Purina

Other names/Nicknames:

• Italian Pointer

Country/Date of origin:

• Italy
• 1700’s

Height:

• 22 to 26 inches

Weight:

• 55 to 88 pounds

Personality:

• Tends to be stubborn.
• Responsive to its owner and loyal.
• Very energetic.

History:

The Bracco Italiano is thought to originate from crosses made to the sighthounds brought to Italy by the Phoenician traders from Egypt.  It is the ancestor of all European pointers.  Referred to by its admirers as noble, this was a popular hunting dog during the Renaissance and was often given as a gift from Italian government officials to VIP’s in other countries such as France and Spain.  It accompanied net hunters of the Middle Ages, and later it was teamed up with falconers who used it to flush the falcon’s quarry.  Its popularity declined during the 1800’s and it is now undergoing a revival in popularity in its homeland.  It remains almost unknown in the United States.

Body Type:

• Resembles other pointer breeds in overall appearance.
• The tail is always docked.
• The hanging ears are set low and are long enough to reach the nose.  They are not altered.
• Muzzle is unusually square for a pointer.

Coat:

• The coat is smooth and short.
• Acceptable colors are white; white with orange, amber, or brown markings; white flecked with orange or brown; and, roan.
• Minimal grooming required.

Health and Wellness:

• Sensitive ears require attention.
• Possible hip dysplasia.

What you should know:

• Best suited to outdoor living.
• When hunting, it searches with a long, elastic, striding trot with its nose high in the wind.  However, it stands and points in traditional fashion.
• Has changed little over the centuries.
• Will be difficult to find a puppy in the United States.