The Villanuco is critically endangered: in 2009 the total number for the breed was reported to be below fifty. Almost all are in the comarca of Enkarterri/Las Encartaciones – in Artzentales, Balmaseda, Güeñes, Karrantza, Sopuerta and Trucios-Turtzioz.[1]: 599
It is a small breed: dogs stand 30–40 cm at the withers, bitches a little less. The skin is fine and close-fitting, and the coat is short, little more than 1 cm long. It is most often black and white or black and tan, less frequently black and cinnamon, white and cinnamon, or tri-coloured; the nose is usually black, but may also be chocolate-coloured. The ears are usually upright.[1]: 600
Use
The Villanuco was traditionally used for ratting. It is a good watchdog, alert to the presence of strangers or intruders, and may be kept for that reason or as a companion dog.[2]
References
^ abcdefgMiguel Fernández Rodríguez, Mariano Gómez Fernández, Juan Vicente Delgado Bermejo, Silvia Adán Belmonte, Miguel Jiménez Cabras (eds.) (2009). Guía de campo de las razas autóctonas españolas (in Spanish). Madrid: Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino. ISBN9788449109461.
^ ab[s.n.] (11 January 2010). Programa de Desarrollo Rural del País Vasco 2007–2013 (in Spanish). Eusko Jaurlaritza/Gobierno Vasco. Nekazaritza, Arrantza eta Elikagai Saila/Departamento de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación. Accessed July 2020.