The American Canine has traveled abroad again, with this latest foray leading us to Spain.  Spain has a fascinating history, from the Romans to the Visigoths to the Muslims, back to the Christians, with it all documented in the country’s art and architecture. 

As usual during my vacations, my partner and I spent a great deal of time scouting out the local population de perros. The first night there, we spotted a gentleman training his young German Shepherd. Ah, just like home.

Overall, as I have said in previous posts, the dogs of Spain, like the dogs of Europe in general, seem much better behaved than those here in the States. Often we would see people walking their dogs without a leash through parks and plazas. If the dog got too far away, it just took a whistle or call to send it scurrying back to the owner. I compare that to the almost non-existent recall skills of so many American pooches. Here are a few of the dogs we spotted in Spain, both real and art.

Another vacation hobby I have is looking for the dogs in artwork. There was no shortage of pups peeking out from the paintings, tapestries, and statues of Spain. In art from nearly every stage of the area’s development and no matter who ruled, dogs are there right alongside the people.

There is a little weirdness in a series of paintings by Cranach the Elder which seem to show dogs attacking naked maidens.

A more modern dog display looks over Madrid’s iconic Gran Via boulevard. 

Created by Natividad Sánchez and installed in 2017, the first woman architect and sculptor to leave her mark on the famed boulevard, retells the myth of Diana and Endymion. You first spot a couple arrows on the ground, but looking up, see Diana and her five hounds atop a hotel. 

There was another modern art “installation” that caught my eye several times. Or rather, several different versions caught my eye. I’ll have more about this sweet dog in the next post. 

I may take a holiday in Spain

Leave my wings behind me

Drink my worries down the drain

And fly away to somewhere new

-Counting Crows “Holiday in Spain”