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| ITALIAN SPINONE |
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Italy's utility gundog
The Italian Spinone (pronounced spin-on-ay) is an ancient breed, used by the Italian hunter approximately 2000 years ago . As with many breeds, the origins of the Spinoni (plural) are not certain. It is thought that they may have come about as a result of crossing the wirehaired Italian Pointer with the white Mastiffs, bought into Italy by Greek traders. They are traditionally from the Piedimonte region, in the north of Italy.
The Spinoni are classified as a 'utility' gundog, meaning that they hunt, point , flush and retrieve game. They are also an air scenting dog, hunting the ground, coursing as they go.
The name Spinone derives from the Italian word 'spina' , meaning thorn or prickle.
The Spinoni are a squarely built dog (equal in height and length), with a heavy bone structure. They have a relaxed trotting gait and are capable of working at a steady pace all day. They are adaptable to any type of ground, but are at their best in woodlands and marshes and are exceptionally strong and avid swimmers.
They are a slow maturing dog, generally reaching maturity around 4 years of age. Their age span ranges from 9 - 15 years. Dogs range from 59- 69 cm in height and weigh 38-40kg. Bitches range from 58-64 cm in height and weigh 28-32 kg. Their colourings are white, white/orange (orange markings or orange tinge), orange roan, brown/white (brown markings) and brown roan. Their tail is usually docked to half length. |
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Spinoni are distinguished by their sweet and almost human expression (those eyes!). I first met a 'Spin' at the Royal Melbourne show in 1994. His eyes invited my partner (Erwin) and I over to say 'Hello' and from then on we were hooked! We now own two dogs, Alfred who was bred here and is 6 yrs old and Claude whom we imported from the UK in 1999 and is 22 months old.
Their demeanour is almost human as well. They enjoy the company of other dogs, but they thrive on human companionship. They do not fair well in a kennel situation. They love to be by your side, or at your feet (or on the pillow next to you!). They are highly intelligent, are lateral thinkers and can easily make themselves understood. Time spent with a Spinone will develop his communication skills to a point where you may know his intentions. This comes in very handy, as Spinoni can be fantastic food thieves and knowing what to look for may help to prevent a raid on the rubbish bin (kitchen/outdoor) or a quick snatch at a vulnerably placed tasty morsel on the way past! Spinoni are not dogs you can shout at, they are very sensitive (however should not be timid). A soft, but firm voice will gain you respect. Because of their intelligence, Spinoni are easy to train. They only need to be shown once or twice what you wish to teach them and they will pick it up. They also seem to be able to weigh up whether the punishment is worth the crime! Quite a few (mainly bitches) have developed remarkable landscaping skills. Claude's sisters continue to tunnel from their back garden in Cornwall, determined to make it through to Melbourne for a family reunion. Others like a chew and find plastic and foam/rubber quite a delicacy. But how could you ever become upset at that face!!! |
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They are the only breed never to have been reported to have bitten a human. It is for this and many other reasons, the Italian Spinone makes an excellent member of the family :
The Spinoni have an affinity with children. My older dog (Alfred) had a special friendship with a friend's very young daughter. She learned to stand by holding onto Alfred's side and pulling herself up. He stood for her and seemed to have a smile of pride on his face when she made it up!! Whenever she cried, he was the first one on the scene to see what was wrong. When he knocked her over whilst barging through the house, he was instantly remorseful.
Spinoni also have an excellent 'association' memory for people and places. My boys always know when we turn onto the Nepean highway, they are headed to the beach for a swim and they vocalise excitedly. When they go to visit Grandma and Grandpa, the first thing they do when they jump out of the car is to do the traditional search of the garden for the cat!!!
Spinoni talk. They have an endearing array of 'spinoni noises'. They are a combination of purrs, grrrr's, yawns, squeals and huffs. When you arrive home (and sometimes if you have just been to the letterbox!) you will always be greeted by a very happy and chatty Spinone bearing a gift of some kind, a toy usually. If they can't find a toy, you may be lucky to get a hastily chosen stick or rock!
Spinoni do have a very deep bark, though it is seldom heard. They make excellent watchdogs, alerting all when someone approaches the house, but they will never be guard dogs as they believe all who enter are friends.
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Maintenance :
Coat :
The Spinoni have a harsh, wire coat. This makes them an easy dog to maintain. Dirt, mud etc does not stick to the coat, it simply dries and falls off. They require brushing/combing once or twice a week. They do drop a fair bit of coat, particularly if they live most of their life indoors. Bathe using a wire coat shampoo when necessary, keeping baths to a minimum as it softens the coat.
Feet:
Spinoni grow hair between their toes. This needs to be trimmed out regularly, usually weekly when trimming nails and dewclaws. (Spinoni usually have all 4 dewclaws) Feet also need to be checked regularly for burrs and grass seeds.
Ears:
Spinoni grow quite a bit of hair in the ears. This needs to be plucked out. It is usually not felt by the dog. Ears should be cleaned out regularly, usually when trimming nails and checked often, particularly if the dog swims.
Exercise:
Spinoni tend to gain weight very easily. Try not to feed treats/snacks throughout the day. They are an active dog, but will be happy with one good walk a day. More if they can get it!. They usually love to swim and are very strong swimmers.
Breed Standard :
The U.K. Kennel Club's breed standard is followed in Australia. This can be viewed on the Italian Spinoni Australia's website (address follows). History of the Italian Spinone in Australia :
The foundation Spinoni, Stowlodge Salvia and Stowlodge Sibelius (dog & bitch) came from Stowlodge Kennels in the U.K. owned by Malcolm and Cindy Bevan. They were imported into Australia in 1987 by Peter Coombes, from Central Victoria.
Peter bred the first litter of Spinoni in Australia and produced 4 bitches and 3 dogs. Unfortunately, due to the financial burdens of establishing a new breed, Peter was forced to sell Salvia, Sibelius and the litter. Mrs. Lola Luke from Lontana Park (Vic & S.A) purchased the Spinoni and continued with the breeding programme, importing other Spinoni from the U.K.
Breeders from N.S.W. and S.A. became involved in the breed, importing dogs and semen, however they are no longer involved. Today there are registered breeders in Victoria and N.S.W. The Spinoni are still considered to be a rare breed in Australia, with the Australian Kennel Council's records stating that up until 1999, only 126 Spinoni had been registered. In 1999, Erwin and I imported a dog from the U.K.(Claude) as the genepool here was in need of new lines. It still is and we hope to import a U.K. bred bitch from different bloodlines in the near future. |
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| Further Information |
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Further Information:
Erwin or Heather Miles
Piedimonte Spinoni.
Tel : 03 94972169 |
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| Last Update: 25/03/07 08:15 |
Views: 5090 |
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