Italian Spinone

Origin & history

The Spinone is an old Italian breed associated above all with the Piedmont region in the north, developed as a versatile hunting dog that could point, work close in heavy cover and retrieve from land and water. The harsh, protective coat let it push through thorny scrub and cope with cold conditions, and its steady temperament made it an easy companion in the field. The breed nearly disappeared around the middle of the 20th century, hit hard by the world wars and by competition from flashier pointing breeds, before Italian enthusiasts rebuilt it. It is still relatively uncommon in Australia, kept by gundog people and by families drawn to its gentle nature, and it remains a working pointer at heart as much as a companion.

Temperament

Gentle is the word that follows this breed around, and it is earned. The Spinone is devoted to its family, soft in temperament and unusually tolerant, which makes it one of the better large gundogs around children when both are taught to respect each other. It is typically sociable with strangers, friendly rather than wary, so it is a poor guard dog beyond an alerting bark. Most are relaxed with other dogs and live comfortably with other pets, helped by a generally low-key disposition, though the hunting background means some interest in birds and small game. They are intelligent but a little sensitive and can be slow to mature, so training should be patient, kind and consistent; harsh corrections shut them down. The main behavioural need is enough exercise and company, as a Spinone left under-stimulated and alone can become bored and clingy.

Appearance

This is a large, solidly built dog of square outline. Dogs stand around 60 to 70 cm at the shoulder and bitches roughly 59 to 65 cm, with weight commonly between 28 and 39 kg depending on sex and build. The coat is the signature feature: dense, harsh and wiry, about 4 to 6 cm long, lying flat with no undercoat, and forming pronounced eyebrows, a moustache and a beard that give the soulful, slightly human expression the breed is known for. Colours include solid white, white with orange markings, orange roan, and white with chestnut or chestnut roan. The ears are long and pendulous, the eyes large and expressive, and the overall look is rugged rather than refined.

Suitability

A house with a securely fenced yard suits this breed best, and a rural or semi-rural setting with room to range is close to ideal, though they are calm enough indoors to manage suburban life with proper exercise. The owner should be active and happy to include the dog in walks, training and outdoor time, and relaxed about the grooming, mud and drool that come as standard. They are people-oriented and prefer not to be left alone for long stretches, coping better when they have company or another dog. The easy temperament makes them reasonably first-timer friendly for a committed owner. In the Australian climate the dense wiry coat offers decent protection, but provide shade and water, avoid exercise in the heat of the day, and watch them carefully in hot, humid weather.

Health

Most Italian Spinoni live around 10 to 12 years. Like many large breeds they can suffer hip and elbow dysplasia, so hip and elbow scoring of the parents is important. The breed has a particular and well-documented concern in a fatal neurological condition called cerebellar ataxia, for which a DNA test is available, and no responsible breeder should produce a litter that could be affected, so always ask to see the parents' DNA results. Bloat (gastric torsion) is a risk in any deep-chested dog and owners should know the signs. Some lines also carry a raised risk of certain cancers. A good breeder hip and elbow scores, DNA tests for cerebellar ataxia, and is open about health across their lines rather than brushing the subject aside.