The Butcher's Alaunt
"Caius terms the mastiff also 'canis lanarius, i.e. butcher's dog, so called from its use, as it renders great service to the butcher in taking his cattle when needed.' Here we see plain reference to the ancestor of the bulldog." The History of the Mastiff by: MB Wynn 1886.
The Alaunt de Boucherie was known in England as the Butcher's Mastiff and came in two forms, a larger variety and a smaller one, the Butcher's Mastiff being the smaller and the larger being the Shepherd's Mastiff, though both being essentially the same basic working dog as a guardian of the herd, the house and the family. This work, as described, is the work of the herdsmen's dog, and no doubt descended from the herdsmen/warriors - the Alans. In France the Alaunt de Boucherie, also in two forms, would later become the Doggue de Bordueax, (the larger), and the Doggue de Doguin, (the smaller). In France the two forms would eventually merge to become one; the Doggue de Bordeaux, leaving even the mention of the old smaller Doguin almost non existent. This smaller mastiff has existed alongside the larger for millennia. In central and western Europe is where the butcher's mastiff was further developed into a specialized type that assisted the butcher. From this common butcher's dog of Europe comes the baiting dog, which is the dog ultimately named for it's function of bull baiting, as the bull dog, or Beisser in Germany. The smaller variety was the forerunner to the Bulldog and the larger variety was the forerunner to the modern Mastiff.
"Even if all this evidence were not enough, examination of the Butcher's Dog, or Bulldog depicted by Bewick and on print of latter times show that the variety of animal was, without doubt, a small Mastiff, with a comparatively long head." The Complete History of Fighting Dogs, Mike Homan, 1881. Here we have clear reference to the smaller Butcher's Alaunt/Mastiff, so named for it's service to butchers. "In Latine; Canis Laniarius, in Englishe; the Butchers Dogge. So called for the necessity of his vise, for his seruice affoordeth great benefite to the Butcher as well in following as in taking his cattell when neede constraineth, vrgeth, and requireth." De Canibus Britannicis Of Englishe Dogges, John Caius.
The Alaunt de Boucherie was known in England as the Butcher's Mastiff and came in two forms, a larger variety and a smaller one, the Butcher's Mastiff being the smaller and the larger being the Shepherd's Mastiff, though both being essentially the same basic working dog as a guardian of the herd, the house and the family. This work, as described, is the work of the herdsmen's dog, and no doubt descended from the herdsmen/warriors - the Alans. In France the Alaunt de Boucherie, also in two forms, would later become the Doggue de Bordueax, (the larger), and the Doggue de Doguin, (the smaller). In France the two forms would eventually merge to become one; the Doggue de Bordeaux, leaving even the mention of the old smaller Doguin almost non existent. This smaller mastiff has existed alongside the larger for millennia. In central and western Europe is where the butcher's mastiff was further developed into a specialized type that assisted the butcher. From this common butcher's dog of Europe comes the baiting dog, which is the dog ultimately named for it's function of bull baiting, as the bull dog, or Beisser in Germany. The smaller variety was the forerunner to the Bulldog and the larger variety was the forerunner to the modern Mastiff.
"Even if all this evidence were not enough, examination of the Butcher's Dog, or Bulldog depicted by Bewick and on print of latter times show that the variety of animal was, without doubt, a small Mastiff, with a comparatively long head." The Complete History of Fighting Dogs, Mike Homan, 1881. Here we have clear reference to the smaller Butcher's Alaunt/Mastiff, so named for it's service to butchers. "In Latine; Canis Laniarius, in Englishe; the Butchers Dogge. So called for the necessity of his vise, for his seruice affoordeth great benefite to the Butcher as well in following as in taking his cattell when neede constraineth, vrgeth, and requireth." De Canibus Britannicis Of Englishe Dogges, John Caius.
"In this larger variety, used to guard the doors of the houses of the Britons, and to protect their flocks and herds we can plainly trace the mastiff and it's superiority over the true Molusus." The History of the Mastiff by: MB Wynn 1886. The closer we look at the smaller and larger variety we find that they are only variations in size of the same basic working dog, Butcher's Mastiff, Shepherd's Mastiff and Drover's dog. "It is easy to forget the Shepherds' Mastiffs of England until hearing of the prowess in one of the mastiff breeds like this. The shepherds' mastiffs were big, tough, drover's dogs, able to protect the herd or flock on the driveways to urban markets or to pin wayward cattle in the market or for the butcher." David Hancock. These are the Mastiff Proper also used to guard the houses and farms. "This dog is also called 'Villatica' because it's job is to guard and protect farms...It is a dog of ferocious courage and aggressiveness. It's look fills the heart of man with fear. These dogs fear nothing in the world, no weapon forces their retreat or disheartens them. Dr. Caius reports further that the mastiff is often systematically trained as a war dog to attack people, and he praises it's fearlessness in attacking the bear, bull, or wild boar." Fighting Dog Breeds; Dr. Dieter Fleig.
Spain made great use of both the larger and smaller variations known in Spain as the Alano and Mastin. "It has already been stated that in the New World the Spaniards have a number of wild and ferocious dogs which they have trained especially to kill the people and tear them to bits. It is not difficult to discover who are the real Christians and who are not when one learns that, to feed these dogs, they ensure that whenever they travel they always have a ready supply of natives, chained and herded like so many calves on the hoof. These they kill and butcher as the need arises." A Short Account of the Destruction of The Indies; Bartolome de las Casas. We see clearly the butcher's dog known also as the Spanish Alano, which were used with natives/slaves as though they were cattle. "He recognized them as the mountain mastiff brought from Spain, primarily by the priests, at the time of the Conquests and said they would as easily attack and kill wolves, bears, and marauding dogs - then, as now, the most prolific killers of sheep. If a sheep strayed, the dog would gently take it by the ear and lead it back to the flock." A Dog's History of America; Mark Derr. Here we see clear evidence of both size variations found all over Europe having been brought to the New World where they can still be found guarding farms throughout Spain's former New World, which encompasses the American south.
In 1609 we see the first written use of the word 'bulldog' by Ben Johnson. Until this general era, the 'bulldog' and mastiff were basically the same dog for the same function as described above, only differing in size. The smaller variety being the more common for the butcher and the larger being more common to the farmer or shepherd. However, in the early 1600's we began to see a distinction between the two arise. "The term mastiff until after the age of Elizabeth was used for both mastiff and bulldog, being applied merely to denote a house or watch-dog, and it was not until the time of Ben Johnson that the word bandog fell into disuse, except to define a mongrel watch-dog. The bulldog became defined by the sport it was used for, and the word mastiff applied only to the breed we now understand by that name." M.B. Wynn 1886 - The smaller dogs of the butcher, or 'Butcher's Mastiff', began being used for a new function as a sporting dog, whereas the larger dogs of the farmer or shepherd, 'Shepherds' Mastiff', retained it's ancient function as a guardian of the herd, the house and the family. Again, this work, as described, is the work of the herdsmen's dog, and no doubt descended from the herdsmen/warriors - the Alans. Here is the beginning of the separation of the Bulldog away from the Mastiff. The term 'bulldog' is first used to describe and is given to the smaller sporting dog used in baiting the bull, thus the term bull dog. With this understood, the Bulldog by definition has always been a sporting dog.
As the blood sport of the baiting pit developed and progressed, so too did the Butcher's Mastiff aka Bulldog. They were systematically bred smaller and for seizing and holding the nose of the bull, different from the Mastiff, which had long been a kill dog. Many a dog was only deemed 'Bulldog' if it seized by the nose, if not, they were often culled. Many new traits were bred for in the Bulldog for the sport of the ring that set it very much apart from it's predecessor, the Butcher's Mastiff and the Shepherds' Mastiff, making it an entirely new breed. While the Bulldog was taking shape as it's own breed, the old Butchers' Mastiffs and Shepherds' Mastiffs remained doing what they had long done, guarding the herd, the house and the family. "It is a remarkable story of how a functional type can survive non-pedigree breeding for centuries to emerge as a distinct type which breeds true." David Hancock.
Both the Butcher's Mastiff and Shepherds' Mastiff can be found today, though not common. They are few and far between and can only be discovered in very rural locations around the world still being used as they always have, as a guardian of the herd, the house and the family. It is from the Butcher's/Shepherds' Mastiffs that the Alaunt Gentile and Alaunt Veantre arose, having been crossed with varying other types to achieve another type more suitable to the functions required of them. Most Bull and Mastiff breeds today owe their existence to and can be traced back to the truly ancient Alaunt aka Butcher's/Shepherds' Mastiff aka Mastiff Proper, one type - having been developed by the nomadic herdsmen warriors of the Russian Steppe.
Examples of modern Butcher's Mastiffs and Shepherds' Mastiffs include: Aboriginal Dog of the Caucuses aka Georgian Mountain Dog, Central Asian Shepherd (non show type), Rustic Spanish Alano, Old White English of the southern US.
Spain made great use of both the larger and smaller variations known in Spain as the Alano and Mastin. "It has already been stated that in the New World the Spaniards have a number of wild and ferocious dogs which they have trained especially to kill the people and tear them to bits. It is not difficult to discover who are the real Christians and who are not when one learns that, to feed these dogs, they ensure that whenever they travel they always have a ready supply of natives, chained and herded like so many calves on the hoof. These they kill and butcher as the need arises." A Short Account of the Destruction of The Indies; Bartolome de las Casas. We see clearly the butcher's dog known also as the Spanish Alano, which were used with natives/slaves as though they were cattle. "He recognized them as the mountain mastiff brought from Spain, primarily by the priests, at the time of the Conquests and said they would as easily attack and kill wolves, bears, and marauding dogs - then, as now, the most prolific killers of sheep. If a sheep strayed, the dog would gently take it by the ear and lead it back to the flock." A Dog's History of America; Mark Derr. Here we see clear evidence of both size variations found all over Europe having been brought to the New World where they can still be found guarding farms throughout Spain's former New World, which encompasses the American south.
In 1609 we see the first written use of the word 'bulldog' by Ben Johnson. Until this general era, the 'bulldog' and mastiff were basically the same dog for the same function as described above, only differing in size. The smaller variety being the more common for the butcher and the larger being more common to the farmer or shepherd. However, in the early 1600's we began to see a distinction between the two arise. "The term mastiff until after the age of Elizabeth was used for both mastiff and bulldog, being applied merely to denote a house or watch-dog, and it was not until the time of Ben Johnson that the word bandog fell into disuse, except to define a mongrel watch-dog. The bulldog became defined by the sport it was used for, and the word mastiff applied only to the breed we now understand by that name." M.B. Wynn 1886 - The smaller dogs of the butcher, or 'Butcher's Mastiff', began being used for a new function as a sporting dog, whereas the larger dogs of the farmer or shepherd, 'Shepherds' Mastiff', retained it's ancient function as a guardian of the herd, the house and the family. Again, this work, as described, is the work of the herdsmen's dog, and no doubt descended from the herdsmen/warriors - the Alans. Here is the beginning of the separation of the Bulldog away from the Mastiff. The term 'bulldog' is first used to describe and is given to the smaller sporting dog used in baiting the bull, thus the term bull dog. With this understood, the Bulldog by definition has always been a sporting dog.
As the blood sport of the baiting pit developed and progressed, so too did the Butcher's Mastiff aka Bulldog. They were systematically bred smaller and for seizing and holding the nose of the bull, different from the Mastiff, which had long been a kill dog. Many a dog was only deemed 'Bulldog' if it seized by the nose, if not, they were often culled. Many new traits were bred for in the Bulldog for the sport of the ring that set it very much apart from it's predecessor, the Butcher's Mastiff and the Shepherds' Mastiff, making it an entirely new breed. While the Bulldog was taking shape as it's own breed, the old Butchers' Mastiffs and Shepherds' Mastiffs remained doing what they had long done, guarding the herd, the house and the family. "It is a remarkable story of how a functional type can survive non-pedigree breeding for centuries to emerge as a distinct type which breeds true." David Hancock.
Both the Butcher's Mastiff and Shepherds' Mastiff can be found today, though not common. They are few and far between and can only be discovered in very rural locations around the world still being used as they always have, as a guardian of the herd, the house and the family. It is from the Butcher's/Shepherds' Mastiffs that the Alaunt Gentile and Alaunt Veantre arose, having been crossed with varying other types to achieve another type more suitable to the functions required of them. Most Bull and Mastiff breeds today owe their existence to and can be traced back to the truly ancient Alaunt aka Butcher's/Shepherds' Mastiff aka Mastiff Proper, one type - having been developed by the nomadic herdsmen warriors of the Russian Steppe.
Examples of modern Butcher's Mastiffs and Shepherds' Mastiffs include: Aboriginal Dog of the Caucuses aka Georgian Mountain Dog, Central Asian Shepherd (non show type), Rustic Spanish Alano, Old White English of the southern US.
© Ray Lane & Heather Wilkins