HISTORY AND ORIGINS OF THE CA
DE BOU
The origins of the Ca de Bou breed, as in the majority of the antic
canine
breeds are a somewhat confused.
If we look for an origin of our breed, this has to be through the catch
or
presa dogs that arrived to Mallorca in 1229 with Sir. Jaime I the
Conquest.
These dogs where Spanish Presas or Alanos, similar to which later were
used in the conquest of America. These dogs, were carried by the Horsemen
of Malta, famous order, whose denominated distinction was the White
Lebrel, and was given to that horseman who distinguished itself in combat.
These dogs, where the best in guarding and ferocity, they where used
to
open breaches in the enemy armies.
Once Mallorca was conquered, they settled down, crossing between them
and
other native dogs and making a big group of presa dogs that were used
basically for working with the vaccine cattle and the guard of people
and
properties. Since XIII century, the Union of Butchers or Cutters, used
these dogs as helpers of the butchers or slaughterer, for the sacrifice
of
the head of the cattle, by his powerful subjection and prey of its jaw.
This racial grouping, also was used in the XIII, XIV and XV centuries
for
the hunting of the wild board and red deer, that in those years, they
were
many of them in Mallorca, also being used in the XV, XVI and XVII
centuries by brigands and attackers of ways as their pursuers or bailiffs
for the capture of them.
Thru the years, this population of prey dogs, was crossed not only as
a
circumstantial way but also as premeditated form, with another racial
grouping, same as the previous defined and whose work was basically
the
one of the pasturing of ewes, looking for in these crossings, to very
possibly improve the functionality of both groupings, being its result,
the embryo of the modern Ca de Bou.
To our dog, or denominated itself Ca de Bou, by its brave character,
it
was used in bullfighting spectacles, fighting with bulls, against other
fierce dogs and even wild animals, such as leopards or bears, being
these
carried out in the old bullring of Palma between 1800 and 1900 mainly,
although also took place in previous dates.
At the moment, our appreciated friend, it is used as a companion and
as a
guard dog, because their excellent familiar and also balanced character,
makes of him a magnificent companion for children and older people.
