Italian Spinone

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Spinone Italiano originated in Italy and was bred to be a hunters right hand man and either retrieve, point out, or hunt down game. It is thought that this breed is a mixture of the German Wirehaired Pointer, Russian Setter or Spanish Pointer (two of which are now extinct) but this is uncertain. These dogs were given their name from the shrub they would find their prey in which was called the 'pino'.

This breed has a large resemblance to the German Wirehaired Pointer in the way that both their bodies are lean and muscular and both have long, powerful muzzles. The Spinone Italiano has large floppy ears, and big circular eyes which gives them their sweet expression. They have strong, straight legs giving them their lengthy stride when on the hunt and a thick wiry coat that will protect them from rough terrain and cold weather. Naturally the Spinone's tail would be long but for show purposes will be docked.

The Spinone Italiano is a sweet, caring breed that is laid back and well-behaved. They are extremely affectionate and adore children, making them great for family pets as well as excellent working companions. This breed has a very high motivation to please their owners and will go the extra mile to do so. Hunting and retrieving are their specialty but if trained correctly in a gentle manner, can be taught many other different ways to help out their master on a hunt!

Color

The Spinone Italiano will come in a brown & white, speckled brown, white, orange, speckled orange and brown with white markings. These dogs will have a large variety of coat patterns, markings, and patches but as long as their colours are within these standards, they will be accepted into show rings.

Coat

These dogs have a wiry coat that is very similar to the German Wirehaired Pointer but the Spinone will only have one layer of fur. To the touch, their coat will be dense yet hard giving them much protection from shrubs and other low to the ground plants that could potentially scratch or scrape them when on a hunt.

Personality

The Spinone Italiano is a versatile, low-key dog that will be great for people that like to relax and lay back with their pet or for people that like to be outdoors on an adventure. They are moldable dogs that will adapt to the lifestyle of their owners, provided they still get regular exercise. These dogs are very emotional and will tap into their owners moods, so a gentle attitude and manner towards this dog is always a must because it is quite possible for them to have hurt feelings otherwise! The Spinone will always want to please their owner and make them happy, so disciplining will need to be done sensitively. These dogs have a charming little personality, they are said to be comedians in dog suits! They enjoy playing, performing little tricks, and keeping the mood light with their funny antics! They are definitely a breed that will need to be included in family activities because if left alone too often, will become depressed. Socialization will be needed as puppies around other animals and people to ensure they will not be shy or aggressive as adults.

Care

The Spinone Italiano will need very minimal grooming to upkeep their coat. Brushing 1-2 times per week and bathing every 2 months will be perfect for this breed! Their coat is not quite long enough to tangle, but will need to have the dead fur removed weekly. The Spinone is prone to Cerebellar Ataxia, hip dysplasia and bloat. Generally they are a healthy breed but potential owners should have the puppy's parents medical history checked before buying, just to see what their puppy might be genetically inheriting.

Training

This breed is incredibly smart and will not need a large amount of training to understand basic obedience. However they will need an owner who can stay calm and remain firm but in a gentle manner because these dogs will show guilt if they are disciplined to harshly. Short training lessons that are made to be fun and positive, will make all the difference for this breed's understanding of any type of training concept so their owner will need to be repetitive and clear with each new command they introduce.

Activity

The Spinone Italiano will need about a half and hour to an hour of exercise per day to tire them out. Long walks or trips to a dog park will be perfect to burn off their energy. They are not as hyperactive as other sporting dogs, but will still be quite energetic! These dogs will do well in an apartment as long as they get their regular exercise and access to a backyard would be preferable so they have an outdoor area at home to roam around in.