Italian Spinone Italiano

The breed was not officially known as "Spinone" until the early nineteenth century. In some areas the breed was known as the "Spinoso". The breed was named after an Italian thorn bush, the pino, which was a favorite hiding place for small game because for larger animals it was practically impenetrable. Only thick-skinned, coarse-haired animals could fight through the branches unharmed to locate the game. The Spinone was the breed most capable of doing so, and therefore the name was formed. It is often used for hunting, pointing, and retrieving game (HPR). The Spinone is easy going, docile, and affectionate towards both people and dogs. Centuries of working with man as a hunting companion has created a loyal, intelligent dog that is easily trained, although some can be stubborn about performing a learned task if they see no point in it. Because they are sensitive, motivational training works best for this breed, as this gentle creature's feelings can easily be hurt when handled incorrectly. The Spinone has a square build (the length of the body is approximately equal to the height at the withers). It is a solidly built dog with a strong, well-muscled body and limbs that are suited to almost any kind of terrain. The Spinone can sometimes be confused with a German Wirehaired Pointer by someone not familiar with the breeds. He has an expression that shows intelligence and understanding and is often described as having human-like eyes. Height at withers: Dogs: 60–70 cm. Bitches: 59–65 cm. Weight should be in the correct proportion to size and structure: Dogs: 34–39 kg. Bitches: 29–34 kg. The coat is tough, slightly wiry, and close fitting. The preferred length is 4–6 cm on the body; however, the ears, muzzle, head, and parts of the legs and feet are covered with shorter hair. Eyebrows have longer and stiffer hair; longer but softer hair covers cheeks and muzzle, creating a moustache and beard. The Spinone should not have an undercoat. A long, soft or silky coat is undesired and is a sign of excessive grooming. Pigment of skin, nose, lips, and the pads on their feet should be a fleshy red-orange in white dogs, slightly darker in orange and brown roan dogs. The tail of the Spinone is customarily docked at half its length (approx 140 to 200 mm from the base of the tail), and it sports dewclaws on all four feet, giving its hind legs an overly large appearance.