Life Span:	12 - 14 years - and most will be healthy in their senior years
Litter Size:	Average of 8 puppies
Group:	Sporting, Gun Dog
Recognized By:	CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, APRI, ACR
Color:	White, White with Orange markings, Orange/Orange Roan with or without orange markings, White with Brown markings, Brown Roan, with or without Brown markings.
Hair Length:	Medium
Size:	Large
Shedding:	Moderate Shed
Male Height:	23.5-27.5 inches (60-70 cm)
Male Weight:	75-86 pounds (34-49 kg.)
Female Height:	22.5-25.5 inches (59-65 cm)
Female Weight:	64-75 pounds (29-34 kg.)
General info courtesy of terrificpets.com. Additional information about this breed can be found on their website.
Living Area:	The Spinone Italiano likes to be outside, but it\'s not necessary to keep this breed healthy. Occasional walks or runs are good for this breed, but it is well suited to nearly any environment that it lives in, from an apartment dwelling to an open backyard. However, this is not a dog that will enjoy being outdoors for long periods by themselves as they love affection - both giving and receiving. So long as the Spinone Italiano is going to be able to go outside on occasion, this will be the perfect living conditions for them. But there is no need for you to live on a farm or have a lot of open land in order to make this dog happy.

Description

The Spinone Italiano is a distinctive looking dog with almost human-like features, according to some. With a strong bone structure and muscled appearance, this dog breed is suited to nearly any kind of terrain. The wiry short coat gives this dog a tough covering that is close fitting to the skin. However, on the rest of the body - ears, head, muzzle, head and legs and feet are covered with shorter hair. For the eyebrows, the hair is longer and more rigid, while the muzzle and cheeks have a softer feel - giving the face almost a mustached or bearded look.

It is also important to note that the Spinone Italiano does not have an undercoat, and while some owners like to allow the coat to grow longer, it is often undesirable to the breed\'s nature.

The tail of this dog breed is about half its length (or 5.5 inches to 8 inches from the base) and short haired. The longer head structure and a very pronounced eye socket structure further enhances a human-esque look, while the expression of understanding is what causes most owners to feel that the eyes are more human than dog like.

Coat Description

The Spinone Italiano should only have one coat that can be described as tough and wiry. The close fitting fur is about 1 1/2 inches to 2 1/2 inches long over the body, but the muzzle, ears, head, and parts of the legs can be shorter. Again, the eyebrows are longer and have stiffer hair pieces, but the rest of the face is soft.

History

Thought to have originated in Italy (as you can tell from the name), the Spinone Italiano is considered an ancient breed of Gun Dog that may have originated in Celtic Ireland, ,

There are some sources that believe the Spinone Italiano is a descendant of the Spanish Pointer, but others are convinced that the Russian Setter is the ancestor. The actual origin is not known, but most lean toward the idea that

Almost becoming extinct during WWII, the Spinone Italiano began to be used as a hunting dog and then rebounded into a healthier number and continues to do so today as a popular hunting dog.

Temperament

The Spinone Italiano is typically an easy going dog breed that is lovable and calm. Very caring towards children, the Spinone Italiano is often s treasured part of the family. Affectionate even towards those the dog doesn\'t know, this particular dog breed doesn\'t have any major concerns with aggression or too much territorialness. Of course, knowing this, the Spinone Italiano is not generally a good choice for a guard dog or protector breed.

The intelligence of the Spinone Italiano is something that needs to be addressed during the training of this dog. And while this breed will learn quickly, they are often better motivated by a reward system more than other techniques.

That said, the Spinone Italiano does like to showcase their talents for you, so once they know that you will respond favorably, they are more than happy to follow your commands. They like to show boat at times, appearing to be regal as they point out their hunting finds, for example. If you can find out what makes them happy and allows them to show off their intelligence, you will have a dog that\'s more than happy to oblige.

Though the Spinone Italiano does have energy, it is not as neurotic or energetic as some hunting dogs or other domesticated breeds. Moving at a relaxed trot is more this breed\'s style. However, many owners find that the Spinone Italiano is an excellent running or jogging partner as they can keep up the pace. What\'s more is that this dog is not one that will run off when you are running together, choosing instead to move at a more relaxed pace.

Another thing to note - the Spinone Italiano can be a bit of a slobberer, so remember that before bringing this breed home if that\'s a concern. You will want to make sure that you are keeping things that you want untouched out of this dog\'s mouth as well as the general vicinity - as well as keeping guests away from the dog if this makes them uncomfortable.

The calm persona of this particular breed can be disquieting to some, as they are much more willing to go at their own pace than to resort to someone else\'s. If you are an active person that likes a lot of interaction between you and your dog, this might not be the best choice for you. The Spinone Italiano is more of a deliberate dog than one that will take kindly to working at someone else\'s pace.

Thyroid Disease - High Risk

The Spinone Italiano ranks #48 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. While this is not a high risk breed, there is still a good chance of disease transmission through breeding. Therefore, all dogs intended for breeding should be tested first. 

Rank Among Breeds	Number of Dogs Tested	Percent of Dogs With Disease
#48	100	8%

You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here

Other Health Problems

Generally a healthy breed for a purebred, the Spinone Italiano does have some special medical conditions to be aware of:

Hip dysplasia - Because this breed is a larger breed, hip dysplasia is a concern. This condition occurs when the bones in the hip become damaged in some way, creating pain and problems with movement. Some owners choose to have these painful hips replaced via canine orthopedic surgery.

Cerebellar ataxia - Also known as CA, this hereditary condition is a deadly disorder that affects Spinone Italiano puppies. In order for the puppy to have this condition, the gene must be passed on from both the mother and the father, as it is a recessive gene. Most puppies with this disorder will not live more than a year and many are euthanized at 10 to 11 months of age.