period at the noble courts. It is of medium size , it can weigh up to 45 kg and a height of 70 cm at the withers. Its coat is covered with short and thin hair whose color can be white with reddish brown patches, or conversely, a fawn coat with white patches. 

The body is agile and muscular, with a prominent , well-proportioned bone structure; the head is square, with hanging ears like all the hounds and drooping lips, the nose is dark in color. The Bracco di Burgos is a very resistant dog, its life expectancy is between 12 and 14 years, with a docile and obedient character , used as a hunting dog to bring back pheasants and hares and is easily trainable.

Sabueso Espanol

The Sabueso Espanol is a hound of ancient origins, brought to the Mediterranean lands by the Phoenicians, and well known in medieval times for its hunting skills. It is a medium-sized dog that can reach 45 kg in weight and a height of 70 cm at the withers. It has a solid and resistant structure, the snout is elongated and the ears drooping. The coat is short and dense with a beige color and a white chest, or all white with brown ears and a mask. 

The Sabueso is an intelligent but stubborn dog , not easy to train, very courageous and suitable for hunting even larger specimens of game. He has a meek character and can be an excellent household company. Nutrition must be well balanced in proportion to physical activity, as it tends to put on weight. Life expectancy is between 10 and 12 years.

Perro de Agua Espanol

The Spanish water dog , this is the translation, is native to Andalusia. It seems that it was brought there by the Turks during the transhumance with their flocks in the Mediterranean lands and its function was to guide the sheep in the act of being embarked on ships. 

The Perro de Agua Espanol is a medium- sized dog , whose weight can range from 10 to 25 kg, for a height at the withers between 44 and 55 cm. It has a poodle-like, curled hair whose color can be solid black, white or brown, but also with two-tone variants. The ears are drooping and the eyes large and expressive , he has particularly developed hearing and smell. 

The Perro de Agua is very intelligent and docile , easy to learn, with a lively and playful character, he prefers open spaces where he can let off steam. It is very affectionate and can be used as a companion dog, but for active families, who love to live outdoors. It is a very resistant and long-lived dog, life expectancy can be up to 18 years.

Catalan Shepherd Dog

Also called Gos d’Atura, it is a breed widespread in regions with a harsh climate such as the Pyrenees and Aragon. The Catalan Sheepdog looks a lot like the Bergamasco shepherd so much so that it is thought to be a sister breed. 

The Catalan Shepherd is a small-medium size falls , a wolfhound, whose weight can oscillate between 10 and 25 kg, and reaches a height of 55 cm at the withers. Its coat is thick and long in some areas, such as on the head forming a sort of fringe on the muzzle . The colors vary from sand to gray. 

His body is well balanced, with thin ears covered with long hair, his eyes are lively. The Catalan Shepherd is a well-structured dog also temperamentally, he is affectionate and gritty at the same time, docile with his owner, leader with his peers. It prefers open spaces, it suffers a little from living within four walls.

Mastiff of the Pyrenees

The Pyrenean Mastiff originates from the southern slope of this mountain range. It is a large size molosser, which can reach up to 100 kg in weight for a height of 80 cm at the withers. It is a “rough” dog used for the transhumance of flocks. The head is very large , crowned with triangular drooping ears, the eyes are almond-shaped and the black nose is large. 

The Pyrenean Mastiff is characterized by a very broad chest , a thick and voluminous tail, covered by a long and dense coat, usually white in color, with light gray or beige spots on the ears and on the mask. This molosser is truly imposing and in addition to being a herd dog it is also a guard dog due to its protective nature . Affectionate with his household, he can be aggressive with
strangers. However, he is endowed with a marked intelligence and is easily trainable .

Mallorquin Shepherd

The Mallorquin Shepherd or Ca de Bestiar is a little known breed outside of Spain. There is evidence of its existence since the 1700s on the Balearic Islands. It is a large dog , which can reach 45 kg in weight and reach 80 cm in height at the withers, with well-structured muscles, a square muzzle, triangular ears, and a thin tail. The coat is black, with short and soft hair. 

The Mallorquin is a herd and guard dog, its physical prowess has unfortunately meant that it is also used as a fighting dog. It has a balanced , docile and affectionate character with its owner, easily educated. The Mallorquin Shepherd is a very resistant breed whose life expectancy can be up to 14 years. 

Dogo Canario

The Dogo Canario or Perro de Presa Canario says the name itself is a breed native to the Canary Islands. It is thought to be the result of crosses between the Majoreros shepherd dog, an ancient breed of the islands used for the care of livestock, and English molossers such as the Bull Terrier and the Bulldog.

The Dogo is a large breed dog , it can even reach 100 kg in weight and 70 cm in height at the withers. It has an imposing and massive structure with a heavy head, intense, dark eyes, drooping ears, which until recently were amputated. The hair is short, with a brindle color.

The Dogo has a strong, strong-willed character, but extremely balanced, obedient and affectionate with his family. He is not a dog suitable for everyone : he is not recommended for inexperienced or novice with a dog; he needs a strong socialization since he was a puppy for a correct education in calm behavior. He can live in an apartment but needs to be able to let off steam in open spaces at least twice a day and play freely.