Spinone Italiano

Good to know

• Versatile Italian gun dog: bred to hunt, point and retrieve on land and in water across Italy's hills, they're built for endurance rather than speed.
• Laid-back for a sporting dog: they're lower-energy than many hunting breeds and happy with play in a securely fenced yard, though walks are welcome.
• Hand-stripped, not scissored: the dense, wiry coat stays natural-looking but needs hand-stripping to remove dead hair, and ears need weekly cleaning.
• Soft and stubborn: smart but likely to ask "why?", they respond best to gentle, patient training and shut down with harsh handling.
• House dogs: they need to live indoors as part of the family, not alone in a kennel or yard.

Getting out with a Spinone Italiano

Daily walks and some play keep them content. A mix of park time and easy trails suits them.

Explore more breeds in the Sporting group