El Gigante de
Boriken.
This page have been written by
Prof. Hector Manuel de la Cruz Y Romero, Humacao, Puerto Rico.
All pictures by Prof. de la Cruz Y Romero.
Legacy of Becerillo (Little Bull Calf) de Arango -
legendary Canine Conquistador of La Isla de Borinquen.
Heritage of the Old Spanish Gladiator -War Dogs from the kennels of
Don Diego Colon y Don Pedro Romero Limardo.
And still The Best Grip on dog, bull, puma or boar.
-San Juan, Puerto Rico.
El Gran Mastin de Borinquen, also known as the Puerto Rican Mastiff,
Mastin Borincano, Becerillo de Borinquen and Perro Barsino de Hacienda, is the
only breed native to the island of Puerto Rico.
The Borinquen Mastiff is a blend of Spanish War Mastiffs, traditional
island dogs (Perros Jibaros) and Latin American Molossers, all brought to the
island for protection from colonial times until the early 20th century.
Rarely available today, El Gran Mastin was established as an internationally
recognized rare breed by la Sociedad Cynologica Caribena( S.C.C.) in 1979. A
tremendous amount of interest has been generated by the work being done to
carefully restore our dog to it's place among the Carribean dog fancy.
Needless to say, Boriken Kennels (a.k.a. Borin-Cuba -due to our dog's close
kinship with the Cuban Mastiff ) has been at the of the core of the program
from the very beginning.
Eleven week old female pups parented by Becerilla de San
Juan and Tigrilla de Santa Barbara.
Our dogs are family tradition, but it was during the last part of
the 19th century that local recognition began with the overseer's (the "Mayordomos" and
"Capatazes") of the Sugar Cane, Tobacco and Coffee plantations. Don Felix Romero
Maldonado (my grandfather) was one whose legacy lives on through the work and
conservation efforts of this- a most worthy tradition.
Gran Mastinos are by origin and type the "Old Country" dogs tuned to
cold rain forest region mountains, hot "campo" hills and the tropical valley
lands of Puerto Rico (Jibaro Haven). Country folk would come from near and far to aquire
a pup- in exchange for produce, game chickens, goats, hogs or just plain
friendship and handshake.
El Gigante de Borinquen.
This is the Puerto Rican Mastiff !
Picture by by Frances Wise, New York.
This magnificent breeds ancestry is deeply rooted in the history of
the Spanish Conquest in the Carribbean and Latin America. For centuries Spanish Landlords
and Noblemen kept these Molossi (referred to as bloodthirsty) for protection and
bloodsport. They are adept at bringing down feral steer, boar and dogs;
fighting to the finish if allowed to, just as they did during the
colonization servicing the Conquistadors as gladiators and war dogs. During
those days their quarry was most of the time human, particularly during the
"Spanish Encomendado"- early XVIth century.
Helping enforce the Spanish reign of terror in Latin America the
Mastin did this out of loyalty and desire to please his master, on the other
hand many lacking proper human contact were actually bloodthirsty as
described in our historic chronicles by Friar Bartolome de las Casas.
Jibaro Conquistador del Caribe.
Sire- Bucanero del Caribe, Dam- Batalla de Boriquen.
El Encomendado was (supposedly) the christianing and aculturation of
the remaining "Taino" population obviously against their will. In reality it
was a disguised native enslavement. The dogs were used to capture the retreating indians
sometimes mutilating and killing them in the process.
Neverless, the Mastin is noble, courageous and loyal- many died
protecting their masters during the Spanish-Indian Wars. A perfect example is the case of Don
Sancho de Arango in 1513, mentioned in the "Discovery, Conquest and
Colonization of Puerto Rico" and in "Apuntes para la Historia de Humacao" both by Dr.
Ricardo E. Alegria.
Frontal head and chest photo of Gigante.
Picture by by Frances Wise, New York.
These make reference to the Carib attack (cannibals) made against the
plantations on the Cayarabon River now called Loiza. The attack was so
violent that despite a heroic defense many were killed by Carib arrows.
The Indians captured Don Sancho de Arango, but the fierce attacks of his
dog Becerillo (legendary terror of Borinquen), forced them to release the
master, who fled. The brave animal, who some say was really owned by Ponce de Leon,
fought to the end, as did his son-Leoncillo. Both died in the aftermath of the terrible
battle felled by poisoned arrows.
El Vegigante de Boriken,
Sire: El Gigante de Boriken - Dam: Tasha de los Toros.
Picture by by Frances Wise, New York.
Becerillo was well known for notorious exploits in the Spanish-Indian Wars.
So succesful was he in battle that his caretaker was entrusted with
rewards -one and a half times the pay of a crossbowman, plus a share of
slaves, gold, food, or other spoils by order of his majesty the King.
Becerillo was a large battle-scarred dog with smoldering, bloodshot
eyes, black mask and a fawn colored coat. He had a penchant for bloody chase
and most engravings suggest that he was Mastiff-mix, as were so many of the Spanish dog's.
