Spinone Italiano

Italian Spinone, Italian Wirehaired Pointer, Italian Griffon

The Spinone Italiano is one of the best companion dogs there is. Unfortunately, despite his great qualities as a working dog and life companion, he is not very widespread, neither in Europe or elsewhere. Even in Italy, his country of origin, numbers are very rare. Therefore, this remarkable dog does not enjoy the success he deserves as an affectionate and endearing dog.

Height 58 to 70 cm
Weight 28 to 37 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 14 years
Home country Italy

Quick Overview of the Spinone Italiano

Temperament

  • Sociable and patient
  • Docile and resistant
  • Calm and vigorous
  • Playful and affectionate

Appearance

  • Very rustic look
  • Strong and vigorous
  • Well-developed muscles
  • An almost human expression

Health

  • Generally in excellent health
  • Rarely ill
  • Very resistant
  • No particular genetic disease

Temperament of the Spinone Italiano

Social, patient, docile, resistant, calm, vigorous, playful and very affectionate, the Spinone Italiano is endowed with an excellent character, as well as a very good temperament.

Naturally sociable and receptive, his education and socialization are generally very easy.

This excellent, gentle, patient, intelligent and courageous dog is one of the best companions in life, both for adults and children. He is very patient.

His soft eyes with an almost human expression give him a friendly and protective air.

Breed Appearance

spinone italiano

The Spinone Italiano is a solid and vigorous dog. His well-developed muscles and strong bones reveal all the power of his build.

His general appearance is strongly reminiscent of that of a working dog, with an endearing gait and penetrating gaze.

Height

Between 60 and 70 cm (23.62 to 27.56 inches) for the male
Between 58 and 65 cm (22.83 to 25.59 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 32 and 37 kg (70.55 to 81.57 pounds) for the male
Between 28 and 30 kg (61.73 to 66.14 pounds) for the female

Color

The color of the coat can vary between pure white, white with orange patches, white with brown, roan or brown roan patches.

Hair

His hair, adhering well to the body, is slightly frizzy, tight and hard, and "wiry" style.

It measures between 4 and 6 cm (2 to 3 inches), and is slightly longer around the mouth, on the cheeks, and on the brow bone.

Morphology

His head has an oval skull and a barely marked stop. His almost round eyes can be ochre, brown roan, brown or roan, or yellow.

His drooping ears are triangular, and have a slightly rounded tip, turned inwards, adhering well to the cheeks without being corkscrewed.

His nose is in harmony with his coat, which is generally flesh pink. The tail is usually shortened, between 12 and 25 cm (5 and 10 inches). It is drooping or carried horizontally.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 7, section 1 and is #165

Spinone Italiano puppies near me

Tips About this breed

When hunting, he is very methodical and strong. At home, he is a concentration of affection and sociability.

This excellent worker, tenacious and tireless, and able to work on any type of terrain, can make all kinds of owners, hunters or not, happy.

This excellent hunting retriever, easily engaging in thorns or cold water without flinching, is an excellent dog that knows how to adapt to all situations.

With family, the Spinone Italiano can live in the city, and even in an apartment if necessary. He adapts very well, as long as he can benefit from adequate and regular exercise.

He likes to run and should be able to do so on a daily basis. He loves to walk, work or exercise as long as he does it with his family.

He is very affectionate and loves the presence of his family members. He is a very pleasant pet, which brings joie de vivre and a lot of affection in the home.

His socialization is natural, and does not cause any problems either with humans or with his fellow creatures. His education is also very easy to carry out.

Health of the Spinone Italiano

This hardy dog is very robust, generally enjoys excellent health and is rarely ill.

There are no genetic diseases, congenital defects or particular pathologies affecting the numbers. Some dogs may occasionally be bothered by ear infections, but these are isolated cases that can easily be resolved by regular ear care. It is not a condition directly related to the breed.

The life expectancy of the Spinone Italiano is also appreciable.

GROOMING

It's best to brush his "wiry" dress regularly to keep it clean and healthy.

It is also recommended to check and clean his drooping ears regularly, especially when he returns from hunting episodes, in order to avoid potential infections, which can be caused by foreign bodies brought back from trips in the countryside.

However, no other special care is necessary.

History of this breed

Apparently of pure Italian origin, the Spinone Italiano has often been depicted by famous Italian painters. Andrea Mantegna's mural, dating from the 15th century in the Ducal Palace in Mantua, is probably the best known of all the paintings depicting him.

In 1683, in his book "Le parfait chasseur", Sélicourt talks about a Griffon coming from Piedmont and Italy. There are many very old writings, in the bibliography of descriptions, evoking a wirehaired dog of Italian origin, which would apparently be the ancestor of the current Spinone.

Nevertheless, some people think that he comes instead from Bresse, and from various crosses between the Korthals, Barbet, Porcelain and German Braque. All these breeds would have thus contributed to his evolution.

The Spinone Italiano is unquestionably a true hunting dog and outstanding worker. He is in fact a pointer of the old school. He takes his time, but he outperforms all other Italian hunting dogs in efficiency.

This excellent retriever is able to search for game, regardless of the terrain he works in. Whether on land, in thorns, water or swamps, his zeal for work remains the same.

His name is also very significant and representative of his abilities, spinone meaning thorn in Italian. He is also an excellent hound, able to chase wounded game by smell, or unwounded game with the same determination.

In addition to being a great asset to the hunter, the Spinone Italiano is also a popular companion dog that can easily adapt to all family situations.

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