Dog Breeds - Spinone Italiano

Breed Attributes & Qualities

CARING WITH FAMILY + Independent Lovey-Dovey
The warmth and closeness a breed may exhibit toward family members and familiar faces can vary. Certain breeds may show reserve with all but their sole guardian, whereas others extend a best-friend-like welcome to all they recognize.
LOVE WITH CHILDREN + Unwise Good With Children
The innate patience a breed demonstrates towards children's antics and its overall suitability for family life varies. While dogs must always be supervised when in the company of young kids or those unfamiliar with dogs, some breeds show a remarkably higher tolerance for youthful energy and playfulness.
BEHAVIOR WITH DOGS + Unwise Good With Other Dogs
The inherent sociability of a breed with other pooches varies. Even though interactions and introductions with other dogs should be closely monitored, some breeds naturally exhibit a higher tendency to bond and get along well with other dogs, whether at home or in social settings.

SHEDDING LEVELS & MANAGEMENT No Shedding Hair Everywhere +
The quantity of hair and fur your pet breed may shed ranges from minimal to substantial. Breeds that shed extensively demand more frequent brushing and can often trigger allergies leading to a greater need for consistent cleaning and lint removal from clothing and furniture.
COAT GROOMING STANDARDS Monthly Daily +
The grooming needs of a breed can range from minimal to extensive, encompassing bathing, brushing and occasional trimming. Reflect on your available time, patience and financial resources when evaluating the level of coat maintenance a breed demands. And remember, irrespective of the breed all dogs will need their nails trimmed regularly.
DROOLING INTENSITY Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel +
The tendency for a breed to drool may influence your decision especially if you prefer tidiness. Breeds known for leaving trails of drool on your arms or damp patches on your attire might not align well with a neatnik’s lifestyle.
COAT TYPE +
Wiry
COAT LENGTH +
Medium

FRIENDLINESS Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend +
The likelihood of a breed's friendliness towards unfamiliar faces can differ greatly. Certain breeds may always maintain a reserved disposition around strangers no matter the setting, while others seem ever ready to greet a new person with enthusiasm.
LIVELINESS Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop +
The excitement levels for engaging in play activities in certain dog breeds often extend beyond their early months. There are breeds that maintain a zest for lively games like tug-of-war or fetch long into their maturity, whereas some other breeds are typically more content to simply spend most of their days lounging beside you on the sofa.
VIGILANCE INTENSITY What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant +
The instinct of a breed to notify you about the presence of strangers varies. Such breeds are typically more responsive to possible threats be it the mail deliverer or a squirrel in the yard. Usually, they tend to eventually accept strangers who are welcomed into the home by their family members.
ADAPTATION CAPACITY Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable +
The adaptability of a dog breed to change plays a significant role in their overall behavior. Different breeds show varying degrees of resilience when it comes to alterations in their environment, whether it's a shift in living spaces, fluctuating noise levels, weather conditions, the rhythm of daily routines or other everyday life changes. Some breeds may take these changes in stride, while others might need more time and reassurance to adjust to new circumstances.

OBEDIENCE LEVEL Self-Willed Eager to Please +
The ease of training your pooch and their eagerness to soak up new skills varies widely among different breeds. Certain dogs seem naturally inclined to please their owners taking on new commands and tricks with enthusiasm in a bid to impress. On the flip side, there are those breeds that exhibit a more independent streak preferring to march to the beat of their own drum, on their own terms and timetable regardless of setting or expectations!
STAMINA LEVEL Couch Potato High Energy +
The level of physical and mental activity a breed requires can vary greatly. Breeds with high energy are always on the go bursting with excitement for the next escapade. They thrive on constant movement from running and leaping to engaging in interactive play all day long. On the other end of the spectrum, low energy breeds are the canine equivalent of couch potatoes - content to lounge and drift into a leisurely nap perfectly embodying a laid-back lifestyle.
VOCALIZATION Only To Alert Very Vocal +
The frequency and manner in which a breed chooses to express itself vocally can differ significantly. Some breeds are quite talkative ready to alert you with a bark at every stranger strolling by or each bird that alights on the windowsill. In contrast, others tend to be more selective with their vocalizations reserving their barks for specific circumstances that they deem important. Even those breeds known for not barking have their own unique ways of communicating, often using an array of other sounds to make their presence and feelings known.
LEARNING CURIOSITY LEVEL Loaf Needs an Activity +
The cognitive enrichment a breed requires for contentment and wellness can widely range. Dogs bred for specific roles often need tasks that engage their decision-making abilities, challenge their problem-solving skills and demand concentration, among other mental faculties. Lacking suitable outlets for their intellectual energy, they will often take the initiative to start 'projects' of their own design to occupy their active minds. Unfortunately, the sort of projects they choose might not align with what you'd consider ideal or for that matter, even remotely desirable.

COLORS

PATTERNS

CARING WITH FAMILY

Independent

Lovey-Dovey

The warmth and closeness a breed may exhibit toward family members and familiar faces can vary. Certain breeds may show reserve with all but their sole guardian, whereas others extend a best-friend-like welcome to all they recognize.

LOVE WITH CHILDREN

Unwise

Good With Children

The innate patience a breed demonstrates towards children's antics and its overall suitability for family life varies. While dogs must always be supervised when in the company of young kids or those unfamiliar with dogs, some breeds show a remarkably higher tolerance for youthful energy and playfulness.

BEHAVIOR WITH DOGS

Unwise

Good With Other Dogs

The inherent sociability of a breed with other pooches varies. Even though interactions and introductions with other dogs should be closely monitored, some breeds naturally exhibit a higher tendency to bond and get along well with other dogs, whether at home or in social settings.

SHEDDING LEVELS & MANAGEMENT

No Shedding

Hair Everywhere

The quantity of hair and fur your pet breed may shed ranges from minimal to substantial. Breeds that shed extensively demand more frequent brushing and can often trigger allergies leading to a greater need for consistent cleaning and lint removal from clothing and furniture.

COAT GROOMING STANDARDS

Monthly

Daily

The grooming needs of a breed can range from minimal to extensive, encompassing bathing, brushing and occasional trimming. Reflect on your available time, patience and financial resources when evaluating the level of coat maintenance a breed demands. And remember, irrespective of the breed all dogs will need their nails trimmed regularly.

DROOLING INTENSITY

Less Likely to Drool

Always Have a Towel

The tendency for a breed to drool may influence your decision especially if you prefer tidiness. Breeds known for leaving trails of drool on your arms or damp patches on your attire might not align well with a neatnik’s lifestyle.

COAT STYLES GUIDE

Wiry

COAT SPECTRUM

Medium

FRIENDLINESS

Reserved

Everyone Is My Best Friend

The likelihood of a breed's friendliness towards unfamiliar faces can differ greatly. Certain breeds may always maintain a reserved disposition around strangers no matter the setting, while others seem ever ready to greet a new person with enthusiasm.

LIVELINESS

Only When You Want To Play

Non-Stop

The excitement levels for engaging in play activities in certain dog breeds often extend beyond their early months. There are breeds that maintain a zest for lively games like tug-of-war or fetch long into their maturity, whereas some other breeds are typically more content to simply spend most of their days lounging beside you on the sofa.

VIGILANCE INTENSITY

What's Mine Is Yours

Vigilant

The instinct of a breed to notify you about the presence of strangers varies. Such breeds are typically more responsive to possible threats be it the mail deliverer or a squirrel in the yard. Usually, they tend to eventually accept strangers who are welcomed into the home by their family members.

ADAPTATION CAPACITY

Lives For Routine

Highly Adaptable

The adaptability of a dog breed to change plays a significant role in their overall behavior. Different breeds show varying degrees of resilience when it comes to alterations in their environment, whether it's a shift in living spaces, fluctuating noise levels, weather conditions, the rhythm of daily routines or other everyday life changes. Some breeds may take these changes in stride, while others might need more time and reassurance to adjust to new circumstances.

OBEDIENCE LEVEL

Self-Willed

Eager to Please

The ease of training your pooch and their eagerness to soak up new skills varies widely among different breeds. Certain dogs seem naturally inclined to please their owners taking on new commands and tricks with enthusiasm in a bid to impress. On the flip side, there are those breeds that exhibit a more independent streak preferring to march to the beat of their own drum, on their own terms and timetable regardless of setting or expectations!

STAMINA LEVEL

Couch Potato

High Energy

The level of physical and mental activity a breed requires can vary greatly. Breeds with high energy are always on the go bursting with excitement for the next escapade. They thrive on constant movement from running and leaping to engaging in interactive play all day long. On the other end of the spectrum, low energy breeds are the canine equivalent of couch potatoes - content to lounge and drift into a leisurely nap perfectly embodying a laid-back lifestyle.

VOCALIZATION

Only To Alert

Very Vocal

When Necessary

LEARNING CURIOSITY LEVEL

Happy to Lounge

Needs a Job or Activity

The cognitive enrichment a breed requires for contentment and wellness can widely range. Dogs bred for specific roles often need tasks that engage their decision-making abilities, challenge their problem-solving skills and demand concentration, among other mental faculties. Lacking suitable outlets for their intellectual energy, they will often take the initiative to start 'projects' of their own design to occupy their active minds. Unfortunately, the sort of projects they choose might not align with what you'd consider ideal or for that matter, even remotely desirable.

COLORS

Description	Registration Code
White	199
Orange Roan	136
White & Orange	213
Brown Roan	462

PATTERNS

Description	Registration Code
Orange Markings	102
Brown Markings	022

About The Breed

The Spinone Italiano with its plush coat is an epitome of companionship gentle, easygoing and sometimes playfully stubborn, yet always lovable. Hailing from a storied Italian heritage, the Spinone stands out among European field dogs for its adaptability. These dogs are square robust hunters designed for stamina rather than bursts of speed. Spinoni boast a brawny vigorous frame ready for any rigorous outdoor task. Their coats, thick and untouched by clippers showcase a variety of hues and patterns. The face of the Spinone is a delightful tapestry of old-world charm, marked by those tender, deeply expressive eyes, framed with bushy eyebrows and completed with a characteristic scruffy beard. These features have captivated countless hearts across Italy and now, the breed's allure is capturing admirers across the ocean in America with every passing day.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN CARING FOR A SPINONE ITALIANO

Holding the title of a dog owner is not just a luxury. It’s a critical responsibility. They require from us the basics - food and shelter at a minimum but they are worthy of so much more. Welcoming a dog into your life necessitates an understanding of the depth of commitment involved in caring for a pet.

Anticipating the Needs of Your Spinone Italiano: Insights and Tips.

Taking a dog under your wing is no small favor; it's a true commitment. These devoted pets count on us for life's necessities such as food and a safe abode, however, they are entitled to a greater level of care.

Health

	Ethical breeders make it a priority to test their breeding dogs for health issues including hip and elbow dysplasia along with ocular irregularities. It's essential for all dog breeds including the Spinone, to have their ears routinely inspected for any indications of infection. Furthermore, regular dental care is crucial with daily teeth brushing being the ideal using a canine-specific toothpaste to maintain oral health. Health Assessment Recommendations from the Breed's National Association: Hip Evaluation Ophthalmologist Evaluation Elbow Evaluation

Grooming

	Although the traditional adage for the breed emphasizes maintaining a "natural state," Spinoni still require a level of grooming care. Rather than cutting with scissors, they should undergo hand-stripping to remove dead hair and to keep their coat at an ideal length of one and a half to two and a half inches. Their ears demand attention for cleanliness at least weekly. The fur on their legs should be preserved as a bristly pillar shape, and the tail should be kept free of feathering. Regular nail maintenance is also a must with trimming recommended weekly to keep them in good shape.

Exercise

	Spinoni possess a comparatively 'low octane' nature when set against other sporting breeds. Although they enjoy a good hike or walk, it's not a daily necessity. A spacious and safe enclosure for a yard, alongside ample playtime, can satisfy a Spinone, but what truly contributes to their happiness is their inclusion in family life. This sense of belonging is just as vital to their mental and emotional health as physical exercise. Spinoni are not meant to be "kennel dogs" or pets that are comfortable living solitary lives outdoors—they thrive on being integral members of the family, which means residing indoors as cherished house dogs.

Training

	An expert breeder offers their perspective on training this distinctive breed: "Spinoni have a combination of gentleness, stubbornness and intelligence. Training them is more of a negotiation process. With some breeds, if you command 'Jump,' they're already in midair, asking, 'How high?' On the other hand, a Spinone is more likely to ponder, 'Why should I?' You can successfully teach a Spinone basic commands and even prepare them for competitive obedience but it's unrealistic to expect machine-like precision each time. They might just respond with, 'Not feeling it today, maybe try me again later.' They're clever dogs, yet they present a rewarding challenge and can become unresponsive if the training is too strict or severe. With hunting, they have their own style; they will hunt on their terms and are fully capable of delivering results. Spinoni teach their human hunting companions to have faith in their dog's instincts out in the field rather than expecting them to act as automated hunters obedient to every direction."

Nutrition

	A premium-grade dog chow, whether it's produced commercially or home-crafted under veterinary guidance is optimal for the Spinone. Tailor the nutritional plan to the life stage of your pet from pup to senior. Bear in mind, a Spinone may be fussy with food. It's essential to understand which snacks from your plate are dog-friendly. If you're uncertain about your Spinone's dietary needs or weight management, your vet should be your first port of call. Always make clean water readily available. Spinoni are especially prone to bloat, often due to their inherently delicate disposition. Stress can amplify if they sense their human's unrest, leading to potentially serious dietary issues like bloat. To mitigate this risk affording your Spinone moments of tranquility post-meal can aid in proper digestion and bloat prevention.

Historiography

The Spinone, one of the ancient and versatile field dogs from Continental Europe excels in its role beside the hunter. Known for their keen intelligence remarkable scenting ability, the skill to retrieve from rugged land to watery environments and enduring vigor lasting throughout the day, they are always ready for more action. 'Spinone' traces its etymology to 'pino,' a term for the spiky brush of Italy's Piedmont. Originating in this region, these robust adaptive canines were developed to partner with hunters across the Alpine slopes of Italy.