The Alaunt - Canes Alani
"We see that the Molossi gave their name to the dogs of their country, and I would suggest that it is only probable that the Alani gave their name to the mastiffs of their land. Hence Canes Alani, dogs of the Alan's, and Molussus means the dog of Epirus, and in a secondary sense a watch dog or kind of mastiff. By the same custom Alani gives an Alaunt, or in a secondary sense a cattle dog or mastiff, employed as a guard against the wolf." The History of the Mastiff by: MB Wynn 1886
"A strong ferocious dog, 'supposed to have been brought to Western Europe by a Caucasian tribe called Alains or Alani.' Baillie-Groh-man 1851–1921
The dog's of the Alan's were undoubtedly a strong, ferocious guardian against the wolf and a dog of war. Belonging to a people of a nomadic herding and warrior culture left little chance of them being anything but. This dog was used by the Alans for the same functions over many many centuries, setting a very definite type that bred true. Never having been a breed as the world knows them today, the Alaunt existed as a type that bred true and continues to do so in the modern dogs of the Caucus Mountains, the ancient and modern home of the Alans, known today as the Ossetians. The Alaunt as a term is no longer in use to describe this very ancient type of dog, and as such, the term may be considered extinct. The type, however, remains in the modern dogs now known as the Central Asian Shepherd, (Aboriginal Dog of the Caucuses, Georgian Mountain Dog or Alabai), pictured below right. There are many variations of the CAS and we can only determine true Alaunt type by depending on the ancient descriptions of the Alaunt. For certain, the massive, long-haired, highly aggressive lion-like dogs commonly known as the Caucasian Ovcharka are no representation of the ancient Alaunt.
"A strong ferocious dog, 'supposed to have been brought to Western Europe by a Caucasian tribe called Alains or Alani.' Baillie-Groh-man 1851–1921
The dog's of the Alan's were undoubtedly a strong, ferocious guardian against the wolf and a dog of war. Belonging to a people of a nomadic herding and warrior culture left little chance of them being anything but. This dog was used by the Alans for the same functions over many many centuries, setting a very definite type that bred true. Never having been a breed as the world knows them today, the Alaunt existed as a type that bred true and continues to do so in the modern dogs of the Caucus Mountains, the ancient and modern home of the Alans, known today as the Ossetians. The Alaunt as a term is no longer in use to describe this very ancient type of dog, and as such, the term may be considered extinct. The type, however, remains in the modern dogs now known as the Central Asian Shepherd, (Aboriginal Dog of the Caucuses, Georgian Mountain Dog or Alabai), pictured below right. There are many variations of the CAS and we can only determine true Alaunt type by depending on the ancient descriptions of the Alaunt. For certain, the massive, long-haired, highly aggressive lion-like dogs commonly known as the Caucasian Ovcharka are no representation of the ancient Alaunt.
The Alaunt was a large, short to medium length haired dog, mostly white or white with patches of red, brown, grey or black about the head and or body. A broad, flat skull with length; broad muzzle being equal to skull length with moderate stop; large but non-hound ears which were cropped short or removed entirely; thick curled tail, often being naturally bobbed and typically long in body.
The Canis Alani, as it was called by the Romans, fought alongside the herdsmen warriors of the Caucus Mountains and the Pontic Steppes of Southwestern Russia and into Central Europe. They served as devastating weapons against the various Barbarian tribes during the conquests of grazing lands for the vast herds of the Alans. While not in battle, the dogs guarded the herds and families of their master and offered themselves as playmates to the children. They were ferocious defenders of their keeps and just as ferocious in battle, running alongside the horses their masters were mounted upon. This dog type was formed and cultivated by it's uses and perpetuated over millennia by the same people for the same function. This persistent constancy established a type that itself became constant and lasting and ultimately became genetically homogenous. Despite this, the Alaunt, as was known to the Alans, was never a breed and only a type, one that remains today, contrary to the long-held belief that the Alaunt went extinct centuries ago. A breed can never go extinct if it has never existed; It's type however, may remain for as long as it's function requires.
The Canis Alani, as it was called by the Romans, fought alongside the herdsmen warriors of the Caucus Mountains and the Pontic Steppes of Southwestern Russia and into Central Europe. They served as devastating weapons against the various Barbarian tribes during the conquests of grazing lands for the vast herds of the Alans. While not in battle, the dogs guarded the herds and families of their master and offered themselves as playmates to the children. They were ferocious defenders of their keeps and just as ferocious in battle, running alongside the horses their masters were mounted upon. This dog type was formed and cultivated by it's uses and perpetuated over millennia by the same people for the same function. This persistent constancy established a type that itself became constant and lasting and ultimately became genetically homogenous. Despite this, the Alaunt, as was known to the Alans, was never a breed and only a type, one that remains today, contrary to the long-held belief that the Alaunt went extinct centuries ago. A breed can never go extinct if it has never existed; It's type however, may remain for as long as it's function requires.
With the conquering of land, the Alaunt spread further west where they first encountered the Roman Army, with the Danube River as the dividing line between the two conquering people. Unable to defeat the Alans, the Romans wisely chose to make use of their superb fighting abilities and employed the Alans and their dogs in their own Calvary. The Alans and their dogs were first brought to Britain by the Romans around 55BC as a last line of defense of Hadrian's Wall in Northern England, which marked the outermost edge of the Roman Empire. There, the Alaunt was absorbed into native dog populations, which at that time, was more of a medium sized strong headed Wolfhound type.
Around 400 AD the unstoppable Huns pushed the Alans deep into the Caucus Mountains and west into Roman Gaul, where the Romans permitted them to travel and settle. The Alaunt seemed to disappear, unmentioned in writing for 900 years, when it is suddenly brought to light again by Alfonso XI of Spain between 1342-1350, calling the dog, the Alano. "A strong ferocious dog, 'supposed to have been brought to Western Europe by a Caucasian tribe called Alains or Alani.' This tribe invaded Gaul in the fourth century, settling there awhile, and then continued their wanderings and overran Spain. It is from this country that the best alans were obtained during the Middle Ages, and dogs that are used for bull-or bear-baiting there are still called Alanos." Baillie-Groh-man 1851–1921
With Spain so near to the Pyrenees, it is not surprising that the next authority on the Alaunt is Gaston de Foix (1331-1391), surnamed Phoebus. It is here that the Alaunt is first described as being of three types. "Alans is a nature and manner of dogs and some that are called alans gentilz, others are called as alans veautres, the others are alans cattle."
© Ray Lane & Heather Wilkins
Around 400 AD the unstoppable Huns pushed the Alans deep into the Caucus Mountains and west into Roman Gaul, where the Romans permitted them to travel and settle. The Alaunt seemed to disappear, unmentioned in writing for 900 years, when it is suddenly brought to light again by Alfonso XI of Spain between 1342-1350, calling the dog, the Alano. "A strong ferocious dog, 'supposed to have been brought to Western Europe by a Caucasian tribe called Alains or Alani.' This tribe invaded Gaul in the fourth century, settling there awhile, and then continued their wanderings and overran Spain. It is from this country that the best alans were obtained during the Middle Ages, and dogs that are used for bull-or bear-baiting there are still called Alanos." Baillie-Groh-man 1851–1921
With Spain so near to the Pyrenees, it is not surprising that the next authority on the Alaunt is Gaston de Foix (1331-1391), surnamed Phoebus. It is here that the Alaunt is first described as being of three types. "Alans is a nature and manner of dogs and some that are called alans gentilz, others are called as alans veautres, the others are alans cattle."
© Ray Lane & Heather Wilkins