The Villano de las Encartaciones hails from Spain and was originally bred to catch semi-wild Monchina cattle so that the farmers could bring them to market. Extremely brave, he has also been used to hunt boar, herd sheep, and guard the property – a truly versatile dog! Originally this breed would hunt together with the Spanish Alano – a larger, more powerful breed. At a certain point, breeders began combing the two to select for a more lightweight breed which could both easily follow and catch prey in rocky mountainous regions – and the modern Villano was born! Although this is an old breed it wasn’t until 1997 that the parent club was formed – the Club Nacional del Villano de Las Encartaciones. In 2005, the breed was recognized by the National Government of Spain. It is not yet recognized by the FCI or even the Spanish Kennel Club and is unfortunately very rare and currently endangered.
Known for his calm and non-aggressive nature around his owners, as well as his ability to hunt with other dogs, the Villano is a level-headed and stable breed. At least until he gets around livestock – at which point his instincts and fierceness will kick in! His intense prey drive and protective instincts make him unsuitable for most situations of family life except with those who are very experienced with similar breeds. It is important to note that like some other molossers, he can be suspicious of strangers and does require extensive socialization around people so that he won’t act poorly when he gets older. But with those he knows he is gentle, loyal and cheerful.
The Villano de las Encartaciones is said to be easy to train for experienced owners, however he can be strong-willed so an owner/trainer must have patience while teaching. He does need a job to do in order to be happy so a minimum of basic obedience is completely necessary! Once taught, he tends to be a very obedient dog. After his “formal” education, one can move into more fun disciplines like trick training although he can also be taught the more serious task of guard dog training through bite work sports.
The Villano is a medium sized, yet long-bodied dog with a gigantic head and a muscular build. The breed has a deep chest, a compact structure, and fairly long legs for a molosser-type breed. The tail is long and thin with a sickle shape. The ears are set high and rather far back on the head, and occasionally are seen cropped. The coat – which is smooth, hard and very thick, is often brindle although can also be black, gray or fawn in color. The coat requires only minimal grooming – a good brushing once a week or so will help to keep it shiny and healthy.
The Villano de las Encartaciones has a high energy level and needs regular intense exercise on a daily basis. Remember that he was bred to hike and run in the mountains all day so very long walks or jogging sessions are essential every single day! This also means that he needs to live on a property with a large enough yard for him to run around in when he isn’t being given structured exercise, otherwise he may get bored and become destructive or even develop more serious behavior problems. This is an agile and powerful dog that needs an owner that can handle both the energy and athleticism that the breed possesses – as well as his high prey drive and protective traits.
Photo by Javierme Javier Mediavilla Ezquibela