You know that yummy, free-form tart made with pastry dough and filled with fruit? The French call it a galette. This post is utterly unrelated. Then there’s the genus of mollusks. That one is called Galba. And no, we’re not going to talk about them, either.

The genesis of this post starts in a region of northwestern Spain known for its rugged coastline, famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, and a Celtic heritage stemming from Celtic tribes that moved into the Iberian Peninsula around the 6th-4th centuries. The area bordering Portugal to the south and west is called Galicia, and we’re going to touch upon one of four fairly rare dog breeds that originate there: The Perdigueiro Galego, Podengo Galego, Can de Palleiro (which we covered in this post), and the Galician Quisquelo.

It is the last breed that we’ll be covering below, the breed also known as the Quisquelo or Can Guicho (or Guicho, the name we’ll be using).

The Guicho has deep roots in rural Galician culture. Considered a rare and ancient breed of warren hound, the dogs are renowned for their small, agile build and distinctive upright “guichas” ears, a name derived from Galician dialect. These ears are erect, pointed, and highly mobile, giving the dog an alert expression but more than that, they help the dogs hunt by enhancing sound detection.

The Guicho was bred specifically to thrive in Galicia’s rugged, forested landscapes—particularly in the provinces of Ourense and Pontevedra. Historically, the breed’s principal function has been as a rabbit dog, highly prized by hunters for its speed, keen senses, bravery, and the knack for pursuing quarry through dense underbrush. Some local accounts even credit the breed with the tenacity to chase foxes and wild boar when needed, a reflection of a bold temperament and endurance.

While much folklore surrounds its history (locally, these dogs were believed to possess a “sixth sense” for detecting danger, finding hidden game, or warning of ill omens on the mountain), reliable sources confirm the Guicho’s deep roots in the Celtic-influenced rural culture of Galicia (though evidence of Paleolithic or precise pre-Celtic ancestry is a bit speculative). What is clear is that the Guicho, like other Mediterranean and Atlantic warren hounds, developed a compact, lupoid/wolf-like physique well-adapted for hunting in challenging terrain.

The breed’s population flourished through the 19th century as a go-to companion for hunters. However, from the early 20th century onward—especially following the disruption of rural life and crossbreeding trends exacerbated by the World Wars—the Guicho’s genetic purity was severely threatened, bringing it to the brink of extinction by the late 20th century. Recognizing the need for urgent conservation, the Xunta de Galicia (the regional government authority that oversees the administration, legislation, and public services of Galicia) launched the “Recovery Plan for Native Breeds of Galicia” in 1999. Teams searched the countryside to find, identify and document surviving Guichos. In April 2001, the breed was formally recognized by the Xunta; a month later, national recognition followed by royal decree. To safeguard the breed’s lineage, a studbook was established that year, and the Club de Raza do Can Guicho ou Quisquelo was founded to promote recovery initiatives and breed awareness.

Sadly, and despite these efforts, the Guicho remains extremely rare as we write. While its relative, the Can de Palleiro, gained recognition from the Real Sociedad Canina de España (RSCE), the Guicho has not yet been nationally recognized, and its preservation continues to rely on regional clubs and dedicated enthusiasts.

We found a video of the breed – and while the music is a bit corny – the value is in the photographs:

In the coming days, we’ll be covering the remaining breeds of Galicia.