Cattle
Alano's have long been used as an effective cattle dog. Their method is rather than controlling the cattle by nipping at heels like a Lancashire heeler or Australian shepherd, they control the cattle by nipping at the head area directing them in the appropriate direction. With dangerous or challenging wild cattle they will strongly latch on to the back of the neck/ear area and hold on firmly until the cattle is controlled. Whilst this can seem rough, the cattle are uninjured and the dog's protection can save human life. At one cruel point in history alano's were used in the bullrings on very aggressive cattle for the entertainment of spectators. Whilst I find this bullring concept abhorrent, the alano's role as a working farm dog is an impressive one and they have a very valid and useful place performing there given role. Their ability to control semi wild and wild cattle is formidable and as a bulldog performing this function they are without equal.
Boar
Alano's are used for hunting boar in their native Spain and countries where boar hunting is permitted. The hunts usually take place at night, as this is when the boars are most active, traditionally the hunts are at full moon as this provides the light required for safe hunting. A pack will usually consist of a few hounds to find the boar and a small pack of alano's to bring it down. As during a hunt a great number of miles can be covered, frequently the hunter rides on horseback. When the hounds find the boar, the alano's go straight for it in a very confrontational manner - opting for the first gripping point that they come to opposed to various other boar dogs, which will circle and opt for the safest grip. The alano's are fearless in their attack and do so with vigour even regardless of the serious injuries they can occasionally receive. Once they have controlled the boar in a safe manner, the hunter will draw his knife and perform the coup de grāce - with a well-placed stab to the heart just behind the front leg at an angle aiming behind the mid point of the shoulderblade. This severs the heart and the major arteries and the boar dies swiftly and humanely. This method of hunting is preferable to shooting as on many occasions a shot will painfully wound and not kill the boar, which then has to be tracked (often with blood trailing hounds) to humanely finish the kill. Hunting with dogs reduces this risk of suffering. Wild boar can quickly become a very serious pest species, and left unchecked their numbers can reach mamoth proportions damaging habitat at a rapid rate. Australia now has a very severe feral hog population, and it has proven the case that hog dogs (Aussie boar dogs/bull arabs etc) are the only effective method of controlling their numbers. So whilst some might feel fragile about the concept of boar dogs, one has to consider the alternatives before making the blanket statement that hunting with dogs is cruel.
Protection
Historically alano's have performed the role of dog of war and wore suits of armour fashioned to fit them, designed to protect them from the blow of sword and arrows. The alano's swiftness, courage and power proved to make it a formidable weapon in times of war, and they were greatly feared by opposing forces. Today the alano shows its heritage in its impressive and fearless guarding ability and is still a formidable force to be reckoned with when he feels the need to protect his loved ones.
