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The Villano de Las Encartaciones (Basque: Enkarterriko billano, Cantabrian: Villanu) is a Spanish working dog from the region of Las Encartaciones in the province of Biscay, in the Basque country, and to some extent in Álava, in eastern Cantabria and in northern Burgos.[2]: 596 The traditional use of the dogs is in management of the Monchina breed of cattle of Cantabria and the Paìs Vasco,[3] and particularly to assist with bringing the cattle down from the mountain pastures between October and December. The association between the dog breed and the cattle breed is so close that it has been said that "one breed could not exist without the other".[4]: 249 In 2009 there were fewer than 200 dogs registered in the studbook.[2]: 596
The Villano derived from the Spanish Bulldog, of which it represents a lighter, faster and more agile version.[citation needed] The Villano is also used for boar hunting given its qualities as a catch dog.[citation needed] Dogs stand some 57–60 cm at the withers, bitches about 55–57 cm.[2]: 598
^ Jump up to: abcMiguel Fernández Rodríguez, Mariano Gómez Fernández, Juan Vicente Delgado Bermejo, Silvia Adán Belmonte, Miguel Jiménez Cabras (editors) (2009). Guía de campo de las razas autóctonas españolas (in Spanish). Madrid: Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino. ISBN9788449109461.
