The Spinone Italiano – Its Past is Its Present

Picture the slopes of the Italian Alps, long ago. Imagine the aristocracy out on their horses with their hunting companions in the flat, grassy fields below. They will go home at the end of the day, tired and laughing, to enjoy a feast with their friends.

Further up the mountains, you will find a different type of hunter, one who hunts for dinner, not for sport. The mountainsides are steeper and more treacherous. The underbrush is dense and thorny, and the winters are hard. Game can be scarce, and the birds are wild, wild, wild. Here, the people are poor and must scratch a living in this rocky terrain. If they cannot fill the pot by hunting, their family will go hungry. These are peasants, and here you find the Spinone working beside them.

Today, there is a grocery store in every town, and most of us hunt more for sport than for necessity. We can drive out to the Dakotas to cross those broad acres, bring our blinds to the water to wait for ducks, or head into the woods to seek the wild Grouse and the elusive Woodcock, the queen of the woods, as we please. Still, we work to preserve the Spinone breed, even though we no longer rely on it to feed our families. The many characteristics that identify the Spinone in the show ring and in the field reflect its great history. These dogs are unique among the Sporting breeds, and we work hard to make sure that they remain a Spinone!

In other articles, we have introduced the Spinone Italiano as a puzzle. Here, we’re going to address the parts of the puzzle from the point of view of their function. As breeders, we strive to maintain the health and temperament of our breed, and hope that the results in the Conformation ring help us maintain the breed’s all-important type, which is what makes it so instantly recognizable as a Spinone.

WHY IS THE SPINONE’S HEAD SO DISTINCTIVE?

Hunting in those mountainous areas requires both air scent and ground scent. The Spinone, with his muzzle pointing down, can ground scent and air scent easily while looking ahead in the rugged terrain. He will find the birds that other breeds run right over. His large, bulbous, spongy nose serves an obvious purpose.

His long, triangular ears, with a small insertion point, hang from eye level or slightly below and fit very close to his flat cheeks to help him harness that scent. Some say that there may be scenthounds among his ancestors. His oval-shaped skull with laterally sloping sides and prominent occipital crest is distinctive; with the minimal stop, long muzzle, front-facing rounded eyes, and flat cheeks, and of course, the divergent planes, it forms the quintessential Spinone head.

The Spinone’s neck is thick and conical, and relatively short, to support this long (4/10 of the height at the withers), well-sculpted headpiece as he trots, runs, and swims.

HIS BODY – WHAT DOES GEOGRAPHY HAVE TO DO WITH IT?

The Spinone Italiano has to be sure-footed, sturdy, and substantial to move through the terrain in which the breed was developed. The Spinone was often the only dog, so he had to be truly versatile. He could be used for carting as well as to hunt the mountainsides—we see this today in his strong front assembly.

His almost-level underline supports the trotting gait that is typical for the Spinone. He hunts within gun range, checking in with his master frequently. While he may occasionally gallop between scents, he is fundamentally a trotter.

The Spinone’s flexible, two-part topline and a solid loin can twist and turn and navigate thick thorn bushes and dense cover while he locates game for his master. The widely spaced scapulae add to his flexibility. His sloping croup helps with the steep climbs and descents he must make. The tail flows smoothly from his back and is held down or out. There is no need to flag a distant handler with an upright tail; he’s right there.

BIG feet, combined with flexible pasterns and elbows, let the Spinone handle steep terrain, large rocks, rubble, and deadfall. In marshes, they help him swim through muddy waters with minimal splashing. His well-sprung ribs house deep lungs and give him stamina for his job. The Spinone was built for rough terrain!

In extreme temperatures on land and water, his unusually thick skin and single, harsh coat protect him so that he is undeterred in his quest to find game and retrieve it. A longtime Italian breeder once described him as fatto per la palude, “made for the swamp.”

WHY SO GENTLE?

After that very long day of fulfilling his purpose and bringing home food for his family, he joins his family and their friends and their children. His kindness and gentleness are necessary for the social environment in which he lives. His soft, gentle, and melting expression reflects the temperament that is so cherished by his family, his breeder, and his native country. There he is—the Spinone.

THE SHOW RING

When we put the Spinone in the show ring, in that small, flat space, he looks very different from the other Sporting breeds. Many Sporting dogs were bred to work in flat, grassy fields (think England); some are more versatile, but still, they were not bred for this specific region in Italy where the peasants hunted. Most pointing breeds in the Sporting ring are gallopers, not trotters.

Next to these other breeds, the Spinone stands out—he moves no less beautifully, but not in the same way as other Sporting breeds. The Spinone’s loose, elastic, sure-footed movement is very different from the animated, head-high trot of other Sporting dogs. The connection of the Spinone to the earth is palpable in its movement, which is breathtaking to the true Spinone aficionado.

We are at risk of losing our way with our dear old friend, the Spinone, but we can find our way back. To protect and preserve the breed, we must remember how and why it got here in the first place. There are many crucial and distinct elements that tie this puzzle of a dog together, each of them necessary to make a whole Spinone.

The Spinone is truly a masterpiece, and deserves the time and depth of study required to understand him.

The post The Spinone Italiano – Its Past is Its Present appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

Piedmont, in both French and Italian and other variants, comes from the medieval Latin Pedemontium or Pedemontis, meaning “at the foot of the mountains” (referring to the Alps).

The Piedmont region is surrounded by the Alps. It borders with France, Switzerland and the Italian regions of Lombardy, Liguria, Aosta Valley and a tiny part of Emilia Romagna. Piedmont is 43.3 percent mountainous and 30.3 percent is vast areas of hills with just 26.4 percent being plains or wetlands.

The Spinone, with its two-segmented topline, solid underline and minimal tuck-up, long hock-to-paw length and moderate bend of stifle was not built for super speed. This hunting dog hunted the foothills and mountainsides of the Alps for upland game birds, fox and rabbit, and down low in the plains and swampy, thick wetlands for waterfowl.

It is said that during WWII, the Spinone was used by the Italian partisans to track enemies and to carry food. Speed was not required. A strong, substantial and unhurried yet steady-going dog was needed—and that was the Spinone.

So, all that said, the Spinone is not slow. A descriptor word in our Breed Standard is “methodical.” Methodical does not mean slow. The definition of methodical is orderly and systematic in habits or behavior. Obviously, a Spinone is not as fast as a Pointer or German Wirehaired Pointer or Weimaraner or even the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and Brittany. But not being as fast as those other pointing breeds does not, thereby, mean the Spinone is slow. Not being as fast as the other pointing breeds does not mean the Spinone should go around the ring like a turtle, with its handler walking. We had that happen once; the judge kept telling us to “slow down, slow down!” to the point where we were all literally walking. It was ridiculous!

So while the other pointing breeds are faster and look much more flashy in the field, often going back over the same piece of ground more than once, the Spinone, with its easy, pounding trot that goes the distance, is determined as it covers the ground in an orderly and systematic fashion, not going back and forth over the same ground. I suppose, to some, that may appear slow.

As I mentioned earlier, the Spinone has a solid underline and minimal tuck-up. That does not mean no tuck-up or zero tuck-up. There is a tuck-up and it is minimal. To quote the Italian Breed Standard:

“The ribs are well sprung and slanting with wide space between them. The back ribs (false ribs) are long, oblique and well opened. Underline and belly: Almost horizontal in the sternal region, then ascends slightly towards the belly.” The belly is not the tuck-up.

The Spinone has a two-piece topline. It is NOT a sway back. The first segment slopes slightly downward from the withers to the 11th thoracic vertebra. You may not always obviously see “the break,” especially in the very young Spinone, but it is there—you can feel it. The second segment of the topline rises gradually and continues into a solid and slightly convex loin without rising above the withers.

The Spinone’s large paws give it the sure-footedness and stability to hunt in the hilly and mountainous terrain, as does the long hock-to-paw distance.

From the AKC Spinone Breed Standard: “The distance from the point of the hock to the ground is about one-third of the height at the withers, and the rear pastern is strong, lean and perpendicular to the ground.”

Stealing another quote from the Italian Breed Standard: “The hocks must be perpendicular to the ground; seen from behind, the hindquarters are parallel.”

That means no cowhocks. Living in Montana, I can tell you that I have yet to see a Pack Mule or Big Horn Sheep or Mountain Goat with cowhocks.

So how does this all translate to the show ring?

The Spinone should not race around the breed ring or be at the very front of the Sporting Group. Even if one has a Spinone that can do that, it should not be presented that way. You can always spot the handler who does not know the breed when they compete for that spot at the front of the Group and zoom around the ring rather than presenting the Spinone at a moderate pace to show off the Spinone’s classic loose, pounding trot.

I am reminded of the great handler Colton Johnson and the way he purposely handled his Old English Sheepdog in the way the breed should be presented and was not swayed by peer pressure or by judges wanting a happy-go-lucky generic American show dog. Many years ago, Colton showed one of my Spinoni a few times in exactly the same way—unhurried and how it should be done.

Similarly, a Spinone should never ever be strung up on its lead. A Spinone is to be shown on a loose lead. Why? Well, if you unnaturally pull up a Spinone’s head to, again, show it in the generic American show dog way, not only does that flatten out the topline in movement but it also does not showcase the Spinone’s unique head with its diverging head planes and nose pointing downward in order to pick up scent. Just remember the head and tail together—loose lead with the head low and out in conjunction with the tail that is carried parallel to the ground or down, never up. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our unique breed.

The post From the Mountains to the Show Ring appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

The underbrush is dense and thorny, and the winters are hard. Game can be scarce and the birds are wild, wild, wild. Here, the people are poor and must scratch a living in this rocky terrain. If they cannot fill the pot by hunting, their family will go hungry. These are peasants, and here you find the Spinone working beside them.

Today, there is a grocery store in every town and most of us hunt more for sport than for necessity. We can drive out to the Dakotas to cross those broad acres, bring our blinds to the water to wait for ducks, or head into the woods to seek the wild Grouse and the elusive Woodcock, the queen of the woods, as we please. Still, we work to preserve the Spinone breed, even though we no longer rely on it to feed our families.

The many characteristics that identify the Spinone Italiano in the show ring and in the field reflect its great history. These dogs are unique among the Sporting breeds, and we work hard to make sure that they remain a Spinone!

In other articles, we have introduced the Spinone Italiano as a puzzle. Here, we’re going to address the parts of the puzzle from the point of view of their function. As breeders, we strive to maintain the health and temperament of our breed, and hope that the results in the Conformation ring help us maintain the breed’s all-important type, which is what makes it so instantly recognizable as a Spinone.

Why Is the Spinone’s Head So Distinctive?

Hunting in those mountainous areas requires both air scent and ground scent. The Spinone, with his muzzle pointing down, can ground scent and air scent easily while looking ahead in the rugged terrain. He will find the birds that other breeds run right over. His large bulbous, spongy nose serves an obvious purpose. His long, triangular ears, with a small insertion point, hang from eye level or slightly below and fit very close to his flat cheeks to help him harness that scent. Some say that there may be scenthounds among his ancestors.

His oval-shaped skull with lateral sloping sides and prominent occipital crest is distinctive; with the minimal stop, long muzzle, front-facing rounded eyes and flat cheeks, and of course, the divergent planes, it forms the quintessential Spinone head. The Spinone’s neck is thick and conical, and relatively short, to support this long (4/10 of the height at the withers), well-sculpted headpiece as he trots, runs, and swims.

His Body – What Does Geography Have to Do with It?

The Spinone Italiano has to be sure-footed, sturdy, and substantial to move through the terrain in which the breed was developed. The Spinone was often the only dog, so he had to be truly versatile. He could be used for carting as well as to hunt the mountainsides—we see this today in his strong front assembly. His almost-level underline supports the trotting gait that is typical for the Spinone. He hunts within gun range, checking in with his master frequently. While he may occasionally gallop between scents, he is fundamentally a trotter.

The Spinone Italiano has to be sure-footed, sturdy, and substantial to move through the terrain in which the breed was developed.

The Spinone’s flexible, two-part topline and a solid loin can twist and turn and navigate thick thorn bushes and dense cover while he locates game for his master. The widely spaced scapulae add to his flexibility. His sloping croup helps with the steep climbs and descents he must make. The tail flows smoothly from his back, and is held down or out. There is no need to flag a distant handler with an upright tail; he’s right there. The hocks are long. BIG feet, combined with flexible pasterns and elbows, let the Spinone handle steep terrain, large rocks and rubble, and deadfall. In marshes, they help him swim through muddy waters with a minimum of splashing. His well-sprung ribs house deep lungs and give him stamina for his job. The Spinone was built for rough terrain!

In extreme temperatures on land and water, his unusually thick skin and single, harsh coat protect him so that he is undeterred in his quest to find game and retrieve it. A longtime Italian breeder once described him as fatto per la palude, made for the swamp.

Why So Gentle?

After that very long day of fulfilling his purpose and bringing home food for his family, he joins his family and their friends and their children. His kindness and gentleness are necessary for the social environment in which he lives. His soft, gentle, and melting expression reflect the temperament that is so cherished by his family, his breeder, and his native country.

There he is—the Spinone.

The Show Ring

When we put the Spinone in the show ring, in that small, flat space, he looks very different from the other Sporting breeds. Many Sporting dogs were bred to work in flat, grassy fields (think England); some are more versatile, but, still, they were not bred for this specific region in Italy where the peasants hunted. Most pointing breeds in the Sporting ring are gallopers, not trotters. Their heads, carried on upright necks, narrow build, short croups, long thighs, and short hocks support this movement. Next to these other breeds, the Spinone stands out—he moves no less beautifully, but not in the same way as other Sporting breeds.

The Spinone’s loose, elastic, sure-footed movement is very different from the animated, head-high trot of other Sporting dogs. The connection of the Spinone to the earth is palpable in its movement, which is breathtaking to the true Spinone aficionado. The movement of a Spinone strung up on its lead with its head high, and with the lighter bone, tuck-up, and short hock of other breeds, may seem more familiar and look less out of place in the Group ring, but this is not the breed type we are striving to preserve. A softer coat might be more pleasant to touch, but it will never be found on the thick skin that is needed for the Spinone to do its job.

We are at risk of losing our way with our dear old friend, the Spinone, but we can find our way back. To protect and preserve the breed, we must remember how and why it got here in the first place. There are many crucial and distinct elements that tie this puzzle of a dog together, each of them necessary to make a whole Spinone. The Spinone is truly a masterpiece, and deserves the time and depth of study required to understand him.

The post The Spinone Italiano – Its Past Is Its Present appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

Interview with Claire Wisch Abraham – Mountain View

Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder?

Claire Wisch Abraham: I have been involved in dogs for 31 years; 25 years for German Wirehaired Pointers, four years involvement with Spinoni Italiano, and I will be breeding this year.

What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep?

Claire Wisch Abraham: My kennel name is Mountain View. I currently keep 11 dogs.

Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy winners?

My noteworthy winners are:

• GCHG NBISS BISS MBIS Collina D’Oro Solo Un Bacio, “Josie” (Top-Winning Spinone in AKC History, No. 3 Sporting Dog, 12 All-Breed BIS, Winner AKC National Championship Sporting Group 2022),
• Brazilian & US CH MNBISS BISS MBIS View & Ripsnorter Silver Charm (No. 1 GWP All-Breeds 2012, 102 All-Breed BIS, Westminster Group 1 2013, 3x National Specialty Winner, Top-Winning GWP in AKC History).

Which have been my most influential sires and dams?

My most influential dams have been:

• CH Ripsnorters Lightning Strike, “Annie” (bred by Helen George), she was my foundation,
• CH Mountain View’s Next Strike, “Mallory,” she produced “Oakley” and “Scout,” two of the Top Winners in GWPs.

Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised?

Claire Wisch Abraham: I have 75 acres in Northern Virginia. I have a small building with indoor/outdoor covered runs beside my house. It has epoxy floors in the insulated portion and tree floor runs with chain link. The space is completely roofed. In my home, I have a dog/mud room with metal crate and wash stall, and a Dutch door into my kitchen.

Puppies are whelped in a guest room of my house that is converted for the big event! It’s close to my patio for easy in and out. When the weather is pleasant, pups are outside for supervised playtime. I have birds on my property, and the puppies are exposed to birds and walking in a group in large fields before they leave.

What is my “process” for selecting Show Puppies? Performance Puppies? Field Puppies?

Claire Wisch Abraham: Puppies are evaluated as they grow; my daughter, Kelly Shupp, helps evaluate puppies. All GWP/Pointer and Spinoni Italiani pups are allowed playtime with feathers, and dead and live birds. We look for intensity and general interest in the activity.

Do I compete in Companion Events? Performance Events?

Claire Wisch Abraham: No, I do not compete in these events.

Are Field Trials or parent club Hunt Tests important to me?

Claire Wisch Abraham: Yes. German Wirehaired Pointers and Spinoni Italiani are versatile breeds that point, retrieve, and track. I also participate in the North American Versatile Hunting Dog (NAVHDA) program.

How would I define “conditioning” as it relates to my breed?

Claire Wisch Abraham: My dogs get a lot of free-time to run. I usually don’t need any additional conditioning.

Are there any health-related concerns in my breed? Any special nutritional needs?

Claire Wisch Abraham: The GWP and Spinone are definitely seeing an increase of cancers.

Do I think my breed is supported by a sufficient number of preservation breeders?

Claire Wisch Abraham: Yes, I do.

Is my breed well suited to be a family dog?

Claire Wisch Abraham: Spinoni Italiani are great family dogs. The German Wirehaired Pointer in the right situation can be great as well. The German Wirehaired Pointer is a real working breed. They need activities to keep them mentally stimulated and out of trouble.

If I could share a comment or two with judges of my breed, what would I like to say to them?

Claire Wisch Abraham: German Wirehaired Pointers should have a slightly sloping topline. They should not have a rounded croup and tailset like a Vizsla. The coat should be hard and wiry, never soft/fuzzy. Balance and type are most important.

Do I have any words of wisdom to pass along to newer breeders?

Claire Wisch Abraham: Go to your National every year! Find the best foundation bitch you can and be honest about her faults. (No dog is perfect.) Hopefully, you can find a mentor!

For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever experienced with a Sporting Dog?

Claire Wisch Abraham: Hunt Tests and Field Trials with horses and dogs are some of the best times!

Are you looking for a German Shorthaired Pointer puppy?

The best way to ensure a long and happy relationship with a purebred dog is to purchase one from a responsible breeder. Not sure where to begin finding a breeder?

Contact the National Parent Club’s Breeder Referral person, which you can find on the AKC Breeder Referral Contacts page.

Want to help rescue and re-home a German Shorthaired Pointer dog?

Did you know nearly every recognized AKC purebred has a dedicated rescue group? Find your new best friend on the AKC Rescue Network Listing.

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The post Claire Wisch Abraham | Mountain View appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

Living with Spinone Italiano 

The Spinone Italiano is often categorized as a “Versatile Field Dog.” What exactly is the definition of “versatile?” Webster’s defines it as:

• Able to do many different things;
• Having many different uses.

A more detailed definition is “Embracing a variety of subjects, fields, or skills.” This describes the Spinone perfectly, in the field as well as in the many other activities this breed participates in.

Interest in the Spinone is growing, and more and more people are considering whether this is the breed for them. As a breeder, my first wish is to place puppies in a loving and responsible home. It is icing on the cake when a new owner wants to go a step further and compete or train with their dog. But how do people know if the breed—traditionally a hunting dog—can compete in other venues that might be more appealing to the typical “pet owner”? Or what about people looking for “just a pet?” Does the Spinone fit the bill?

Two of the most common questions I am asked by people researching the breed are: “Do they get along with other dogs?” and “Do they like kids?” Yes on both counts! Owners often warn that Spinoni are like potato chips—you can’t have just one! Naturally sociable, the breed is known for gentleness with dogs of its own breed and others, and an almost magnetic attraction to children. (But remember, small children should not be left alone with a Spinone or any other breed.) Many Spinoni live happily with cats, birds, guinea pigs, and other pets. That said, it should be remembered that these are hunting dogs with a strong prey drive, so they should be introduced to such other “members” of the family at a young age, and carefully.

Owners describe their dogs as smart, sweet, loving, gentle, entertaining, athletic, comical, and adorable. They also report that they can be mischievous, are prone to counter surfing, and as natural retrievers, will pick up (and chew on) things that you might not wish them to! Crate training is advised when a pup can’t be watched. However, Spinoni are not a breed that can be relegated to a kennel—they become attached to their people and, while not exactly clingy, do like to be in close proximity to the family—like next to them on the couch or in the bed!

Compared to most Sporting breeds, Spinoni are relatively calm. But as with any large breed dog, they do require a fair amount of exercise, especially as puppies. A daily hour or two of exercise will result in a much easier dog to live with. Mental stimulation is important as well. A Spinone left to its own devices for long periods in the yard will find something to do, and that will likely involve digging. So, best to satisfy the need for exercise both physically and mentally, and then settle down on the couch to watch a little TV together.

As if having a fantastic companion isn’t enough, Spinone owners today are enjoying such activities as Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tracking, and Therapy work with their dogs, along with the more traditional venues of Hunt Tests and Trials. And many enjoy getting out in the field for a day of bird hunting. I spoke with  a number of owners who are competing in several different venues to get a feel for how well Spinoni are faring, and to see if there are any special challenges or tricks involved in training our breed for particular activities.

Hunting dogs need to be obedient, but how do Spinoni fare in competition Obedience or Rally? It is often reported that, in order to train for Obedience with a Spinone, one must have a sense of humor. While there are a number of people doing Obedience and Rally with their Spinoni, and a few who have achieved more advanced titles, the average Spinone is not going to compete at the same level as a Golden Retriever or a Border Collie. However, they are willing participants as long as the training is positive and the treats are plentiful! Harsh training methods will result in a dog that will shut down, and probably remember the experience far into the future. If treated fairly and encouraged, a Spinone can do well in Obedience.

More and more people are enjoying training and competing with their dogs in Agility, and this includes Spinoni. It’s uncertain how many people are training or competing in this sport with Spinoni, but the number is no doubt growing. The first and only (to date) Spinone to achieve his MACH (Master Agility Champion) is “Booker,” MACH Mals-About Guilty As Charged MXG MXP MJS MJP CGC. His owners told me that “turning on a dime” like some of the more traditional Agility dogs was not in the cards, but that Booker is steady and forgiving of handler errors. Booker also brings smiles to the residents of an assisted living facility, and has entered his first Rally trial—now that’s versatile!

“Sofia,” PACH4 Hopecreek Maggioranza Fisica Sofia UD BN GN GO RE MXP11 MXPC MJP11 MJPC PAX5 OFP has also excelled in Agility. Her handler suggests keeping training sessions short and fun. Having trained other Agility dogs, she says that when she got Sofia, the beauty was in not knowing what to expect from her as a breed. Since Sofia also excels in Agility, Obedience, and Rally, it’s obvious that a lot could easily be expected of her!

A number of Spinone Italiano dogs are being used in Therapy work, from working with kids in reading programs and visiting hospitals and assisted living facilities, to offering comfort after disasters such as the school shootings in Sandy Hook. Although there are many that could be mentioned, three that stand out are:

“Denali,” is a 10-year-old Spinone owned by Bob and Jane Landis. As Bob states, “Therapy dogs must be curious, willing to engage a patient sitting in a wheelchair or in a hospital bed; they must roll with the unexpected, learn to accept a pat out of nowhere from a gushing stranger in a hospital hallway as well. Therapy dogs must stay the course; settle in while you and the patient “chat dog” because there’s no one who doesn’t remember every dog they’ve ever owned. The Italian Spinone loves to be the center of attention. Denali loves to “hold court” and, if someone kneels down to his level, he’ll sit and extend one paw in what can only be described as a “Papal” blessing.”

Denali works at both the New York Methodist Hospital’s Physical Rehabilitation Unit and the Brooklyn VA’s Palliative Care Unit. At the VA hospital, depressed patients sometimes won’t talk with staff about personal matters, but will open up to a therapy dog, giving the therapist some idea what’s going on in their lives. In one case, the patient missed his puppy at home. Who knew until Denali walked in the door? It was a simple matter to arrange for a family member to bring the puppy to the hospital.

Two other standouts in the Therapy world are Chris and Lauren Sweetwood’s dogs, “Siena” (Castellana DiMorghengo MH CDX RAE THDD JHR CGCA (TDIG TWT) and “Drago” (Ch. Drago Castellano of Trollbo MH CD RE THDD JHR CGCA (TDIGOLD, TWT,) TT, 2013 AKC Award of Canine Excellence—Therapy). Both dogs are handled by Lauren Sweetwood, and both have assisted in programs at assisted living facilities, nursing homes, schools, and disaster relief situations.

Siena received the TDI Gold Award for over 500 therapy visits, and currently participates in the Tail Waggin’ Tutors Program at local schools where Chris and Lauren live. Drago spent many hours comforting victims and families after the Sandy Hook school shootings. He was the second Spinone to achieve the highest TDI title (TDIG). He also regularly visits assisted living facilities and nursing homes, and has over 1000 therapy dog visits to his credit! Clearly, Spinoni are well cut out for Therapy Dog work. With their many titles and achievements, Chris and Lauren’s Spinoni are the definition of “versatile!”

Hunting and hunt training is what the breed was used for traditionally, and many owners still pursue these activities with their Spinoni. Many Spinoni, sporting a conformation title, also have a hunting title on the other end of their name. And for many, there is no greater joy than seeing their owner get out the shotgun! Probably more Spinone owners hunt or train for hunting with their dogs than any other activity, and with good reason.

The Spinone today is as good a hunting companion as it was in the past, unlike some Sporting breeds. Many breeders emphasize that their dogs have both brains and beauty, and want to keep it this way. While Spinone make great companion dogs, they really excel in the field. Originally registered with NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) before acceptance by AKC, many are still NAVHDA registered, and many owners today participate in both NAVHDA and AKC events.

Joe Masar, who has been active in NAVHDA for over 16 years and who has owned, trained and/or handled close to thirty Spinoni reports:

“Spinoni can be a family member as well as a very valuable hunting team member. They bond in a unique way with their handlers and hunt as a team and not just for themselves. They are versatile in pointing, retrieving, and swimming. So whether it be upland, waterfowl or fur, they can do it and do it well.

They can be slow to mature compared to some, but the wait is worth it. They have stubborn streaks like questioning why they have to do it more than once: Since you threw it, you go get it!

They are very sensitive and, therefore, methods used on other breeds will ruin a Spinone when incorrectly applied. If you want a dog that hunts in this county and not two counties away, you will find them to be a perfect companion.”

Joe pretty much sums up the Spinone temperament; gentle, sweet, comical, biddable, but with a little bit of a mind of their own. This is a dog that will appeal to many, as long as the beard (which gathers water, food, and any number of other substances) is not considered an issue. Spinone households typically have several “beard towels” stashed in various places. I always tell people that if you are a “neat freak” this is not the breed for you—and I know, because I used to be one! But for me, and for many other owners, a little spittle on the walls and muddy footprints on the floor are worth it in order to share your home with  this wonderful, unique, versitile breed!

Are you looking for a Spinone Italiano puppy?

The best way to ensure a long and happy relationship with a purebred dog is to purchase one from a responsible breeder. Not sure where to begin finding a breeder? Contact the National Parent Club’s Breeder Referral person, which you can find on the AKC Breeder Referral Contacts page.

Want to help rescue and re-home a Spinone Italiano dog?

Did you know nearly every recognized AKC purebred has a dedicated rescue group? Find your new best friend on the AKC Rescue Network Listing.

Spinone Italiano Dog Breed Magazine

Showsight Magazine is the only publication to offer dedicated Digital Breed Magazines for ALL recognized AKC Breeds.

Read and learn more about the friendly Spinone Italiano dog breed with articles and information in our Spinone Italiano Dog Breed Magazine.

The post Living with Spinoni appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

Everyone has a unique and strategic world view, and this affects how each of us evaluates a dog. Some will evaluate dogs according to their show wins or losses. Others will evaluate dogs according to their own eye and how they think the dogs demonstrate (or not) the AKC standard, and might dismiss any show record as completely irrelevant. Some have seen a breed in many different countries, while others have only seen a breed in the United States, so there are always variations in “eye” and education. Some will pay special attention to judges who have made a particular study of their breed, while giving less weight to the opinions of judges who take a more generic approach.

Some fault judge or judge the dogs on a particular characteristic, while others judge the whole dog, looking at type more than faults. Each individual has a level of (or lack of) self-awareness and objectivity as they assimilate the information they have been given, by their own research or by way of a mentor, a breeder, or a particular authority on a dog breed.

We may struggle with our emotions playing too much of a role in our evaluation of our dogs and others’ dogs, but we do our best to look at the dog itself and to look at the whole dog.However we do it, we rely on these evaluations to help us make the right choices in our breeding programs for the preservation and improvement of our breed. The independent evaluation of phenotype that the show ring supports can be an important tool, which we use in addition to our knowledge of the genetic material that is expressed in our dogs’ ancestors and offspring.

We prefer to look at the Spinone Italiano as a puzzle. All of the pieces are important, and they all fit together to make the whole dog. Looking at one piece of a dog, and eliminating the dog from consideration or elevating it for only a single characteristic (barring DQs defined in the standard), is not the best way to approach this breed.

The first element of the puzzle is the general construction of the dog, and for this, we need to consider the environment that contributed to the origin of the breed. The Spinone Italiano was originally bred to hunt birds and small game in the mountains and the marshes of Italy’s Piemonte region. This steep, rough terrain requires a solid, sturdy, methodical hunter that doesn’t balk at heavy cover and has the stamina to work until there’s something for supper. The Spinone’s conformation lets it move through difficult terrain without wasting energy, at a powerful, purposeful trot, not a gallop.

Trotters and gallopers are not built the same. A sighthound is built to run great distances at high speed. You will see some of the sighthound’s characteristics in those pointing breeds bred to work in grass fields (many originated from England). Compare them with the Spinone Italiano, a dog built and bred to work in rough, uneven terrain and heavy brush or brambles. Its big feet serve a purpose!

AKC often encourages us to give judges three important points to remember, so they can judge the breed more easily. For a number of reasons, we do not believe this is a good approach for the Spinone Italiano. Divergent head plans, a two-piece topline, and a sloping croup are three hallmarks of this breed, and are essential. However, if that is all we know, we have covered only about a quarter of the dog. Coat type is also essential. The Spinone Italianohas a harsh coat and a thick skin that protects it from cold water and thorns—there is no undercoat. The coat is one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half inches long, and it is never groomed in a pattern or scissored, only hand stripping is used.

The Spinone Italiano is a wide dog. It should be almost square, with substantial bone, big feet, well-sprung ribs, and most of all, the very distinctive and telling soft expression that only a Spinone can have. The hind assembly is unique. The hock is 1/3 the height of the withers, and the angles at both front and rear are not as extreme as in many other Sporting dogs. The underline should have minimal tuck-up. Remember, the Spinone Italiano is a trotter, not a galloper.

Our AKC standard has a huge section on the head. There is, however, only one sentence about divergent head planes, which are essential to the breed. The rest of the section is devoted to all the other features of the head, including the skull shape (oval), the eye shape and set, the expression, the stop, the length and depth of the muzzle, the ear set and structure, the occiput, and more. All of these details, together, make the Spinone Italiano head. It’s easy to identify divergent planes on the fly; this characteristic is absolutely identifiable. It is essential to the Spinone and it’s important. But so is everything else the standard says about the head.

The proportions of the Spinone Italiano are vital, as they are for every breed. There are a number of essential proportions for the head. Among them, the skull is longer than it is wide, and the head’s length is 4/10 (that’s almost half) the height at the withers.

“The skull is oval with sides gently sloping from the sagittal suture in a curve to the zygomatic arch. Cheeks are lean.” It is crucial to consider all the elements of the skull shape when evaluating the Spinone Italiano. This doesn’t mean that a dog lacking a perfectly oval skull should not be a champion or a breeding dog, it just means that you know it is there and that you’ve considered it in your evaluation of this slightly complicated dog. Sometimes it is hard to understand what we mean by oval, but it becomes clear when you see it on a live dog.

Never forget to judge the whole midsection. The Spinone Italiano must have a two-piece topline as described in the standard, but the underline is equally important. Minimal tuck-up means exactly that. “The chest should be broad, deep, well-muscled and well rounded, extending at least to the elbow.” (The emphasis is mine.) Judges (and breeders and owners) should avoid picking just a single characteristic that they know about the breed, and instead take a whole-dog approach. This should include an understanding of the Spinone’s silhouette.

What about size? Our dogs do not have a size DQ. The size range for both males and females is considerable. Males can be 23.5 to 27.5 inches at the withers, and females can be 22.5 to 25.5. That is a 4-inch size range for males, and the variation can be striking in the ring. While breeders may have a preference for Spinoni at one end or the other of the standard’s range, both are acceptable. Over or under the specified height is considered a fault like every other fault, and a part of our evaluation.

We do not have enough space here to write more. However, we will leave you with these photos and labels, and we will let you decide why we picked these specific photos to show you! Thank you for your interest in the wonderful, rustic, charming, and hard-working Spinone Italiano. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Spinone Club of America’s Judges Education Committee if you have any questions: SCOAJudgesEd@gmail.com.

The post The Spinone Italiano – A Well-Made Puzzle appeared first on Showsight Magazine.