 |
| Life
Span: |
12 - 14 years - and most will be healthy in
their senior years |
| Litter
Size: |
Average of 8 puppies |
| Group: |
Sporting, Gun Dog |
|
Recognized By: |
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, APRI, ACR |
| Color: |
White, White with Orange markings,
Orange/Orange Roan with or without orange markings, White
with Brown markings, Brown Roan, with or without Brown
markings. |
| Hair
Length: |
Medium |
| Size: |
Large |
| Shedding: |
Moderate Shed |
| Male
Height: |
23.5-27.5 inches (60-70 cm) |
| Male
Weight: |
75-86 pounds (34-49 kg.) |
| Female
Height: |
22.5-25.5 inches (59-65 cm) |
| Female
Weight: |
64-75 pounds (29-34 kg.) |
| Living
Area: |
The Spinone Italiano likes to be outside,
but it's not necessary to keep this breed healthy.
Occasional walks or runs are good for this breed, but it is
well suited to nearly any environment that it lives in, from
an apartment dwelling to an open backyard. However, this is
not a dog that will enjoy being outdoors for long periods by
themselves as they love affection - both giving and
receiving.
So long as the Spinone Italiano is going to be able to go
outside on occasion, this will be the perfect living
conditions for them. But there is no need for you to live on
a farm or have a lot of open land in order to make this dog
happy. |
Description
The Spinone Italiano is a distinctive looking dog with almost
human-like features, according to some. With a strong bone structure
and muscled appearance, this dog breed is suited to nearly any kind
of terrain. The wiry short coat gives this dog a tough covering that
is close fitting to the skin. However, on the rest of the body -
ears, head, muzzle, head and legs and feet are covered with shorter
hair. For the eyebrows, the hair is longer and more rigid, while the
muzzle and cheeks have a softer feel - giving the face almost a
mustached or bearded look.
It is also important to note that the Spinone Italiano does not have
an undercoat, and while some owners like to allow the coat to grow
longer, it is often undesirable to the breed's nature.
The tail of this dog breed is about half its length (or 5.5 inches
to 8 inches from the base) and short haired. The longer head
structure and a very pronounced eye socket structure further
enhances a human-esque look, while the expression of understanding
is what causes most owners to feel that the eyes are more human than
dog like.
Coat Description
The Spinone Italiano should only have one coat that can be described
as tough and wiry. The close fitting fur is about 1 1/2 inches to 2
1/2 inches long over the body, but the muzzle, ears, head, and parts
of the legs can be shorter. Again, the eyebrows are longer and have
stiffer hair pieces, but the rest of the face is soft.
History
Thought to have originated in Italy (as you can tell from the name),
the Spinone Italiano is considered an ancient breed of Gun Dog that
may have originated in Celtic Ireland, ,
There are some sources that believe the Spinone Italiano is a
descendant of the Spanish Pointer, but others are convinced that the
Russian Setter is the ancestor. The actual origin is not known, but
most lean toward the idea that
Almost becoming extinct during WWII, the Spinone Italiano began to
be used as a hunting dog and then rebounded into a healthier number
and continues to do so today as a popular hunting dog.
Temperament
The Spinone Italiano is typically an easy going dog breed that is
lovable and calm. Very caring towards children, the Spinone Italiano
is often s treasured part of the family. Affectionate even towards
those the dog doesn't know, this particular dog breed doesn't have
any major concerns with aggression or too much territorialness. Of
course, knowing this, the Spinone Italiano is not generally a good
choice for a guard dog or protector breed.
The intelligence of the Spinone Italiano is something that needs to
be addressed during the training of this dog. And while this breed
will learn quickly, they are often better motivated by a reward
system more than other techniques.
That said, the Spinone Italiano does like to showcase their talents
for you, so once they know that you will respond favorably, they are
more than happy to follow your commands. They like to show boat at
times, appearing to be regal as they point out their hunting finds,
for example. If you can find out what makes them happy and allows
them to show off their intelligence, you will have a dog that's
more than happy to oblige.
Though the Spinone Italiano does have energy, it is not as neurotic
or energetic as some hunting dogs or other domesticated breeds.
Moving at a relaxed trot is more this breed's style. However, many
owners find that the Spinone Italiano is an excellent running or
jogging partner as they can keep up the pace. What's more is that
this dog is not one that will run off when you are running together,
choosing instead to move at a more relaxed pace.
Another thing to note - the Spinone Italiano can be a bit of a
slobberer, so remember that before bringing this breed home if
that's a concern. You will want to make sure that you are keeping
things that you want untouched out of this dog's mouth as well as
the general vicinity - as well as keeping guests away from the dog
if this makes them uncomfortable.
The calm persona of this particular breed can be disquieting to
some, as they are much more willing to go at their own pace than to
resort to someone else's. If you are an active person that likes a
lot of interaction between you and your dog, this might not be the
best choice for you. The Spinone Italiano is more of a deliberate
dog than one that will take kindly to working at someone else's
pace.
Health Problems
Generally a healthy breed for a purebred, the Spinone Italiano does
have some special medical conditions to be aware of:
Hip dysplasia - Because this breed is a larger breed, hip dysplasia
is a concern. This condition occurs when the bones in the hip become
damaged in some way, creating pain and problems with movement. Some
owners choose to have these painful hips replaced via canine
orthopedic surgery.
Cerebellar ataxia - Also known as CA, this hereditary condition is a
deadly disorder that affects Spinone Italiano puppies. In order for
the puppy to have this condition, the gene must be passed on from
both the mother and the father, as it is a recessive gene. Most
puppies with this disorder will not live more than a year and many
are euthanized at 10 to 11 months of age.
Grooming
With its short to medium length coat, the Spinone Italiano is not a
difficult dog to care for in terms of grooming. Shedding little, you
may find that a trip to a professional groomer is the easiest way to
deal with your pet's coat, but regular brushing with a coarse brush
will help to maintain the coat's health. The trip to the groomer is
sometimes advised as the fur is coarser and can be hard for some
owners to manage.
The excess hair between the pads of the feet will need to be trimmed
on occasion, but dead or loose hairs can be easily plucked by hand.
Overall, this is a dog breed that requires simply attention to the
coat and maintenance rather than regular cuts or trims. If you keep
this system up, you will also avoid getting hair in your living
space, even though they are not prone to much shedding in the first
place.
A weekly brushing is usually sufficient for this breed, as they tend
to be more self-grooming, like a cat. If your dog has gotten into a
messier area, they will need to be bathed, but this is a rare event
and only needs to be done on occasion, like in the case of getting
into a muddier area or one that has been inhabited by skunks.
You will want to check your dog's fur for any signs of bacteria
infection or cuts if it's an active part of your life, but you
should also be on the lookout for fleas and ticks that might nestle
in after a jaunt outside. Spotting problems early on is always the
best advice when it comes to skin or fur concerns. If something
doesn't seem right, check with your vet.
You can often identify problems by the smell of your dog's fur. If
they have a bad smell after a bath, it might be time to take the dog
into the vet to see if something else is going on with their health.
The vet will also check their ears and their nose to be sure that
nothing is infected and in need of treatment.
Trimming their nails is also advised if they should get too long,
but this can be easily done at home with a quality nail trimmer. But
if your dog is walking or running on hard surfaces frequently, this
shouldn't be a concern as they will wear down on their own.
Exercise
An active breed, the Spinone Italiano is a dog that wants to roam
around as often as it can. As a hunting dog, this is a dog breed
that is perfectly suited to retrieving, pointing, and hunting, if
trained to do so. But this dog is also able to provide the perfect
companionship to those who need assistance with everyday tasks.
This dog breed is perfectly suited to a small yard and will enjoy
regular walks as a way to get outside and stay active. Remember too
that this is a dog breed that is perfectly content to go for runs or
jogs with their owner, without being the one that runs off or causes
the owner to have to struggle to catch up.
You may want to create a regular routine for this dog that will
allow them to get outside and stay active for about an hour a day.
This will help them release any pent up energy as well as help to
keep them healthy.
While this is a dog that can stay at home when you are away from
work, you will want to make sure it gets some regular activity or
else it can become bored and restless.
Training
This highly intelligent dog is able to pick up new things and tasks
quite easily, though it's also the Spinone Italiano's intelligence
that can hinder their training just as easily. If the Spinone
Italiano doesn't feel that the task is necessary or useful, they
may resist completing the task.
A reward system of training is the most recommended route, as the
Spinone Italiano is a sensitive dog that can have its feelings hurt
if handled in a brusque manner. Loyal and intelligent, this dog
breed will enjoy learning new tasks. Remember that this dog breed
needs to be told that they are doing well when they are doing well,
and gently criticized when not - it will make a world of difference.
Very capable of learning complicated tasks, don't be surprised if
this breed resists some similar tasks. Again, this is generally
because the dog doesn't feel that there is a 'point' to what it
is doing, so you may need to work harder during these kinds of
tasks. For example, some Spinone Italianos are not willing to grab a
fake bird during a training session for hunting, but will go after a
real dead bird with little prodding.
You will want to find a reward for this dog that they will genuinely
look forward to during their training. This might be something like
chew toy or a food treat that will help motivate them during simple
tasks. If you choose something that they do not enjoy, be prepared
for them to dismiss it and you. This may take a few tries to find
something that is going to motivate the dog, but once found, this
will be an invaluable training tool.
If trained properly, this dog breed is perfectly suited for the
hunter, someone who may be visually or physical disabled, as well as
for someone that simply wants a companion. They will feel useful and
helpful in these situations which allows them to show off their
intelligence. 
