Italian Short-haired Hound

Segugio Italiano a pelo raso

The Italian Short-haired Hound can be a joy to many owners, as long as he has space to run and hunting sessions to entertain him. This hunter at heart can be happy anywhere, but he thrives as a hunter of hares and wild boars. Alone or in a pack, he is happy as long as he can hunt and spend his boundless energy. This Italian hound is very popular with hunters in Italy, where he is one of the most widely distributed breeds.

Height 48 to 58 cm
Weight 18 to 28 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 13 years
Home country Italy

Quick Overview of the Italian Short-haired Hound

Temperament

  • Resistant and fast
  • Enduring and full of ardor
  • Independent and gentle
  • Not very demonstrative

Appearance

  • Well developed bone structure
  • Short, thick, glossy, dense and tight coat
  • Big dark almond-shaped eyes
  • Black truffle

Health

  • Robust and resistant
  • No genetic disease
  • No particular pathology
  • Hardly ever sick

Temperament of the Italian Short-haired Hound

Resistant, swift, enduring, full of ardor, independent, gentle and not very demonstrative, he can sometimes show a certain aggressiveness but he remains, in family, very gentle.

The Italian Short-haired Hound should be trained and socialized very early.

Endowed with a remarkable nose and a powerful, strong voice, he is a remarkable hunting dog. Adapted to the most difficult terrain, he is tenacious and his stamina allows him to hunt for a very long time without ever tiring. He hunts alone or in packs and can adapt very easily.

Rather independent and not very demonstrative, he is nevertheless gentle to all members of the family. Even if he is sometimes aggressive, he is not aggressive towards the members of his family and remains a very sociable dog.

His education must be done from a young age in order to limit his natural aggressiveness caused by his great shyness. This dog, which is very popular in his country, is a remarkable companion, but must be given a firm education.

He can live just about anywhere, indoors or outdoors, but his need for exercise and his passion for hunting must be satisfied on a regular basis.

chien courant italien à poil ras personnalité

Breed Appearance

short-haired Italian hound

Listed in the category of hard hair and of medium proportions, he is however endowed with a somewhat peculiar silhouette, as his bone structure is very developed.

Height

Between 52 and 58 cm (20.47 to 22.83 inches) for the male
Between 48 and 56 cm (18.90 to 22.05 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 18 and 28 kg (39.68 to 61.73 pounds) for the male
Between 18 and 28 kg (39.68 to 61.73 pounds) for the female

Color

His color can be reddish ranging from faded to very intense and it can also be black and reddish.

Hair

His coat is short, thick, glossy, dense, tight and evenly smooth.

Morphology

His head differs from his wire-haired counterpart by its almost oval shape and its 140° stop. His almond-shaped eyes are large and a beautiful dark ochre color.

His drooping ears are flat, triangular and carried forward. His pretty nose is black. His tail almost reaches the tip of the hock.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 6, section 1 and is #337

Health of the Italian Short-haired Hound

He is very sturdy and resistant. The breed is not affected by any genetic disease or particular pathology. He is almost never sick and enjoys a good life expectancy.

GROOMING

His flat ears require regular checking, especially when returning from hunting, and his coat needs regular brushing.

No other special care is required.

History of this breed

Like his wire-haired counterpart, the Italian Short-haired Hound is believed to have originated in Ancient Egypt, where primitive hunting dogs, the breed's ancestors, were used to hunt game.

Brought back to Italy by the Phoenicians, the dog has retained his anatomical characteristics of the time, and his popularity was at its height during the era of the great European hunts.

In the 19th century, with the end of the era of the great hunts, the Italian Short-haired Hound's popularity declined.

Fortunately, in the 20th century, the breed regained its former popularity. Both breeds, the wire-haired and the short-haired, currently have one of the largest populations in Italy.

This hound, which is used to hunt hare and wild boar, is highly prized for his hunting skills but also for his role as a companion.

Even if he is rather independent, he is very gentle with his family and appreciates the comfort of the household.

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