The Alaunte: the Medieval Gripper

The Master of Game by Edward, Second Duke of York

The Master of Game, written between 1406-1411, is considered to be the earliest English book on hunting. It is largely a translation of the French hunting book Le Livre de Chasse which was written between 1387 and 1389 by Gaston Febus, 11th count of Foix, and viscount of Béarn.

In chapter 16, the extinct hunting dog called the Alaunte is described. These dogs were the unparalleled gripping dogs of the day and are generally understood to be the direct ancestor of the bulldog and the bully breeds of today. These texts show that Alauntes were distinct from mastiffs in the 14th and 15th centuries, which are described in a separate chapter.

You will find several characteristics described in this medieval text about the bulldog's direct ancestors that we find repeatedly described throughout history and still find in gripping dogs today. That's genetics.

1. Alaunts are stupid and treacherous
2. Owners have to take extraordinary care to raise, train and socialize Alaunts because they are extremely dangerous
3. They will attack any living thing
4. They have a reputation for killing their masters
5. If Alauntes were perfectly bred and perfectly raised, they'd be the best dog ever, but that hardly ever happens (perfection) and "good" Alaunts are rare
6. Since they are nasty beasts, if they are killed by the boars they are set upon, it is no big loss  

exerpt:
[Alaunts]...should be made and shaped as a greyhound, even of all things save of the head, the which should be great and short.  And though there be alauntes of all hues, the true hue of a good alaunte, and that which is most common should be white with black spots about the ears, small eyes and white standing ears and sharp above.  Men should teach alauntes better and to be of better custom than any other beasts, for he is better shaped and stronger for to do harm than any other beast.  And also commonly alauntes are [giddy] of their own nature and have no such good sense as many other hounds have...   Also, they run at oxen and sheep, and swine, and at all other beasts, or at men or at other hounds.  For men have seen alauntes slay their masters.  In all manner of ways alauntes are treacherous and evil understanding, and more foolish and more harebrained than any other kind of hound.  And no one ever saw three well conditioned and good.  For the good alaunte should run as fast as a greyhound, and any beast that he can catch he should hold with his seizers and not leave it.  For an alaunte of his nature holds faster of his biting than can three greyhounds the best any man can find.  And therefore it is the best hound to hold and to [seize] all manner of beasts and hold them fast.  And when he is well conditioned and perfect, men hold that he is good among all other hounds.  But men find few that be perfect.

Read more historical characterizations of gripping dogs at Safety Before Pit Bulldogs

Vintage Mutant Mayhem

Take note of the right middle of this drawing.

Yeah, pibble's "bad rap" is due to the July 27, 1987 issue of Sports Illustrated.

lol.

vintage grippers

America's Lil Gripper

a roll of the dice

"These dogs were bred to fight to death, bite harder, get stronger and be tougher. This breed is what is known as pit bulls. They get the name from the dogs being placed in pits to fight each other. These dogs weren't bred for intelligence, to be docile or make good pets. They were made to kill another man's dog. I have seen some pits that are really nice dogs. I have a friend who has one that will lick you to death. But you never know when a pit will go back to what it is bred to do. Some never do go back and continue to be good pets. However, it's a roll of the dice and you never know how they will fall. Statistics shows, that most will turn on their owners and usually a child of the owner. Some of them turn on who ever is handy when they decide to snap. Some say all dogs will bite and that is true, but pits are more likely to mall and finish the job if they can, and other breeds bite and run or back off. Pits can't be blamed, it was what they were made to do."

Cave City, Arkansas Police Chief Nate Stephens


Woman killed by family pit bull prompts Cave City dog ordinance

Dog fighting officiando on the gentle nature of pit dogs

From Richard Stratton's book The World of the American Pit Bull Terrier, 1983.

Apparently Stratton is not familiar with the sad story of John P Colby's nephew, Bert Colby Leadbetter.  OR, Stratton is familiar and he doesn't care.

But, but but... Petey was a pit bull!

"Our Gang" Movie Dog, Killed in Norco

Dead from the bullets of an unknown assassin in Norco is Pete, one of the most famous dogs in the world. Owned by J. M. Robertson of 550 Fourth Street, Norco, Pete is known to everyone as the white bulldog with the black eye in the Hal Roach "Our Gang" comedies.

Mrs. Robertson said that Pete had never been a vicious dog and that their little boy, Montie, 5, had learned to walk by hanging on to "Pete". The pet was "just like a member of the family" and the Robertsons feel keenly over his having been killed.

Pete's buckshot riddled body was found a few feet from the Robertson home, a trail of blood behind him indicating that he was trying to return home. Apparently he had been fired on at close range.

The dog was given to Mrs. Robertson's father, E. R. Lloyd, 550 East Fourth Street, by Hal Roach studios where Lloyd worked 14 years. He gave the dog to his daughter's family because the children liked him so well.

Corona Daily Independent April 8, 1946

Imagine that. A well trained pit bulldog, passed from one owner to another, described as a valued family member, complete with heart warming tales of how wonderful he was with kids AND one of the owners makes a point to say that he has never been vicious (the lady doth protest too much!), is found dead of lead poisoning. The body was found off of its property and heading for home with a trail of blood (leading to dead sheep?).

The more things change, the more they stay the same.