Ca-de-bo: how an ancient dog breed was revived from the ashes (6 photos)

Ca-de-bo is a breed of calm, peaceful and friendly dog that has come a long way. At first the animals were used as shepherds, then they were forced to fight bulls in the arena. And now the dog gets along well with people both in a private house and in an apartment.





Ka-de-bo could become the advertising face of retraining courses. Judge for yourself: at first these dogs were bred to help people: guard property, graze livestock. Then the ca-de-bos began to give people not only bread, but also a spectacle - fighting with bulls in the arena. And now the dog has retrained as a pet!



True, such metamorphoses did not occur in a month or two, but over centuries of selection. Ca-de-bo, Mallorcan Mastiff (not Major, without the stars on the shoulder straps), or Perro Doggo Mallorquin is not the most common, but definitely one of the most memorable dog breeds. Once you see such a bedside table in person, you will no longer be able to normally perceive thin-boned greyhounds. Because there should be a lot of good dogs! And a dense, wide-chested dog weighing 40 kilograms fits perfectly into the criteria for canine goodness.





The history of the Ca de Beau breed dates back to time immemorial, when active trade was just beginning between the islands of the Mediterranean Sea and the mainland. Among the goods, among other things, naturally, were dogs. Large, strong and hard-working animals, which were greatly needed by the local population, were brought from the continent to Mallorca. Among them were they, the ancestors of modern ca-de-bos. They were used for a variety of purposes: from protecting property to grazing livestock.



In the 17th century, bulldog-type dogs came to the island along with the new government. They couldn't stand the local climate, so the breeders of the time crossed them with local stock of pra-ca-de-bo in the hope of creating the perfect baiting dogs for bloody sport with bulls. The idea came to fruition, and the ancestors of our heroes became real gladiators.



A little later, entertainment of this kind and dog fighting were banned, along with which interest in fighting dogs began to fade. And so, when everything was almost lost, and purebred representatives were practically impossible to find, dog handlers got to work and did the impossible. Through targeted selection from local island mestizos and a new admixture of bulldogs, it was possible to literally revive the legendary ca-de-bos from the ashes. These watchdogs still partially carry the blood of their ancestors, so they cannot be called completely fake. But of course, this is not the same “ancient legendary breed”. Roughly speaking, our heroes are somewhere in between. And that's just great!



There is noticeable sexual dimorphism within the breed. Boys are much larger than girls.

Because those old ca-de-bos, skilled in all their paws, were already spoiled by battles, and the new era in their selection made it possible to give the animals a new chance. Modern breeding of the breed followed a completely different path - adequacy, friendliness, kindness and devotion were welcomed in dogs. So today, most ca-de-bos are such huge plush hamsters that they dote on their families.