Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
The Spinone Italiano is a hunting breed, mostly known for his calm nature and occasional stubbornness.
Originally from Italy, this breed is among the most famous European breeds when it comes to versatility.
The Spinone Italiano is a powerful and all-around hunter. They are strong and athletic in appearance.
Yet, they are not many runners like many hunting dogs. As a hunting dog, the Spinone Italiano is not much of a runner, but more a dog known for his endurance.
Their coat is dense, and comes with a natural look, plus may vary in patterns and colors. Their eyes are soft and expressive, making that sweet look overall.
They also have rather shaggy eyebrows and a tufted beard making them a favorite among lovers of more rustic dog breeds.
From the side, the length of the body is approximately equal to the height at the withers.
The Spinone Italiano is a well-muscled and well-built dog to hunt and move with confidence.
The Spinone Italiano is also a great swimmer and never thinks twice if the water is too cold before he jumps in.
Quick Facts
Real name: Spinone Italiano
Other names: Spinone, Bracco Spinoso, Italian Spinone, Italian Griffon, Italian Wire-haired Pointer, Italian Coarse-haired Pointer
Origin: Italy
Breed type: Sporting Dogs
Weight: 61 to 86 pounds
Height: 22 to 28 inches
Lifespan: 10 – 14 years
Litter Size: 8 – 9 puppies
Color: White, white and brown, white and orange, brown roan, orange
Coat: Dense and wiry coat of medium length
Spinone Italiano History
Little is known about Spinone Italiano. Dog historians and dog lovers know that this breed originated in Italy, in north-western Italy to be precise.
It’s known that modern Spinone Italiano originated in Piedmont sometime in the 19th century. At that time, this breed was popular as a hunting breed. Moreover, they were considered to be one of the most valuable and desirable hunting breeds.
As you may guess, hunting dogs were very much appreciated during the 19th century, as hunters wanted only the best breeds to follow them.
During WWII this breed was much loved and used by partisans, who used these square dogs to track enemies.
When they were not busy tracking enemies and discovering their hideouts, they were busy carrying food.
Like it was the case with many other dog breeds, Spinone Italiano numbers after WWII declined, which is why dog fanciers and breeders joined their forces.
To increase the breed’s numbers the Famiglia dello Spinone, a breed society was formed in now far 1949. In 1955, the breed was oficially accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.
The Club Italiano Spinoni was established in 1973. The AKC recognized the breed in 2000.
Breeders and dog lovers did an amazing job since the numbers of this breed are only going up.
In the period from 2010 to 2018, numbers of this dog jumped from 400 to around 650 per year, and those numbers are only going up.
Spinone Italiano Physical Appearance
Spinone Italiano is a gentle dog of medium size.
They have the famous happy-go-lucky attitude that makes everyone notice them in a matter of seconds. They are built for light movement and great companion walks.
Spinoni Italian are often described as dogs of soft rugged appearance. As for the coat, they have a medium-length coat of dense and wiry structure that only adds to their ‘lucky’ appearance.
As for the color, these dogs are commonly orange and white, brown and white, or solid white.
Spinoni Italian tend to have between 61 to 86 pounds and commonly stand from 22 to 28 inches at the shoulder. They may be smaller or bigger than average and are often described as medium to large size dogs.
Spinone Italiano Personality
Spinone Italiano is a breed known for its soft nature and good temperament.
They are also great working dogs who thrive when there is a job to be done. They may always look like a wise old dogs, but they are in fact forever puppies.
Spinones are great family dogs, who love spending time with their humans.
If you want a medium to large size family dog, this is a breed to consider having. Know that these gentle dogs are highly intelligent dogs who will demand daily exercise and indoor games to keep their spirits satisfied.
This breed will love participating in dog sports such as agility and obedience.
Are you into hiking? This breed will love to join you. Make sure that you know how to hike with your dog in a safe way.
Do not take puppies for long walks or hikes, as their joints and muscles are growing and you want to avoid any injuries. This sweet-natured dog will love outdoor time and cuddling indoors.
Spinone Italiano With Children And Other Animals
Spinone Italiano will love spending time with each family member.
Younger or older children will love this gentle dog as long as they interact safely with dogs.
No matter how great children and dogs could get along, their interaction should always be supervised.
Make sure that your children know not to pull the dog’s ears or tail, and not to disturb them while they are eating, sleeping, or resting in their crate.
On the other hand, dogs should know dog house rules and how to behave around visitors and children.
As a hunting breed, the Spinone Italiano will be great with other dogs. Just introduce them to a safe environment.
Dogs are highly territorial beings, so make sure that you introduce them the right way.
As for the other pets, small size pets aren’t recommended companions for this breed. Smaller pets are often seen as game.
Spinone Italiano Training
Did you know that dogs are capable of mastering basic training commands as of eight weeks of age?
Your Spinone Italiano will love training sessions that are well-structured and packed with treats.
No dog should ever experience any harsh training methods. Make sure that you use only positive reinforcement.
If you feel that you need support training-wise hire a professional dog trainer or enroll your puppy in puppy classes.
Any of these two options can speed up the training process and provide some great professional training tips.
To get the most out of training, make training sessions:
- Fun
- Short
- Consistent
- Packed with treats
- Engaging
Spinone Italiano Grooming
If you want your Spinone Italiano to look neat and healthy you should provide regular grooming practice.
Just brushing your dog regularly, isn’t enough to keep his appearance neat.
Regular brushing is just one part of great grooming. This dog comes with a medium-length coat that is dense and wiry and should be brushed once to twice times oper week.
Use a large pin brush to make brushing fast and easy. While brushing check the dog’s skin for fleas and any sign of skin infection.
The rest is basic care:
- Trim or grind nails monthly
- Check gums weekly
- Check eyes daily for any sign of eye discharge
- Bathe only when needed
- Clean ears when needed
Last but not least, if your veterinarian recommends it, brush the dog’s teeth. Always use a toothbrush that is specially designed for dogs.
This breed will tolerate most weather conditions. Their coat was carefully designed to keep them warm in extremely cold, which is why you should be extra careful during the hot summer days.
No dog should ever be left in the heat for long periods of time. Always provide easy access to clean water.
Spinone Italiano Health
Spinones are considered to be healthy dogs.
Are you thinking of buying a dog? If so, you should deal only with responsible dog breeders only.
Responsible dog breeders will screen puppies for most common health issues and present you medical documentation n puppies.
On top of that, responsible dog breeders will provide you inputs on the overall dog’s personality, possible health conditions that may appear in the future, guidelines on nutrition, training, and grooming.
Still, you may provide the best care ever and your dog still may get sick.
Just like humans, some dogs are predisposed to certain conditions that may affect the dog, such as:
- Hip dysplasia
- Otitis externa
- Ectropion
- Cerebellar ataxia
- Gastric torsion
Once you get a dog, you are directly responsible for his weight. Make sure that you know how much to feed your Spinone, how often and how to choose the best food possible.
Knowing how to read dog food labels can help you tremendously to get the best food for your Fido.
Obesity in dogs is on the rise across the States and you don’t want your Spinone to be part of the unhealthy trend.
Provide regular veterinarian check-ups to keep track of the dog’s weight. Plus, prevention is the key when it comes to having a healthy dog.
Is Spinone Italiano For You?
Spinones are intelligent and all-purpose hunting dogs who are great with people. They are great when there is a job to be done.
These medium size dogs will be great family dogs as long as they are given the right amount of exercise.
They are sweet, gentle, and patient dogs with a bit of independent mind.
As a hunting breed, Spinoni Italian may be a bit stubborn, which is why they are not recommended for first time dog owners.
Spinones are fast to jump on people and even dig. Make sure that you have a well-secured backyard.
If you want a larger dog, who loves the outdoors and enjoys athletic activities, then this breed may be for you.
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