My Friendly Pets

I caught a glimpse of “The Ellen Degeneres Show” and of the few moments that I saw, they introduced a dog called a Spinone or Spinoni!! I don’t believe I had ever seen this breed of dog before and was interested in learning more about the breed. From what I read, it seems that this is truly a special breed of dog. It is now gaining more popularity in the United States, but has for most of its existence as a breed been located in Italy or other western European countries.

This breed is known for its strong muscular body and long face. In much of the research that I did, almost every description of this dog described their “human like” eyes. They are large dogs that can weigh between 61 and 85 lbs. and can be between 22 1/2 to 27 1/2 inches tall. They have long waterproof coats that keep them dry and warm and are supposedly as maticulous about their fur (coats) as cats. However, it is advised that these dogs be brushed at least once a week and clipped to minimize matting and knots.

Everything I read about this dog in terms of their temperament was positive. It appears that this a dog breed with a good nature and fun-loving disposition. They are very patient, enjoy children and the company of other dogs. It appears however, that due to their hunting nature they can be stubborn and methodical. They are excellent swimmers, again as part of their hunting heritage and value the relationships with their master and family (pack).

This dog is classified by the AKC as a sporting dog because they are primarily hunting dogs. While they might not be judged as the “best” hunting dog, because of their lack of pizzazz in terms of pointing or gathering of catch, they are still a dedicated hunter and will use their skills proficiently to hunt as expected.

This is a sensitive dog and will be timid if not socialized correctly. It is encouraged that this type of puppy be picked up by prospective owners and not “shipped” to a location, as fear and trauma for this breed is difficult to overcome. If a watch dog is what you are looking for in terms of security, the Italian Spinoni or Spinoni Italiano, is not the breed for you. They will rarely attack a stranger unless the health and well being of family members is at stake. All in all, I’m sorry to say that I have missed this breed and am glad to see that it is gaining popularity in this country. Its nice to know that we can introduce a dog that has a nice pleasant personality and accept him/her for what they are rather than what we want them to be.

If Italy and other far away places are of interest to you, check out a fellow blogger and world traveler!!