Spinone Italiano
Temperament:
The Spinone Italiano - also known as the Italian Spinone - is an old Italian dog breed that was once used for hunting. It is considered to be one of the oldest pointing dogs. There are pictures from the 15th century in which it can be seen. Today, the Spinone Italiano is one thing above all: a loving, calm family dog.
Characteristics
With a shoulder height of 60-70 cm, the Spinone Italiano is a somewhat larger dog. It is a very sociable companion that generally gets on well with children.
At the same time, it is characterized by its gentle nature. If you don't have much experience with dogs, this breed is a good choice. It is characterized by its good-naturedness and obedience.
The Spinone Italiano likes to spend time outdoors in all weathers. As it was also used for water hunting, its rough, dense coat is robust and resistant to wet conditions. It is usually colored in various shades of orange mixed with white or brown.
This dog is happiest when he can be with you. As a hunting dog, he is a popular companion because of his patience and easy handling. But even if you don't want to hunt with him, you can still have a lot of fun with him. His robust build makes him an ideal companion for outdoor activities. At the same time, he is cuddly and very people-oriented.
Despite its friendly and sensitive nature, this breed naturally also requires consistent leadership and training. Although the Spinone Italiano is considered easy to train, this dog can occasionally prove to be stubborn. As with humans, every animal has an individual character.
However, a clear "no" to training is often enough. It is more important to work with positive reinforcement. This allows you to encourage desired behavior.
You should know that this dog breed needs a lot of attention. Closeness to humans is important and you need to give them lots of attention. But activity also plays a major role. As a hunting dog with a good sense of smell, it is originally a working dog. However, the Spinone Italiano can cope with any terrain and can be anywhere.
However, there are also other areas of use for which this dog is suitable. Due to its gentle and relaxed nature, it can be used well as a companion dog. Its excellent sense of smell, which is enhanced by the shape of its head, also comes into its own when mantrailing. His search is very precise and conscientious.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
When choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.
Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.
Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.
Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.
Health & Care
The coat of the Spinone Italiano is wiry, thick and dense and approx. 4-6 cm long. It has no undercoat. Due to its structure, it quickly looks unkempt and must be trimmed from time to time and combed regularly. Grooming between the toes and on the face is also important.
The beard and the bushy hair above the eyebrows are part of the appearance of this breed. However, dirt quickly accumulates here. Saliva and food can get caught there. Regular grooming is therefore also important here.
Otherwise, the Spinone Italiano is a strong and robust dog. Its coat can withstand all weather conditions. The urge to move is correspondingly great in this breed. A few walks on the lead are not enough, this dog wants to experience something. Contact with his caregivers is important to him.
More important than grooming is therefore keeping them busy. You should be aware of this if you are considering bringing a Spinone Italiano into your life. Only a busy dog is a happy dog. Especially such an intelligent animal that is suitable for hunting and rescuing people needs to be kept busy and given tasks.
Suitable accessories
As with any other dog, the following accessories are also part of the basic equipment for this breed: collar or harness with lead, dog basket or dog mat as a place to retreat, water and food bowl, tick tweezers, claw clippers, mild dog shampoo, brush and comb or rubber curry comb, toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs, transport box for transportation in the car and a first aid kit. It's best to ask your vet what should be in the first aid kit.
As the Spinone Italiano likes to fetch, it is an advantage to have suitable toys to hand. Preferably made of material that cannot sink in water. These dogs are not afraid to jump into the water whatever the weather.
If you also want to go hunting with your Spinone Italiano, it will need additional hunting accessories.
Origin & History
As the name suggests, it is a dog breed whose origin is thought to be in Italy. There it was used as a pointing dog for hunting.
The term "pointing" describes a phase of the hunt. This can be observed in many hunting dog breeds. It is the moment when the dog almost freezes in the middle of the search process, i.e. fixates on its prey. In hunting, this process serves to indicate to the hunter that game is nearby and that he can prepare to shoot.
This breed was relatively unknown outside Italy. Even today, the Spinone Italiano is not very common.
The Spinone Italiano probably originates from Piedmont in Italy. It is one of the oldest pointing dogs. There are pictures from the 15th century depicting Spinone. However, the exact origin is difficult to determine. Mainly because the breed is so old.
Some documents date back to the year 500 BC. They speak of rough-haired, robust dogs that were used for hunting. Since then, there has been repeated evidence that these dogs have accompanied humans.
The breed standard was established in 1897. Characteristic are the rough appearance of the dogs and the white color. This is attributed to the fact that pointing dogs from Greece may have been crossed with the white Molosser.
During the Second World War, the Spinone Italiano almost became extinct. At that time, other dog breeds were used by Italian hunters. In the meantime, however, this breed began to be exported to other countries. This is how it spread throughout Europe.
