At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
rough coat with undercoat
A tall, powerful pack hound with a harsh, dense coat roughly 3 to 8 cm long over a warm undercoat.12
Personality what they are like
Described as a friendly, easy-going dog that listens well and gets along with both people and the other hounds in its pack.2
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Developed to work in packs (rehalas) over mountainous hunting ground, so it is built for long days of hard exercise.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The harsh coat benefits from regular brushing to keep it clean and free of burrs after time outdoors.2
Home where they are happiest
A large working dog that is traditionally kept with other hounds; it needs generous space and outdoor time.12
Company who they like around
Used to living and working in a pack and described as highly sociable with dogs and people.2
The story where it all began
The Valdueza was shaped from the 1940s by Alonso Álvarez de Toledo y Cabeza de Vaca and later his son, the Marquis of Valdueza, for the Spanish montería hunt. Large rough-coated Podenco Andaluz dogs were combined with light Mastín-type dogs and later some Griffon Vendéen blood. Spain officially recognised it as a pure breed in 2020.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The breed carries the name of the noble family, the Marquesses of Valdueza, who developed it over more than 70 years.2
- 2
It was bred to blend the power of a mastiff, the toughness of a podenco and the trailing skill of a griffon.2
- 3
It works in rehalas, the traditional hound packs of Spanish mountain hunts in the Montes de Toledo and Sierra Morena.1
Recognised by the official bits
- Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (Spain)
- Recognised as a Spanish pure breed by Order APA/698/2020 of 21 July 20202
- Real Sociedad Canina de España (RSCE)
- Listed as an ethnic canine group in 2014; the RSCE proposed its elevation to pure breed1
- FCI
- Not recognised1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Valdueza. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
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Podenco Andaluz
Grand Griffon Vendéen
Spanish MastiffLike what we are building? Buy Archy a bone.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Wikipedia: Valdueza en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, history, recognition, height, coat, colours
- Jara y Sedal: El Valdueza ya es raza pura canina española revistajaraysedal.esused for recognition date, height, coat, temperament, use
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.