As the name suggests, the Italian Spinone -or “Italian Griffon” – is originally from Italy, more specifically from the Piedmont region, in the north of the country. It is a very old breed of dog, y quien busque sus orígenes exactos encontrará más preguntas que respuestas. However, it is generally accepted that it is the result of various crosses over the centuries between Italian Setters, Griffons from France, White Mastiffs and Dogs of Greece.

There is evidence that their ancestors already hunted in the Alps and Apennines more than 2000 years. However, the first clear reference to the breed dates back to the Middle Ages, more specifically to the fifteenth century, in the form of a fresco by Andrea Montegna (1431-1506) inside the Ducal Palace of Mantua (Italy), which represents an Italian Spinone. Two centuries later, Jacques Espée of Sélincourt, evoca en su manual The Perfect Hunter (1683) an Italian Griffon from Piedmont.

Popular for centuries in Italy, the Spinone suffered greatly during WWII. The end of hostilities did not mean a notable improvement in their situation, as Italian hunters began to prefer breeds imported from abroad.

In 1949, The doctor. Paolo Branzi and Dr.. Ezio Caraffini founded La Famiglia dello Spinone -which has since become the Italian Spinoni Club- and they had 59 representatives of the breed throughout Italy. They chose 10 de ellos para iniciar un programa de cría destinado a reconstruir la población y estabilizar sus características. They drew up a first standard and contacted the Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana (ENCI), organismo de referencia del país, to initiate the necessary procedures for the recognition of the breed.

His work paid off, so that in 1955 the Spinone Italiano was recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). Then it began to spread internationally, although it took a while, especially in North America. Thus, until 1995 el United Kennel Club (UKC) American did not grant him his recognition. The other reference organization in the United States, the American Kennel Club (AKC), did the same in 2000. The Canadian Kennel Club did the same in 2006.

In fact, aunque es bastante común en su país de origen y es el segundo perro de caza más popular en ese país, its international distribution remains limited. However, is quite successful in Britain, where the Kennel Club registers between 400 and 500 births every year. This is far from the case in France.: con menos de diez inscripciones anuales en el Libro de Orígenes Francés (LOF), it is clear that he is far from having conquered the hearts of French hunters.

In United States, las estadísticas del AKC la sitúan en torno al puesto 110 (of 195) in the ranking of the most popular breeds in the country.

Photo: I came across this adorable dog while walking around Dorset. Took a photo and then got really scared of the camera. by Caroline Granycome, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Italian Spinone it's well built, con músculos bien desarrollados y huesos fuertes.

Her body, as high as long, is square in shape and ends in a thick bushy tail. The tail hangs at rest and is horizontal when in action. The legs are solid and end in compact round legs.

The head is egg-shaped, with a curved skull and a muzzle the same length as the skull. El color de la nariz varía entre el rosa de los perros blancos y el marrón de los perros ruanos. The eyes are round, big and far apart. They are of a more or less dark ocher color. Triangular shape, the ears are rather long and fall along the cheeks.

The body of the Spinone está enteramente cubierto de un pelaje rígido y denso, of about 4 to 6 cm long, that protects it when it slides through the undergrowth, pero también cuando se lanza al agua fría. It is shorter at the top of the head and at the front of the legs. In the face, a dense coat of thick eyebrows and a full beard, typical of the breed, which also protects it from brambles and bushes. Beneath this top layer is the dog's fur, which has the peculiarity of not having undercoat.

The coat can be plain white, white with orange spots, chestnut or brown, or roan with orange spots, chestnut or brown. Tricolor or black-haired dogs are not accepted by the breed standard.

Last, sexual dimorphism is marked: the male is larger and above all significantly more massive than the female.

Size and weight

Male size: Of 60 to 70 cm.
female size: Of 58 to 65 cm.
Male weight: Of 32 to 37 kg
female weight: Of 28 to 30 kg

Generally easier to live with than other pointers, the Spinone Italianos they are affectionate and close to their family, they love to play and spend most of the time with them. Although they are hunters, They are not the kind that jump into the open sea and disappear as soon as potential prey catches their eye: they never stray too far from their master, preferring to always have it in sight.

Your affection, patience and playful character make them an ideal breed for a child. He loves children and is an excellent playmate for those old enough to have learned to behave in the presence of a dog. Less recommended for younger children, as it is large enough to inadvertently push them down. In any case, regardless of race, interactions between a dog and a young child should always take place in the presence of an adult.

The Italian griffon also it is sociable with other dogs Griffon, those who are often willingly adopted as playmates. Small animals, as cats, rabbits and other rodents, have more to worry about and are more likely to be hunted as potential prey. However, they may live with a cat if they have been raised with them, pero es probable que este último siga siendo perseguido en el jardín de vez en cuando.

As for humans who are unknown to him, the Spinone is generally cozy with them, especially if he's been well socialized from his early months. In fact, used to living with humans for centuries, es más del tipo que busca activamente su compañía. Also easily suffers from loneliness: although you can spend a few hours alone at home without difficulty, it is not advisable to leave it all for a weekend. Adoptar un perro más puede ser una buena forma de ofrecerle compañía para ayudarle a evitar la soledad cuando su familia está fuera.

He is as active in the early years as he is calm and collected afterward.. This can be seen in his hunting style, that is calm and methodical.

Having said that, if you like to rest on the living room rug, this does not mean that you do not need to exercise. So that you feel comfortable and calm when you get home, your daily walks should total at least one hour. Although they are slower than other signaling breeds, they are very resistant and can adapt to many types of terrain. For this reason, if the opportunity arises to take a long walk of several hours, he is delighted. Durante este último, does not tend to stray far from his master, so it can be walked without a leash. Puede vivir en un apartamento siempre que salga dos o tres veces al día, but its size makes it unsuitable for a small studio.

Prefiere una casa con un jardín en el que pueda retozar y del que se deshaga con gusto de cualquier bicho indeseado. However, it is not convenient for you to live abroad: you need to be in contact with your family and should be able to spend as much time as possible with them.

On the other hand, It is an intelligent breed of dog that likes to be mentally stimulated. Más bien terco y mostrando poco interés en actividades que le parecen inútiles, necesita un líder que le ofrezca ejercicios motivadores. Obedience exercises, agility or hunting are a great way to get his attention and stimulate him. The rapport is also something instinctive in him, and you will not be asked to carry the ball or bat thrown by your master. He does not hesitate to do the same with the toys scattered around the house when he wants to show him that he wants to have fun.

It is also important to know that your beautiful beard gets wet every time you drink. He tends to pour water all over the house whenever he quenches his thirst, so it may be a good idea to put your bowl outside and not inside the house.

Last, although don't hesitate to bark when you see fit, the Italian Spinone it's not overly vocal.

The Italian Spinone, like all dogs, must be socialized from an early age. It is important that you can meet all the people who are part of your close or distant environment (friends, neighbors, family…). You must also face all kinds of situations (walk through different places, meet other dogs or other animals, travel in different means of transport) not to be scared once an adult.

No debería pasar mucho tiempo antes de que empiecen a aprender a domar, lo que puede ser más largo y complicado que para la mayoría de las otras razas.

Given its size once adult, también es útil acostumbrarlo a ser manipulado sin inmutarse desde una edad temprana, so that the grooming sessions are a moment of shared pleasure and not torture for both protagonists.

The Italian griffon he's smart and has a strong personality. You need a firm master who knows how to earn your respect, but even if I do, does not like to do tasks that seem trivial. It's a working dog, al que le gusta ser útil y prefiere aprender, for example, to recover the game before turning around. In fact, if your master knows how to do it and has all the necessary patience, this dog can do wonders, even in obedience and agility competitions. The trick is to motivate you, above all making him understand the interest of the command.

Not surprisingly, it responds much better to positive reinforcement-based dog training methods than traditional dog training.. Know that the fulfillment of what is asked allows you to receive caresses, ánimos y golosinas es a sus ojos una razón legítima para superarse y dar lo mejor de sí mismo.

The Italian Spinone is generally quite robust. Apart from the health problems common to all large dogs and a serious genetic disease, but fortunately in the process of disappearance thanks to the work of the breeders, the risks are low.

Like this, the conditions to which you are especially exposed are :

• La ataxia cerebelosa, una enfermedad genética que ataca al cerebelo y es el problema de salud más crítico en esta raza. Puppies that have received a carrier gene from both parents die before their first birthday. However, hoy en día es extremadamente rara, ya que los individuos portadores son eliminados de los programas de cría. A breeder of Spinone worthy of the name must be able to show that parents are not carriers, based on test results;
• Hip and elbow dysplasia, joint problems that make movement difficult;
  gastric dilation-torsion, often related to too fast a food intake, which can be fatal without prompt veterinary intervention;
• Entropion and ectropion, malformaciones del párpado que pueden corregirse quirúrgicamente si resultan problemáticas;
  Hypothyroidism, a hormonal deficiency that causes a slowdown in bodily functions;
• Cancer (bone, liver, base…), que según un estudio conjunto del Kennel Club británico y la Asociación Veterinaria Británica de Pequeños Animales es, with difference, the main cause of mortality in this breed, with a 45% of deaths.

It also, las orejas caídas y peludas del Spinone they get dirty easily. They can become infected quickly if they are not cleaned every week and after each bath.

A pesar de su falta de subpelo y de sus orígenes italianos, se adapta bastante bien a los distintos climas y es resistente tanto al calor como al frío, pero las temperaturas extremas son difíciles de soportar. Es necesario un refugio para que pueda estar a la sombra cuando el termómetro supera los 30°, y no aprecia especialmente pasar la noche en el exterior cuando hay -10°.

Last, the Italian griffon not very prone to obesity, especially if you have enough opportunity to exercise. However, a responsible handler should regularly make sure that everything is in order by taking the time to weigh your dog.

Life expectancy

Of 12 to 13 years

The maintenance of Italian Spinone is simple, but it requires some discipline, ya que puede resultar difícil y llevar mucho tiempo si no se hace con regularidad.

The absence of undercoat means that you only lose a small amount of hair. A weekly brushing is enough to remove dirt, remove dead hairs and untangle knots from their fur. The most frequent molt is not necessarily necessary during the fall and spring, since the lack of undercoat makes the shedding not very pronounced. On the other hand, if “forget” one or two grooming sessions, the situation is complicated: debris accumulates and knots form that can no longer be untangled with the brush. Then there is no choice but to undo them manually or even cut them with a chisel. Depending on the state of the coat, this can sometimes take more than an hour.

In any case, rarely need a bath, unless it is especially dirty or smelly after a trip. Except for exceptions, two or three bathrooms a year are more than enough, y cada vez debe utilizarse un champú suave para perros.

Las sesiones semanales de peluquería son también una oportunidad para limpiar los ojos de su perro y cepillar sus dientes. Neither should you neglect the care of the ears: hanging and furry ears tend to catch dirt, so the risk of infection is high. They can be cleaned with a damp cloth.

It also, beard tends to trap moisture and becomes smelly. Thus, should be towel dried often and cleaned from time to time.

Last, if you spend a lot of time outdoors, wear and tear is usually enough to file the claws of the Italian Spinone, que crecen más rápido que las de la mayoría de los demás perros. If they become too long and may bother or hurt you, deben recortarse con un cortaúñas especial.

The Italian Spinone it is above all a hunting dog, a mission that has been fulfilling for centuries and in which it stands out. Your ability to point methodically, making game disappear and recover makes them very versatile hunting dogs. This is all the more true since, how your name illustrates, derived from the Italian word for bramble, are able to sneak into the thorniest thickets in search of small game. It is also very resistant.

When not used for hunting, can be used to show off their qualities in various dog sports, like agility or obedience. They are also good watchdogs, but their lack of aggressiveness and the fact that they bark very little disqualifies them as guardians. Having said that, es lo suficientemente impresionante como para que la mayoría de los malintencionados pasen de él.

Last, the Italian griffon también es un maravilloso perro de compañía, loving and totally devoted to his family. It can be the ideal companion for an active owner who wants to always have his dog by his side when going for a walk or hiking.

The price of a puppy Italian Spinone is of some 800 to 1000 euros in Europe. In Canada and the United States, is usually between 1500 and 1800 $.

In all cases, there is no noticeable price difference between males and females.

Coexistence is important that you have with your new friend. Before considering the acquisition of a dog of the breed "Italian Spinone" you know certain factors. Not all breeds of dogs are apt to live in an apartment, you must take into account his character, their need for exercise, their interaction with other pets, their care and if you have small children, their level of tolerance towards them.

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Photos:

1 – Solid white Spinone italiano. by Alephalpha, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2 – A brown roan Spinone Italiano by Alephalpha, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
3 – Spinoni italiani by francesco napoli
4 – Spinoni italiani by francesco napoli
5 – Brown roan spinone italiano. Risky Business Oliver Di La Ros by Timberdoodle Kennels, Ron & Pat Rosinski (User:Rrosinski), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
6 – This is a Spinone, an italian pointing dog. Coatcolor is white-orange by Alephalpha, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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• FCI CLASSIFICATION:
• Group :
• Section : . .

Federations:

• – FCI – Group 7: Pointing Dogs. – Section 1: Continental Pointing Dogs. 1.3: Griffon type ⓘ
• – AKC – Hound ⓘ
• – CKC – Miscellaneous ⓘ
• – ​KC – Hunting dog ⓘ
• – UKC – Gun Dog ⓘ

FCI - Italian Spinone

1. Spinone, Bracco Spinoso, Italian Spinone, Italian Griffon, Italian Wire-haired Pointer, Italian Coarse-haired Pointer (English).
2. Spinone italien (French).
3. Italienischer Griffon, Spinone, Rauhaariger italienischer Vorstehhund, Italian Griffon, italienischer Spinone (German).
4. Spinone (Portuguese).
5. Espinone, Grifón italiano, Italiano de pelo duro (español).