Best known for its former use in bull baiting, the Alano Espanol, also known as the Spanish Bulldog is a very large indigenous Spanish Molosser type dog. The breed derives its name from the Alana, a group of nomadic pastoralists known to keep large livestock guardian dogs and pursuit dogs. It is believed that the Alani brought the ancestors of the Alano Espanol with them to Spain sometime during the 5th century as they migrated their livestock into Spain in search of fresh pastures for them to graze on.The name Alano Espanol as it is known today has become synonymous in many ways with the name Spanish Bulldog (Perro de Toro) and in most cases the terms are used interchangeably to refer to the same breed of dog. However, there are differences in appearance between the two in that the Spanish Bulldog is the “bullier” version of the Alano Espanol, similar to the relationship that exists between the Johnson and Scott types of American Bulldog.