Spinone Italiano (Italian Wirehaired Pointer, Italian Griffon)

The Spinone Italiano is a large, wire-haired continental pointer. A virtually universal gundog, it is calm, hardy, and robust. Its temperament is obedient, friendly, sociable, and completely non-aggressive.

Content

1 History of origin
- 1.1 Purpose
2 Appearance
3 Character and behavior
4 Education and training
5 Content Features
- 5.1 Care
6 Health and life expectancy
7 Choosing an Italian Spinone Puppy
- 7.1 Price
8 Photos and videos
- 8.1 Video about the Spinone Italiano dog breed

History of origin

There are few reliable facts about the history of the Spinone. Literature contains numerous descriptions of wire-haired dogs of Italian origin, possibly the direct ancestors of modern dogs. The most famous depictions of hunting griffons date back to the 15th century and were painted by Andrea Mantegna. The breed was presumably developed in the Piedmont region of Italy. The origins of its genetic stock remain a mystery. One theory holds that it was the now-extinct Italian Segugio, a griffon from Central and Western Europe. Others attribute the Spinone's ancestry to ancient Roman hunting dogs.

The breed likely got its modern name from the Latin Prúnus spinósaк, meaning blackthorn. This large, wire-haired dog was one of the few dogs capable of hunting small game in dense, thorny thickets.

After World War II, the breed almost completely disappeared. The reason wasn't just the post-war devastation. Italian hunters began using other breeds: setters, pointers, spanielsDr. A. Chresolli was responsible for preserving and reviving the Spinone. The breed standard for the Italian Spinone (Italian: Spinone Italiano) under number 165 was approved by the International Cynological Association in 1955.

Purpose

Italian Spinone are suitable for a wide variety of hunting tasks. They can hunt small game independently, penetrating even the densest and most thorny thickets, indicate the location of game to the hunter with a stance, and retrieve game from water and land. Italian Spinone have an innately strong stance, a long-range sense of smell, and a free, easy search. Italian Spinone are docile and have an exceptional sense of smell. They are not particularly fast, but they are fast enough to catch small animals.

The Spinone is one of the slowest hunting dogs.

Appearance

The Italian Spinone is a strong dog with well-developed muscles, strong bones and a harsh coat.

Height at the withers of males is 60-70 cm; weight is 32-37 kg.;
The height at the withers of bitches is 58-65 cm; weight is 28-30 kg.

The longitudinal axes of the muzzle and cranial region diverge. The skull is oval with a well-defined occipital protuberance and parietal ridge. The stop is pronounced. The longitudinal groove is clearly visible. When viewed from the side, the muzzle is straight or slightly convex (Roman nose). The sides are parallel, so from the front, the muzzle appears square. The ear lobe is voluminous, spongy, with a rounded upper edge. The nostrils are large, prominent, and range in color from pinkish to reddish-brown depending on the coat. The eyes are large, wide-set, open, rounded, and brownish-yellowish. The ears are almost triangular in shape, set 5 cm below the throat, with the front edge adjacent to the cheekbones. The ear leather is thin.

Italian chocolate-colored Spinone are usually smaller than light-colored ones.

The neck is muscular, making up two-thirds of the total length of the head. The throat has a well-developed double dewlap. The body is almost square. The topline is straight from the withers to the 11th thoracic vertebra, then convex, well arched at the loin. The chest is deep, well rounded, and spacious. The ribs are arched. The tail is thick at the base and carried horizontally or pointed downwards. Previously, it was docked at half its length. When viewed from the front, the forelimbs are absolutely parallel, perpendicular to the ground. The hind legs are well angulated, with the metatarsus perpendicular to the ground. When viewed from the rear, they are parallel, perpendicular to the ground. The paws are compact, rounded, with well-arched toes. The nails are curved toward the ground.

The Italian Pointer has a dense, harsh, and fairly flat coat. The hair is 4-6 cm long. It is short on the head, bridge of the nose, ears, paws, and front of the legs. On the hindquarters, the hair resembles a brush. On the head, the hair forms a thick mustache, beard, and eyebrows. There is no undercoat. The skin is thick and dry, lying tightly against the body, forming two folds that begin at the lower jaw and disappear into the first half of the neck. When the dog lowers its head, folds are visible that extend from the eyes to the cheekbones and end in a tuft of hair. Color:

White
White with orange markings;
Red roan;
White with brown spots;
Brown roan.

Character and behavior

The Italian Spinone has a balanced temperament and strong hunting instincts. Naturally endowed with a keen sense of smell and a passion for the chase, it is also very devoted to its family, surprisingly intelligent, and obedient. It is attentive to everything that happens around it. It is a sensitive and gentle friend. It is a companion and an affectionate family dog. It easily adapts to various situations and the company of other people and animals. It is patient and completely non-aggressive.

The Spinone is very hardy and can trot for long periods, but is not overly energetic.

The Italian Griffon is outgoing, sociable, and playful. It gets along well with children, but feels more comfortable with school-aged children. It will bark if strangers approach the house and immediately greet them with a joyful wag of its tail. According to Italian breeders, Spinone have never been known to bite anyone. Spinone are also known to get along well with other dogs, especially if they are well socialized from a young age. They also get along well with other pets, including cats, if raised with them.

Education and training

The Italian Spinone is fairly easy to train in skilled hands. It is very sensitive to yelling and physical punishment. The best results are achieved through motivational training methods. Comprehensive socialization is essential.

Italian Spinone can be seen in flyball, agility, obedience, tracking, and rally competitions.

Content Features

The Italian Spinone tolerates hot weather relatively well, but is not adapted to cold and frosty conditions, making it unsuitable for year-round outdoor living. It is a moderate drooler, sheds lightly with regular brushing, and may snore while sleeping. While the Spinone does not have a strong "doggie" odor, it does have a distinctive "musky" odor. Owners often need to pay attention to nutrition and joint health during adolescence and later life.

The American Kennel Club has included the Italian Spinone in its list of dogs that may be suitable for people with allergies.

The Italian Spinone is recommended for hunters or people with an active lifestyle. The dog requires moderate exercise. Short runs, opportunities to explore the scents, or extended periods in the yard are sufficient. Occasionally, the dog should be given ample opportunity to run freely in the wild.

Care

Spinone Italiano care includes:

Combing 2-3 times a month;
Trimming 2-3 times a year.
Rare bathing;
Weekly ear examination, cleaning as needed;
Trimming claws (normally they wear down on their own);
Weekly teeth cleaning is recommended;
Eyes should remain clean and clear. It's important to ensure that coarse hairs don't irritate the cornea;
Regular vaccinations and parasite treatment.

Health and life expectancy

The breed is considered a healthy one. Most dogs are robust, hardy, and rarely get sick. Life expectancy is 10-13 years. The average lifespan according to the AKC is 8.7 years. Some dogs may be susceptible to:

Hip dysplasia;
Elbow dysplasia;
Cerebellar ataxia;

Choosing an Italian Spinone Puppy

The majority of Italian Spinone Griffons live in their homeland (over 10,000 dogs), with an annual increase of approximately 1,000 puppies. The breed is primarily cared for by the Italian Spinone Club (CISp.). Large kennels exist in the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and other European countries. The breed has become popular in the United States and Canada (around 3,000 dogs in total). Some of these countries have achieved complete autonomy in breeding matters. According to FCI requirements, the breed is subject to working trials. This means that even show dogs must have working certificates and be suitable for hunting. There are several kennels in Russia and the CIS. Occasionally, you can find ads for puppies for sale on dog forums, but they rarely appear on sites like Avito.