The Alaunt Veantre
"Cotgrave defines it, (Veantre), as a 'great & ougly curre of that kind, (having a big head, hanging lips, and slowching eares), kept onely to hunt the Beare and wild Boare.' Elsewhere (under Vaultre) he characterizes it as
'a mungrell betweene a hound and a mastife, or of a size between the
Allan and great countrie curre; fit for the chase or hunting of wild Beares and Boares.' Godefroy (Diet de I'Ancien Frangais, Veltre defines it as a 'sorte de chien employe surtout pour la chasse de I'ours et du sanglier.'
It is of little doubt that the 'Veantre', as described above, was in fact the descendent of the old German hunting dogs that were first described by Germanic Law in the fifth century AD. There were two known forms of these old German Hunting dogs. One was a large, long legged, agile dog; the ancestor of the German Mastiff or Great Dane: The other was a shorter, stocky, broad headed Bull or Bear Biter, the ancestor of the Boxer and the English baiting Bulldog. "The Bull or Bear Biter is a not too large, but a strong, brave dog breed with a broad, short head. They grip everything that they are set on, but they are heavy. Because of their fierceness and meanness, they can easily become dangerous to people and animals..." Winckell 1800. "Of medium size, but rather thickset, with a broad chest, a short and broad head, short, upturned nose, stiffly erect, sharply cropped ears, very strong jaws, which allows them to bite very hard. The forehead is broad between the eyes. These dogs are stout and heavy, their gait is strong and ponderous, but they are uncommonly fervent in the chase, and attack so stubbornly and fiercely that they tremble with rage and are hard to pull away from their victim. They are very mean, unfriendly, and fierce..." Hans Friedrich von Flemming, 1719. From early descriptions of these German hunting dogs we can clearly comprehend that they were known for their nasty temperament and ferocity, the same temperament and ferocity that so greatly distinguished and described the Alaunt Veantre. Mention of the Alaunt Veantre/Vaultre by name is very limited with all references being merely translations and copies of the original work of Gaston Phoebus.
Based on these few redundant descriptions, we can see today, as did people then of the German hunting dogs, that "because of their fierceness and meanness, they can easily become dangerous to people and animals; for this reason, in several countries its not permitted to make use of them.' Winckell, 1800. "Because of their fierceness and meanness" the veantre was not tolerated long after the early 15th century, even in Germany where the German hunting dog had long endured; it's domination there would be over with starting in 1406. "The first importation of English Mastiffs is mentioned in 1406 by Gessner. Johann Tantzer in 1699 gives a detailed account of these English dogs. He tells of their usefulness in the hunt, and how they were bred with the old Hunting Dog to improve the breed. In his account, Tantzer distinguishes very clearly between the English dogs, crossbreds, and the unchanged old bull biters." Flieg. Here we see the early development of the English Bulldog as a separate breed from the English Mastiff, yet the origins of the English Bulldog are in fact German. Ironically it is in this same year, 1406, that we find the first translation and copy of Gaston Phoebus' work by the English Duke of York in The Master of the Game. "By the 15th century, a distinctive bull-baiting breed had been developed. Perhaps through crosses of Alaunts, mastiffs, and other unknown brachycephalic, (short skull), dogs, the first bulldog (often called Bullen Beisser, German for bull baiter), was created." Atlas of Dog Breeds.
Take note of the short skulls, (brachycephalic), of the dogs pictured below. On the left is one of the old German hunting dogs, a Bullenbeisser with it's well documented and accurately described "short and broad head, short, upturned nose". In the middle is an English period etching entitled 'Bull Dog' with it's distinctive "short and broad head, short, upturned nose". And on the far right is the very well known English painting of the English Bulldog sporting it's "short and broad head, short, upturned nose". These are very distinctive traits today of the English Bulldog and the German Boxer and is also found in a variety of other modern bull breeds such as the American Bulldog. Early Boxer Club photos leave no doubt of the well documented crossing of the German Bullenbeisser (bulldog) and the English Bulldog and the development of these two breeds and their relation to one another. Not to forget about the American Bulldog breed, compare the first registered stud dog, Johnson's Dick the Bruiser to these early Boxer photos below bottom row. Based on these early Boxer photos, it is apparent that Mr. Johnson knew well the history of the American Bulldog breed as a true representative of the English baiting bulldog.
It is of little doubt that the 'Veantre', as described above, was in fact the descendent of the old German hunting dogs that were first described by Germanic Law in the fifth century AD. There were two known forms of these old German Hunting dogs. One was a large, long legged, agile dog; the ancestor of the German Mastiff or Great Dane: The other was a shorter, stocky, broad headed Bull or Bear Biter, the ancestor of the Boxer and the English baiting Bulldog. "The Bull or Bear Biter is a not too large, but a strong, brave dog breed with a broad, short head. They grip everything that they are set on, but they are heavy. Because of their fierceness and meanness, they can easily become dangerous to people and animals..." Winckell 1800. "Of medium size, but rather thickset, with a broad chest, a short and broad head, short, upturned nose, stiffly erect, sharply cropped ears, very strong jaws, which allows them to bite very hard. The forehead is broad between the eyes. These dogs are stout and heavy, their gait is strong and ponderous, but they are uncommonly fervent in the chase, and attack so stubbornly and fiercely that they tremble with rage and are hard to pull away from their victim. They are very mean, unfriendly, and fierce..." Hans Friedrich von Flemming, 1719. From early descriptions of these German hunting dogs we can clearly comprehend that they were known for their nasty temperament and ferocity, the same temperament and ferocity that so greatly distinguished and described the Alaunt Veantre. Mention of the Alaunt Veantre/Vaultre by name is very limited with all references being merely translations and copies of the original work of Gaston Phoebus.
Based on these few redundant descriptions, we can see today, as did people then of the German hunting dogs, that "because of their fierceness and meanness, they can easily become dangerous to people and animals; for this reason, in several countries its not permitted to make use of them.' Winckell, 1800. "Because of their fierceness and meanness" the veantre was not tolerated long after the early 15th century, even in Germany where the German hunting dog had long endured; it's domination there would be over with starting in 1406. "The first importation of English Mastiffs is mentioned in 1406 by Gessner. Johann Tantzer in 1699 gives a detailed account of these English dogs. He tells of their usefulness in the hunt, and how they were bred with the old Hunting Dog to improve the breed. In his account, Tantzer distinguishes very clearly between the English dogs, crossbreds, and the unchanged old bull biters." Flieg. Here we see the early development of the English Bulldog as a separate breed from the English Mastiff, yet the origins of the English Bulldog are in fact German. Ironically it is in this same year, 1406, that we find the first translation and copy of Gaston Phoebus' work by the English Duke of York in The Master of the Game. "By the 15th century, a distinctive bull-baiting breed had been developed. Perhaps through crosses of Alaunts, mastiffs, and other unknown brachycephalic, (short skull), dogs, the first bulldog (often called Bullen Beisser, German for bull baiter), was created." Atlas of Dog Breeds.
Take note of the short skulls, (brachycephalic), of the dogs pictured below. On the left is one of the old German hunting dogs, a Bullenbeisser with it's well documented and accurately described "short and broad head, short, upturned nose". In the middle is an English period etching entitled 'Bull Dog' with it's distinctive "short and broad head, short, upturned nose". And on the far right is the very well known English painting of the English Bulldog sporting it's "short and broad head, short, upturned nose". These are very distinctive traits today of the English Bulldog and the German Boxer and is also found in a variety of other modern bull breeds such as the American Bulldog. Early Boxer Club photos leave no doubt of the well documented crossing of the German Bullenbeisser (bulldog) and the English Bulldog and the development of these two breeds and their relation to one another. Not to forget about the American Bulldog breed, compare the first registered stud dog, Johnson's Dick the Bruiser to these early Boxer photos below bottom row. Based on these early Boxer photos, it is apparent that Mr. Johnson knew well the history of the American Bulldog breed as a true representative of the English baiting bulldog.
Above left is an early Boxer, center is a very early Boxer Club photo and to the right is a photo of the first registered American Bulldog stud dog and breed foundation dog, Johnson's Dick the Bruiser. ""Of medium size, but rather thickset, with a broad chest, a short and broad head, short, upturned nose, stiffly erect, sharply cropped ears, very strong jaws, which allows them to bite very hard. The forehead is broad between the eyes. These dogs are stout and heavy, their gait is strong and ponderous, but they are uncommonly fervent in the chase, and attack so stubbornly and fiercely that they tremble with rage and are hard to pull away from their victim. They are very mean, unfriendly, and fierce..." Hans Friedrich von Flemming, 1719. What a perfect description of a bulldog. Yet it was written in 1719 to describe the old German hunting dogs, the Beissers; and it is because of such descriptions and actions that prove this and is why the bulldog, in general, has long held the reputation of a mean, fierce, ill tempered, very strong, aggressive dog that wont let go it's bite; a dangerous dog to be feared and given plenty of room. Even early descriptions of the English Bulldog confirm this. "They do not bite and let go their hold, but retain it in the most tenacious manner, so that they can with difficulty be removed by any force which can be applied. ... Indeed when they do lay hold of an object, it is always necessary to choke them off, without which resource they would scarcely ever be persuaded to let go. ... They can rarely be brought under good control by education; and from the same circumstance they show little personal attachment, so that they are almost as likely to attack their friends as their enemies in their fury when their blood is up." J. H. Walsh, 1840. This was written about the baiting bulldog of England, aka English Bulldog, in 1840. These two descriptions, the first of the Beissers and the second of the early English Bulldog could very well be used to accurately describe either breed and are remarkably interchangeable.
There is a very clear distinction between the alaunt de boucherie and the alaunt veantre. The Alaunt Veantre/Beisser was a ferocious hunting dog, a markedly determined and stubborn holding dog that refused to loose it's bite on it's victim and the ancestor of many of today's holding breeds. It is from the Alaunt Veantre/Beisser that we find the same traits in the Bulldog; whether an English Bulldog or American Bulldog, bulldog breeds in general have a notorious reputation as being stubborn and determined. The alaunt veantre is described as... "stronger than any other animal, when it is a question of attacking another animal. ... No matter how you look at it, Alaunts are completely unpredictable, take offense at everything. They are crazier and more rabid than any other hunting dog." Master of the Game, 1406.
"In Wales, the ancient Welsh Laws, codified around 920 AD, refer to two kinds of 'mastiff': The 'Cadgi' or battle dog and the 'Gafaelgi' or gripping dog. There were clearly two different kinds of dog for such a distinction to be made." Hancock. Arrian who wrote in AD 130 further states that the dog was anciently classed into two groups, that of the Canes sagaces and Canes pugnaces, or Bellicosi, the latter, the pugnacious dogs being used in warfare," Wynn. With the long accepted descriptions of the Alaunt Veantres, Beissers and the Bulldog as dogs that have to have their firm bite broken in order to release their victim be it bear, boar or bull, it is clear that these dogs are, by definition, holding dogs, and therefore not a kill dog. "Beisser" comes from 'beissen', the latter being the verb meaning to bite, and is in German used to describe a dog that bites and holds. These dogs were used to bite & hold bulls, boar and bears, thus the Barenbeisser and Bullenbeisser.
The old German Beissers and French Alaunt Veantres were assimilated into other dog populations throughout Europe beginning around 1400 AD. These ferocious hunting dogs, by name, disappeared in Germany and France and would become foundations for and influential in various other hunting breeds across Europe. Very few breeds today represent a temperament anything close to what was described of the old German hunting dogs and Alaunt Veantre. However, many breeds histories include them in the classification of Alaunt Veantre, such as many scent hound breeds.
On the term 'sagaces'; it has been misconstrued over the centuries to generally mean or include any hunting dog, whereas it meant quite simply, 'keen or savvy'; Canes Sagaces literally meaning savvy or keen dog. 'Canes sagaces' does not necessarily qualify as a true Beisser or an Alaunt Veantre type however. According to the many historic descriptions of the old Veantre and Beissers, it is without a doubt that the Beissers and the Alaunt Veantre, are in fact both by name and definition, extinct.
Lvenandi sagax virtus = clever hunting power.
© Ray Lane & Heather Wilkins
There is a very clear distinction between the alaunt de boucherie and the alaunt veantre. The Alaunt Veantre/Beisser was a ferocious hunting dog, a markedly determined and stubborn holding dog that refused to loose it's bite on it's victim and the ancestor of many of today's holding breeds. It is from the Alaunt Veantre/Beisser that we find the same traits in the Bulldog; whether an English Bulldog or American Bulldog, bulldog breeds in general have a notorious reputation as being stubborn and determined. The alaunt veantre is described as... "stronger than any other animal, when it is a question of attacking another animal. ... No matter how you look at it, Alaunts are completely unpredictable, take offense at everything. They are crazier and more rabid than any other hunting dog." Master of the Game, 1406.
"In Wales, the ancient Welsh Laws, codified around 920 AD, refer to two kinds of 'mastiff': The 'Cadgi' or battle dog and the 'Gafaelgi' or gripping dog. There were clearly two different kinds of dog for such a distinction to be made." Hancock. Arrian who wrote in AD 130 further states that the dog was anciently classed into two groups, that of the Canes sagaces and Canes pugnaces, or Bellicosi, the latter, the pugnacious dogs being used in warfare," Wynn. With the long accepted descriptions of the Alaunt Veantres, Beissers and the Bulldog as dogs that have to have their firm bite broken in order to release their victim be it bear, boar or bull, it is clear that these dogs are, by definition, holding dogs, and therefore not a kill dog. "Beisser" comes from 'beissen', the latter being the verb meaning to bite, and is in German used to describe a dog that bites and holds. These dogs were used to bite & hold bulls, boar and bears, thus the Barenbeisser and Bullenbeisser.
The old German Beissers and French Alaunt Veantres were assimilated into other dog populations throughout Europe beginning around 1400 AD. These ferocious hunting dogs, by name, disappeared in Germany and France and would become foundations for and influential in various other hunting breeds across Europe. Very few breeds today represent a temperament anything close to what was described of the old German hunting dogs and Alaunt Veantre. However, many breeds histories include them in the classification of Alaunt Veantre, such as many scent hound breeds.
On the term 'sagaces'; it has been misconstrued over the centuries to generally mean or include any hunting dog, whereas it meant quite simply, 'keen or savvy'; Canes Sagaces literally meaning savvy or keen dog. 'Canes sagaces' does not necessarily qualify as a true Beisser or an Alaunt Veantre type however. According to the many historic descriptions of the old Veantre and Beissers, it is without a doubt that the Beissers and the Alaunt Veantre, are in fact both by name and definition, extinct.
Lvenandi sagax virtus = clever hunting power.
© Ray Lane & Heather Wilkins