Spanish dog breeds aren’t as common or well-known as other country dog breeds such as German or British ones; however, there is a great variety of dogs that originated in Spain.
Spanish Mastiff
The Spanish Mastiff is a giant dog breed which was originally bred as a guard dog. The breed was designed to be a stalwart defender of livestock against wolves, and other local predators. There are two types of the breed with the mastiff of the mountainous region having a heavier coat as compared to the standard Spanish Mastiff.
Ibizan Hound
The Ibizan hound comes in two coat varieties, smooth, and wirehaired, with the smooth coated Ibizan Hound being the more common type. The breed was originally used for hunting small game such as rabbits. The Ibizan is a fast breed that is comfortable on a variety of terrains and utilizes site, sound, and scent to hunt.
Spanish Water Dog
Related to the Portuguese Water Dog, the Spanish variety is looks very similar. The breed dates back several hundred years, and was bred to work as a shepherd. The breed has been documented as having existed on the Iberian Peninsula as far back as 10th century.
Andalusian Hound
The Andalusian Hound, as the name suggests, hails from the Andalusia region of Spain. Being sight hound, the Andalusian Hound has excellent eyesight, as well as olfactory and auditory capabilities, and was bred to hunt small games such as rabbits.
Great Pyrenees
Known locally a s the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, it is a guard dog bred to protect livestock. The Great Pyrenees is a large dog weighing as much as 140 pounds. It has a double-layered coat, which is water resistant, allowing it to do its job no matter what the weather might be like. The Great Pyrenees has a white coat, but can have gray, red, or tan coloration around the face and muzzle.
Catalan Sheepdog
As the name suggests, the Catalan Sheepdog was bred to be a herder, but nowadays are mostly used in agility trials, obedience competitions, as well as tracking and herding events. The breed has not lost its herding instincts and is highly trainable. They hail from the Andorra region of Spain.