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Spinone Italiano: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Italian Spinone personality and behavior. main page breed review faq health training adopting/buying links My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Spinone Italiano, including these excerpts: "The Italian Spinone Club says: "Everything about this breed suggests great strength." Kind and patient in the home, the Italian Spinone is a serious, tireless hunting machine in the field. Though he looks gruff, rather like a wise old grandfather, the Italian Spinone is happy and playful, even clownish. Youngsters can be restless and require lots of attention, but adults are calm and laid-back, as long as they are given sufficient daily exercise, including swimming if possible. Remember that this is a hunting breed, not an apartment decoration. This sweet-natured dog needs lots of early exposure to people and strange sights and sounds. When well socialized, he may turn out quite friendly or remain a bit cautious, yet poised. Most get along well with other animals. The Italian Spinone has an independent mind and can be stubborn, but this is not a dominant dog who needs (or who can withstand) strong-arm training methods. He can be a jumper and digger, so make sure fences are secure. Some drool." History The "Spinone Italiano" is Italy's all-purpose hunting dog, a rather slow-footed and methodical but highly efficient pointing dog. Spinone means prickly, which may refer to the coarse coat, or to the prickly-growth terrain where this breed hunts so successfully. Size 22-27 inches and 60-85 lbs

Spinone Italiano What's good about 'em What's bad about 'em There are energetic Spinoni, and placid Spinoni. Hard-headed Spinoni, and sweet-natured Spinoni. Serious Spinoni, and good-natured goofballs. Introverted Spinoni, and Spinoni who love everyone. If you acquire an Italian Spinone puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed... If you want a dog who... Is large and sturdy, a tireless hunting machine, methodical and efficient rather than fast or flashy Loves the great outdoors and thrives on vigorous exercise and athletic activities Is steady-tempered and dependable with everyone -- a decent watchdog, but not a guard dog Gets along well with other dogs An Italian Spinone may be right for you. If you don't want to deal with... Vigorous exercise requirements Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough or left alone too much A distractable mind of his own -- tends to ignore calls and commands when an interesting sight or scent catches his attention Shedding "Shaggy dog syndrome," i.e. debris clinging to the coat, water soaking into the beard and dripping on your floors Slobbering and drooling Slowness to housebreak Waiting lists (hard to find) and a high price tag A Spinone Italiano may not be right for you. If I were considering a Spinone Italiano... My major concerns would be: Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Spinoni Italiano MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking or swimming, or to get involved in hunting, or tracking, or agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed. Spinoni Italiano were never intended to be simply household pets. Trying to suppress their "hardwired" desire to run and work, without providing alternate outlets for their energy level, can be difficult. Bounciness. Young Spinoni Italiano (up to about two years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people. If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend Italian Spinone puppies. The temptation to play roughly is too strong in many young Spinoni Italiano. Separation anxiety. Like all pointing breeds, the Spinone Italiano needs a great deal of companionship and does not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day and must leave your dog alone in the house or yard, this is not the breed for you. Prey drive toward smaller animals that run or fly. The Spinone Italiano is usually fine with other dogs, but as hunting dogs, some have strong instincts to chase cats, squirrels, birds, and other fleeing creatures, especially when they're outdoors. Mind of their own. Spinoni Italiano have an independent mind of their own, can be stubborn, and are easily distracted by exciting sights, scents, and sounds. You must show them, through absolute consistency and great patience, that you mean what you say and that they must pay attention to you. To teach your Spinone to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Italian Spinone Training Page discusses the program you need. Shedding. The Italian Spinone sheds more than you might think, though many of the shed hairs end up trapped in the tousled coat. Thus, regular brushing is essential not only for keeping the coat mat-free, but for removing shed hair. "Shaggy dog syndrome." Like all shaggy dogs, the Spinone Italiano is a messy dog. Leaves, mud, snow, fecal matter, and other debris cling to his rough coat and end up deposited through your house. When he drinks, his beard absorbs water, which drips on your floors when he walks away. When he eats, his beard absorbs food so that when he sniffs your face or presses his head against your leg, YOU end up dirty, too. Big shaggy dogs are not suited to fastidious housekeepers. Slobbering. Some Spinoni tend to slobber or drool, especially after eating and drinking. Housebreaking. The pointing breeds can be a bit slow to pick this up. Expect several months of consistent crate training. Finding one and paying the price. In the United States, fewer than 200 Italian Spinone puppies are registered each year. (Compare that to over 60,000 new Golden Retriever puppies.) And many breeders are charging $1000 and up. If you're considering an adult Spinone Italiano... There are plenty of adult Spinoni who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS. Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author.