Italian Spinone
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Muscular dog with powerful bones. Vigorous and robust, its purpose as a guard dog is evident. Naturally sociable, docile and patient Spinone is fatigue resistant and is an experienced hunter in any terrain. Its hard, textured cover is weather resistant. your fur dense and thick skin allow Spinone to camouflage itself the undergrowth and withstand cold water that would severely punish any dog that was not so naturally armored. He has a notable tendency towards a fast, extended trotting stride.
Personality: Smart, alert and agile.
Energy Level : Very Active. This dog is active and energetic, and needs daily exercise.
Good with children: Yes.
Good with other dogs: With supervision.
Grooming: Weekly.
Life Expectancy : 10-12 years old.
Bark Level: Bark when needed.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
A very old breed, which is among the many continental European field dogs, famous for their versatility. Their strengths as hunter companions include intelligence, a large nose, the ability to keep up on land or lake, and the stamina to work all day and eagerly ask for more. The name Spinone refers to “pino”, the prickly undergrowth found in the Piedmont region of Italy. It was there that the Spinone all-weather, all-purpose were created to work alongside hunters in the mountainous terrain of Alpine Italy.
Country of Origin: Italy.
BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT: Spinone has a sociable, docile and patient behavior; is an excellent hunter independent of the terrain, takes time to tire and is also resistant to thorny vegetation and water.
HEAD:
CRANIAL REGION
Skull: It has an oval shape, the side walls lean gently, with the well-developed occiput, the superciliary arches not very prominent.
Stop : Checked.
FACIAL REGION
Snout: Of the same length as the skull measured at half its length, it has a Roman nose, and the snout seen from the front has a square appearance.
Nose: Flesh pink in whites, darker in whites and orange and brownish brown in roan browns.
Jaws and Teeth: Scissor or pincer bite, prominent and strong jaws.
Lips: Upper quite thin and small bottoms.
Eyes: Ocher in color, depending on the coat color it can be darker or lighter. They are large, open and inserted separately.
Ears : Triangular in shape, set low with fine cartilage.
NECK : Muscular, it has an undeveloped double bardela.
TRUNK
Topline: Solid and well arched.
Back: Front almost straight, gradually rises to the loin before stooping for the hind limbs.
TAIL: Carried low, natural and thick from the base.
MEMBERS
PREVIOUS
Shoulders: Free in its movements, shoulders muscular and well developed, shoulder blade powerful and long.
Elbows: Parallel to the median plane of the body.
Feet: Round, compact, arched and toes together with hard, dry pads.
HINDQUARTERS
Hocks: Strong and dry.
Thighs: Long and oblique.
Paws : round, compact, but less oval than the forefeet
GAIT/MOVEMENT: Light and smooth movement, very fast.
COAT
Coat : Straight, hard, dense and quite laid-back, lacking undercoat.
COLOR: Pure white, white with orange spots, white with orange spots, white with brown spots, roan or brown roan. Colors not allowed are: tricolor, brown marks and black in any combination.
SIZE: Males: from 60 to 70 cm. Females: from 58 to 65 cm.
FAULTS
Any deviation from this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well-being of the dog.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.
• Any dog that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.
• Atypical dogs.