The Savant “Alaunt”

The Aluant, Alano, and Boar Lurcher Types – are synonomous for their ability to serve hunters “par force” or at speed with force. The coursing ability of the sighthound, combined with the added tenacity and mass from the bull and molosser breeds enhance their ability to subdue quarry. These “par force hounds”, “fleethounds” or “running mastiffs” are the epitome of a “running catch dog”

Historical significance

The Alaunt Type was first recorded in Central Asia by the Alani of Pontic Steppes - the Kavkaz nomads of Sarmatian Indo-Iranian ancestry. This group of people were known as superb warriors, herdsmen and breeders of both horses and dogs, where their nomadic lifestyle required dogs capable of not only going to war, but valued protectors of both livestock and caravans. As far as what we know today, the Alaunt’s primary ancestors were a type of working gripping dog, with origins strongly rooted in the ancient mountain dogs of the East - like the Gampr, or Alabai in type.

The Alaunt name was synonymous with a type of working dog as opposed to a specific breed which came to exist in various forms dictated by regional requirements. Geopolitical history influenced the Alaunt type, and as the Alani people spread into Russia, East into Mongolia, Tibet and China, South into India and Egypt and West into Europe. With that we can see how the blending of cultures, and environmental demands quickly became reflected within the dogs themselves. It was the routine crossing of these gripping dogs to indigenous scent and sight hound types which gives us much of the diversity we see today.

This is well documented as we look towards medieval Europe - where the Alaunt was classified into three distinct types; the Alaunt de Bucherie, a traditional livestock guardian type (which is thought to be the progenitor to many of the modern mastiff and bull breeds and crucial in the development of various fighting and baiting dogs in France), the Alaunt Gentil, a light greyhound type (which eventually became assimilated into local hunting breeds with the Alaunt Veantre) and the Alaunt Vautre, an aggressive hunting type of par force hound used in the chase. In France, the word “vuatre” was eventually used exclusively for boarhounds - and was frequently attributed the “vaultre” as a “mongrell between a hound and a mastiffe…fit for the chase or hunting of wild bears and Boares…” - David Hancock

“Light heavyweights of the canine world, quick on their feet and devastating at close quarter combat or protection when threatened. they are not mountain dogs or draught dogs needing massive bone but strongly-built hounds of athleticism with their own distinct type” - David Hancock

Locomotive Superiority

The genetic variation in dog breeds have highlighted differences in movement. Historical emphasis on physiological adaptation is what allows these dogs to specialize in this type of locomotion. We believe the term “running mastiff” is thrown around haphazardly to appeal to the romanticized versions of the Cane Corso or other mastiff types, who in modern times been bred too heavy to truly course game fairly at speed. On top of many being too many generations removed from meaningful work, their physiology has changed such as the length of their loin and back, the flexibility in their spines, the angulation of their shoulders, weight distribution and even the shape of their feet.

Canids by design were built to run - sporting only 13 ribs, and shorter digestive systems which allow them to make shorter more accurate turns. Their gaits are divided into two categories - symmetrical where movements of each side mirror each other, and asymmetrical where movements on each side are not the same. Dogs can change their gaits based on a variety of factors, including conformation, experience, training, terrain and level of fatigue. Certain gaits are required in the standards of certain breeds.

In our opinion, a true running dog is one by breeding - not merely an action. Running gaits are differentiated by symmetry. The fastest gait in canids is asymmetrical; its a four time gait with suspension where all the legs are lifted off the ground. There are two types of gallop: the single suspension and the double suspension gallop.

Stride length is influenced by a flexible loin (which begins at the point of the attachment of the last rib to the spine and continues to the pelvis). This is the area that provides the keystone arch to the topline. Flexion and extension of the vertebral column greatly increases effective stride length working with the loin to act as a coil. Loin extension during rear leg thrust produces a leap that enables the forelimbs to impact far ahead of the dog’s static anatomical reach. Epaxial and hamstring muscles support body weight and elevate the body’s center of gravity during the leap suspension phase, while abdominal wall muscles bring the dog’s pelvis forward during loin flexion. Hindquarters are long, with well bent stifles and close low set hocks. This lends itself to a dog who is carried low to the ground without lowering the body while in pursuit.

It’s important to take note that the gait found in running dogs is only as effective as the feet which carry them. A V8 without traction is worthless - which brings us to the importance of the paws. Varied game has always meant varied terrain - and physiological adaptations to enhance running at full speed while rapidly changing direction requires unique structural differences found within this breed type.

When we think about apex predators - and running dogs in particular, what they all have in common is the presence of “the hare foot” - which is a fairly long, closely knit, shallow-padded foot which is similar to that of the wolf, coyote, or fox. The hare foot tends to have a long third digital bone - with two middle toes which protrude further than the two outermost toes. The longer third digital bone is helpful for the type of quick initial speed needed for outrunning prey, change of directions, trot for varying distances, or the altering of gait instantly in rugged terrain. The length of the toes ensure leverage, traction, strength and flexibility of the foot, while also emphasizing the distribution of weight on the heel pad as well as all four toes.

When compared to the more common “catfoot” where we see a deep, rounded paw with toes nearer to the base of the heel of the foot. This design is typically better for sustained, long distanced trotting. Structurally - because the heel pad is not sharing the body weight of the dog with the toe pads, cat footed breeds typically carry their weight forward, with strong, straight upright shoulders to reduce stress on the toes. They frequently are squarely built, with short powerful backs and large, wide shoulders.

Tools of the Trade: The Running Catch Dog

“A powerful neck, a seizing jaw, with breadth right down to the nose, strong loins, good spring of rib, with the rib-cage showing good length as well as circumference, immense power in the sprint and great muscularity. Mentally, such a dog has to have extraordinary persistence, enormous amounts of determination when closing with quarry, yet always responsive to commands.” David Hancock

The anatomical requirements for this type of running catch dog is well documented by active hunting enthusiasts worldwide. We must remember that these have always been dogs bred for both pace and power, where function dictates design. The additional of bull or molosser blood when added to that of the sighthound would result in a dog who ran with commitment - a true “do or die lurcher” which blended the raw determination, power and measured aggression of many of the bull and terrier/molosser breeds with the speed and hunting instinct of the sighthounds. The addition of sighthound DNA allows for a phenomenal combination of bone, and muscle allowing for a balance between size/weight, strength and coordination between the fore and hind limbs - allowing the dog to run in sprints through a series of leaps rather than running in a strict sense.

A dog who embodies a true “par force/at force” or fleet hound is prized for their unstructured/unregulated coursing - perpetuated in breeds like the Rhodesian Ridgeback, Great Dane, and Dogo Argentino. These dogs separate themselves physically through the efficiency found within their “gait” - allowing them to sustain a pace or sprint for long distances. When at speed, the forequarters construction dictates the soundless of the dogs movement, carrying 60-70% of the dogs weight, being distributed onto the front legs, Forequarters should be straight, with a long upper arm, dropping the elbow below the brisket line. Power comes from the back, with maneuverability coming from the front. This requires the correct slope of the shoulder with adequate gap between the scapulae at the withers. The shoulder blade is not as well laid back as more endurance trotting breeds, as the upper arm is more open. The front pastern is long allowing the pastern to bend and lie flat on the ground, shortening the leg as the shoulder passes over it. Once the shoulder passes over the paw, the pastern springs back up contributing to an upward thrust.

Unlike horses which run with their legs, dogs run with their back - so a square and flat back, broad, strong and deep with well developed musculature on both sides of the spine allows for a flexible spring of the lumbar vertebrae when energy is transmitted from the rear loins and hindquarters. This translates to a dog with a topline which moves smoothly from the neck to their rear end. The rump, thighs, hocks and pasterns must all be highly developed and of sufficient length to allow the dog to cover ground. and a topline which moves move smoothly from the neck to the rear end.

To have an effective gait, a dog needs lung-room to maintain a gallop - which is made possible by through physiological characteristics. These dogs tend to have body proportions which are 10-15% longer than their height - where the length of the body is measured from the front of the prosternum to the end of the pelvis (ischium). Body length covers the entire length of the rib cage, the loin, and the width of the hind quarter, with most of the increased length of the body coming from increased length of the loin. Loin length allows for an effective gait by decreasing the likelihood of the dog being too “short coupled”. The size of the gap between the last or rearmost rib and the leading edge of the dogs thigh is a crucial one; too little allows explosive power but no endurance, too much can produce a weak back through lack of support.

The Savant Alaunt: Mastiff Foundation, bulldog influence, sighthound expression.

Alaunts, Alanos, and the Gentile/Veantre types could easily be considered a “Heavy Greyhound” “Light Mastiff” “Boar Lurcher” “Mastiff Lurcher” or “Light heavyweight” type of Coursing Dog - has actively been pursued by canid enthusiast Brian Plummer - who set out to recreate a large hunting-guard dog which closely resembled the ancient Alaunt Gentil/Veantre - the large game hunting mastiff type dog, from which many breeds are thought to have descended. His formula is well documented - and despite his passing in 2003 his desire to reconstruct a type without all the “excessive bone and weight of the normal mastiff types” and to “perpetuate a strong headed, good boned, intelligent, athletic greyhound bodied dog which possess the necessary drive and keen hunting instinct” would be one day be deemed worthy enough of being called the “New British Alaunt”. Plummer documented his recreation to resemble the Alaunt Gentil/Veantre large game hunting, mastiff type dog - from which he believed many breeds were thought to have been descended. He had written the following:

“The Greyhound, simply because the breed is the most physically perfect of any breed of dog known to man. It seems free from any of the congenital disorders known to man. Furthermore, the addition of greyhound blood ensures the hybrid will be fleet of foot and agile enough to avoid the thrust of a large predator.”

“Bull Terrier blood is also essential in the formula. The correct strains of bull terrier that are not only game, but also free of physical and mental faults. The most fierce natural selection has produced the Bull Terrier. Few are lacking in courage - a delicious understatement - for no breed of dog on earth is as courageous as the bull terrier. Furthermore some breeds of bull terrier are not only bright, but also reasonably tractable…I hasten to add that I have avoided using bull terrier dogs which have an unnatural hostility to other dogs, and have used studs which have shown a strong hunting instinct.”

“Bull Mastiff Blood - I have used the son of the very tall strong headed Graecia Marcus, the Crufts winning Bull Mastiff of 2001. On reflection I believe I made a mistake in the selection of the dog and should have asked to have used the champion dog and not his son. My own stud Naglum, has a lovely strong head and is “up to size”, but his dam line has many smallish bitches in its pedigree. I shall correct this small problem - if it manifests itself - in later generations, for I also have easy access to an oversize Bull Mastiff stud dog bred by Ch. Naukeen Heath Thyme.”

- Brian Plummer

These reconstructed Alaunt Gentil/Veantre types have consistently been bred without all the excessive bone and weight typically seen within modern mastiffs, (resultant of sighthound influence) and exist throughout parts of Europe. They portray a strong head, are moderately built, with athleticism reminiscent of the greyhound throughout hunting and enthusiast circles. Unfortunately many of them tend to lack phenotypical consistency due to heavy cross or “one off” breeding - with some enthusiast preferring more bull, sighthound or molosser influence to suit their needs.

The Savant Alaunt is the culmination of our appreciation of history. We recognize the strengths of cross breeding, historical influence, and our experiences throughout the US and abroad. What we have always sought out to do was to perpetuate our own running catchdogs reminiscent of those found throughout Australia. We are committed to producing our ideal dog through the use of working mastiffs, traditional bulldogs, and hunting sighthounds. Not a far cry from Brian Plummer - but with the selection pressure of only incorporating dogs who continue to exude the strengths and skills of their ancestors.

We hope to produce a dog 85-110lbs, and between 25-29” at the withers that is capable of serving a “one out” running catchdog. With the speed, and mass to hold hogs, while retaining enough defense drive and a civil edge to serve as a home deterrent. At this stage of our program - the character of a mastiff with sighthound influence has yet to be seen, but we feel as though with the right individuals - we will get close to achieving our ideal “Savant Alaunt”.