Spinone Italiano Dogs

A beautiful young adult spinone italiano sitting neatly awaiting some attention

A young adult spinone italiano standing tall, exercising its lovely howl

A close up of a spinone italiano's beautifully groomed coat

A healthy, young adult spinone italiano looking for some deserved attention

A lovely, red spinone italiano enjoying it's rest, spread out across the floor

An adult spinone italiano with a lovely red coat, showing off it's big paws

A spinone italiano showing off it's soft, wiry coat and pointed tail

A close up of a spinone italiano's incredible scruffy beard

A healthy adult spinone italiano bounding into the water

A lovely, little spinone italiano excited to get in the water

A lovely adult spinone italiano sitting neatly, waiting for a command from it's owner

History

The Spinone Italiano hails from Italy where they were used for hunting in the field. They were also used for pointing and retrieving game. The breed itself is very old and dates back to 500BC. Their numbers dropped during the second world war, but thanks to a breeding program in the 1950’s, their numbers have since risen. They are most popular in their home country, though they can be seen across Europe. They are sometimes called the Italian Griffon

Behaviour

Bred as a working breed, these dogs will never turn down a job. They like to be around people and work well within a family setting. They love to play with children. Despite usually being a calm and collected breed within the house, outside they’ll spend hours running around, exploring their surroundings. This is a seemingly friendly breed, they usually get on with other dogs, cats and strangers. Socialisation from a young age will help them be more well-mannered during adulthood and prevent any unnecessary problems. This breed is very loyal to those close to it, and friendly towards strangers. They have a tendency to chase birds. These are very intelligent dogs and they love to learn new things, often picking them up very quickly. They enjoy the work and challenge set by their masters during training. They respond well to positive praise and treat rewards will work best, they don’t react well to harsh words. They do very well in agility, tracking, obedience and even as therapy dogs (due to their kind nature). Theri loving side does have its downsides though, the Spinone Italiano doesn’t cope well with being left alone for long periods of time. Better suited for a household in which someone is always present.

Spinones will need a fair bit of exercise, but aren't the type of breed that needs to run for miles on end. A decent walk every day should do the trick. They like to carry things in their mouths, so a toy or a ball is a good way to add some extra fun to the walk. Once walked, they’ll want to cuddle up next to you at home. They rarely bark unless they really feel the need to. They have a tendency to be a bit slobbery, especially after eating or drinking.

Their coats will need brushing once or twice a week to keep it looking and tidy, occasional stripping will also be needed to remove dead hair. The face, beard and feet will need stripping more often.

Temperament

Gentle yet serious best describes this breed's temperament. They love a chance to explore and may become restless in the home if not given sufficient exercise. A friendly breed that will get on with almost anyone they meet, the Spinone Italiano is truly man’s best friend.

Health Problems

Health problems may include canine hip dysplasia (CHD), elbow dysplasia, bloat, ear problems, epilepsy, allergies and eyelid problems (entropion/ectropion).