Italian Spinone

Origins

Italy.

General Appearance

Dog of solid construction, robust and vigorous; powerful bone; well developed muscles, hair rough.

Size

Height at the withers males from 60 to 70 cm. females from 58 to 65 cm.
Weight males from 32 to 37 kg. females from 28 to 30 kg.

Coat

HAIR
Of a length of 4 to 6 cm on the body, shorter on the muzzle, the head, the ears, the front sides of the legs and the feet. On the back sides of the legs, the hair is like a rough brush, but never with fringes. Long and stiff hair garnish the eyebrows and the lips forming thick eyebrows, moustache and tufted beard. The hair is stiff, harsh, dense and rather flat, with lack of undercoat.

COLOUR
Pure white, white with orange markings, white speckled with orange, white with brown (chestnut) markings, roan or brown roan (chestnut). The preferred shade of brown is the colour of « Friar’s frock ». Not permitted colours are tricolour, tan markings, black in any combinations.

Behaviour & Temperment

Naturally sociable, docile and patient, the Spinone is an experienced hunter on all terrains; very resistant to tiredness, goes easily into thorny underwood, or throws himself into cold water. He has remarkable dispositions for an extended and fast trot; by nature he is an excellent retriever.

Important Proportions

His build tends to fit into a square. The length of the body is equal to the height at the withers, with a tolerance of 1 to 2 cm longer. The length of the head is equal to 4/10ths of the height at the withers. Its width, measured at level of the zygomatic arches, is inferior to half its length.

Breed Movement

Easy loose step; when hunting, extended fast trot with intermittent paces of gallop.