[Prospero]

Too bad it's likely improper to post a picture of the dogs in stories such as this one. I don't pretend to know a lot about dogs, but I'm familiar with the Alaunt," or "Alan," the legendary "Butcher's Dog" of Central Asia and Europe. Many familiar breeds are its descendants, ranging from Pitt Bulls to the Great Danes.

These were able to bring a cow down in it's path (or a horse and its knight) and were in other contexts known as "Dogs of War."

Now thought to be extinct, the last of the pure breads was photographed in the Canary Islands a century ago.

News of a "Portuguese cattle dog" immediately drew my curiosity. Sounds like it might be kin.

[kanawa]

Interesting history