Interesting Dog Facts of the WeekSpecial Edition: Spain

This week we are visiting, working, and allowing some time to play in the beautiful country of Southern Spain.  In honor of our current location and host, we decided to dedicate the next two weeks of Dog facts only in relation to Spain. We hope you enjoy our taste of culture and find that the love of dogs is universal.

one the most well known breeds of Spain is the Spanish Water Dog

Fact 1: one the most well known breeds of Spain is the Spanish Water Dog. The records show that Spanish Water Dogs have been in the Iberian area since 1110 AD. They are most notably known for their wooly and curly coat and versatile working skills such as herding, hunting, and guarding. The breed was mostly used in the South of Spain to herd sheep and goats in the Andalusian mountains. They were also used on the coast of Malaga to tow boats to shore and assist fisherman with their nets. They are wonderful loving companions and loyal to their families. The Spanish Water Dog can still be found working in the mountains of southern Andalusia herding as they have been for the last 1000 years.

Fact 2:  
Neutering and spaying dogs in Spain is not a common practice as it is in the United States. Neutering is typically more expensive and the service of spaying is sometimes not even offered by veterinarians.

Fact 3: The Spanish Mastiff is the national dog breed of Spain and is now the most numerous of all the native Spanish dog breeds in that country. About 24,000 Spanish Mastiffs live in Spain. Although rare in breed, Spanish Mastiffs in Spain are as common as a Labrador Retrievers are in America. They are bred to be guardians of sheep and to protect the flock from predators. Seemingly low energy and lazy, Spanish Mastiffs have a tenacity to protect and even give up their life for the flock or his family. They are a large breed weighing up to 220 pounds with a longer than normal life expectancy of 11 years.