With the Internet we can find information on almost anything, so those interested in animals already know famous dogs around the world. There are other countries in which dogs stood out as part of their history in such a way that today they are recognized in other countries. However, there are not many documents that tell us about the dogs in the history of Spain.
We have all heard of Hachiko, the Japanese dog that waited for its owner daily in front of the station, or of Laika, the dog that went into space. Dogs world famous for their feats. So let's see if in Spain we have dogs that have gone down in history and deserve to be remembered.
Lump, Pablo Picasso's dog
Many things have been said about the genius and painter Pablo Picasso, such as that, for example, he was a very lonely man, who did not let anyone accompany him while he painted. However, his great love for dogs has also transcended. Especially his great love for Lump, a dachshund or dachshund that his friend Davis Douglas Duncan, a war photographer, gave him. From the first moment the two hit it off, and since then only the dog accompanied the painter while he created his works.
Such was the importance he attached to the dog that we can see it in 14 works dedicated to Picasso's reinterpretation of Velázquez's de las Meninas. We see how the mastiff in the painting is replaced by an elongated Lump. Without a doubt, this is one of the dogs that have gone down in history as an artistic inspiration for Picasso. They spent six years together, until the dog became ill and had to be treated, so his friend Duncan got him.
Ajax, from the Civil Guard
Almost everyone knows the dog Ajax, a long-haired German shepherd who was born in 2001 and trained to serve in the Civil Guard. He was specially trained in explosives detection. In 2009 they both went to the island of Mallorca as part of the king's escort, to arrive before them during the summer holidays of the Royal Family. It is then that one of the last attacks by the ETA terrorist group takes place in Palmanova, next to the Civil Guard barracks, resulting in the death of two agents. Ajax the dog and his handler volunteer to look for another possible artifact in the vicinity. The dog detects another bomb under a car, which was finally detonated in a controlled manner, preventing many more deaths that day.
Thanks to the good work of both, lives were saved, since the pump was in a tourist area of Mallorca in the middle of summer. The dog was honored years later by the UK's 'People's Dispensary for Sick Animals' veterinary charity, which has only awarded two medals outside the Commonwealth. Strangely, the Royal House, which until that moment had not thanked the dog for his performance, also decorated the dog days after this act.
Calf the conqueror
Becerrillo was a Spanish Alano that is part of the oldest history of Spain. This Alano was part of the Spanish conquest of the new world, since at that time many dogs were used to explore and fight in these unknown lands. According to the stories about BecerrilloIt was a dog trained to go into battle against the indigenous people who rebelled, in addition to being especially good at looking for those fugitives from justice.
It was an extremely intelligent dog that understood orders perfectly and followed them quickly. In addition, his ferocity and bravery in battle earned him his great fame, as the best conqueror dog of the time. It was a defense dog, faithful and strong. Although his story is sad, since he was used as a war dog and when he died from the wounds of one of the incursions of the natives, he was buried in an unknown place.