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The Alano Espanol (Spanish bulldog), also referred to as the Spanish Alano, is an ancient breed of dog that still holds many of the characterists of the more primitive breeds. These dogs originated in Molossia, and are the ancestors of many of the molosser breeds that we know and love today, such as the Great Dane. They have no known ancestors themselves. This breed only survived in Spain for all of these years, although it was once found in many other parts of Europe. They came close to extinction even there when, in 1883, they were banned from fighting bulls, but have since been renumbered due to the efforts of Carlos Conteros and a group of his colleagues.

Historically, this breed has had four major purposes. They were, of course, used for fighting bulls prior to the ban on that activity. They have also been used for handling wild herds of cattle. The size, strength, and fearlessness of the Alano Espanol (Spanish bulldog) has also made them exceptional guard and watch dogs, as well as defense dogs during war times. Additionally, they have been hunter's companions in the hunting of big game. They are still today used by hunters and in handling cattle.

Today, this breed is accepted for registry in the Dog Registry of America, the DRA. They are classified under the "Mastiff" dog category. Although having a registered dog may not mean that much to the average pet owner who is only looking for a loving companion, it does increase the monetary value of the dog for those who want to breed the animal or compete with him or her. There are currently other registries that are working on getting these dogs accepted.

According to breed standards, the dogs should be between 22 and 25 inches tall, when measured from the ground to the withers. Their weight can vary a bit, but they should be between 75 and 89 pounds, with males typically being slightly larger than females of the breed. The Alano Espanol (Spanish bulldog) has paws that are quite large, even for the size of the dog. They have strong legs that allow them to run extremely fast and for long periods of time. The head and muzzle are both square-shaped. The ears are almost always cropped, but with a slight round to them, and are held in the upright position. Ears that are left natural are held in the slightly flopped position. The jaw is very strong and the teeth meet in a scissor bite. The eyes are set relatively far apart above the large, black nose. The lips are also pigmented black. The tail is long and tapered,

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