The Valdueza or Perro Montero Valdueza is a modern Spanish

breed A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...

of large pack-hound. It results from selective breeding, principally of large rough-haired

Podenco Andaluz The is an ancient Spanish breed of warren hound used to hunt small game in Andalusia, Spain. It is one of four podenco breeds recognized by the Real Sociedad Canina de España. It is an agile dog generally used to hunt ducks, rabbits, boar and ...

dogs with lightweight examples of the Mastín Extremeño; some Griffon Vendéen blood was later added. Breeding began in the 1940s; in 2020 the Valdueza was officially recognised by the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, the Spanish ministry of agriculture, and was added to the list of indigenous Spanish breeds. It is not recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

History

Breeding Breeding is sexual reproduction that produces offspring, usually animals or plants. It can only occur between a male and a female animal or plant. Breeding may refer to: * Animal husbandry, through selected specimens such as dogs, horses, and rab ...

of the Valdueza was begun in the 1940s by Alfonso Álvaréz de Toledo y Cabeza de Vaca, the eleventh Marquess of Valdueza, and was continued after his death by his son Alonso Álvarez de Toledo y Urquijo, the twelfth marquess. The aim was always to create a breed of pack-hound suitable for hunting in mountainous terrain, particularly in the

Montes de Toledo The Montes de Toledo are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in the Iberian Peninsula. They divide the drainage basin of the Tagus from the basin of the Guadiana. The highest peak is high La Villuerca. Description The Montes de Toledo are ...

, the Sierras of Extremadura and the Sierra Morena. To this end large rough-haired dogs of the

breed were cross-bred with lightweight examples of the Mastín Extremeño; some Griffon Vendéen blood was later added by Alonso Álvarez de Toledo. In 2014 the Perro Montero Valdueza was listed among the 'Grupos Étnicos' of the

Real Sociedad Canina de España is the Spanish kennel club. It was founded in Madrid as the on 27 June 1911, and became a legal entity on 12 July 1911; on 1 December 1911 it received the royal patronage of Alfonso XIII, and the word 'Real' was added before the name. It has b ...

, a preliminary step to full recognition as a breed. In 2020 it was officially recognised by the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, the Spanish ministry of agriculture, and was added to the list of recognised indigenous Spanish breeds.

Use

References

{{Hounds Dog breeds originating in Spain Hounds