Bracco Italiano Dog Breed

Appearance

Paintings depict dogs similar in appearance to the Bracco Italiano that date back to the 4th century. But they were recognised as a distinctive breed in their native Italy back in the Middle Ages. Many experts believe that they originated as a cross between the Segugio Italiano and the Asiatic Mastiff. However, some think that the breed has Persian Mastiff, Molossus, and Egyptian Hounds in their lineage. Moreover, it is said that their white and orange colouring comes from the Piedmontese Pointer, which is a much lighter dog bred to work in mountainous regions of the country, and the white and chestnut colouring comes from the Lombard Pointer, which is a taller and heavier breed.

Bracco Italianos were bred by well-known wealthy families such as the Medicis and the Gonzagas, originally used to drive game into nets or flush out birds. They were always highly prized and were often given as gifts to foreign nobles and royals that included the Court of France. But it was during the Renaissance that the Bracco Italiano became a popular choice for a point-and-retrieve dog with the aristocracy in Italy.

During the late 19th century, the number of Bracco Italianos fell drastically until the early 20th century. But with the great efforts of Ferdinand Delour de Ferrabouc, an enthusiast and breeder, the Bracco Italiano breed was saved from vanishing completely. He created the first breed standard, but the final breed standard was only established in 1949 by the ENCI. A few months later, the Societa Amatori Bracco Italiano (SABI) was founded.

In 1988, the first Bracco Italiano called Zerbo was introduced to the United Kingdom by Jonathon and Liz Shaw. After that, they continued to import many other Bracco Italianos and have bred meticulously to safeguard their health. Today, the Bracco Italiano is still highly prized in Italy as a working gundog and in field trials.

Appearance:

The Bracco Italiano is a large, strong-looking, and muscular dog that boasts a unique angular head and long pendulous ears, similar to the Basset Hound or the Bloodhound. Their distinctive heads are narrow and long with lean cheeks and good width to the foreface. The occiput is very pronounced with a slight stop and a median line that reaches right to their mid-skull. Their straight muzzles are deep and a bit arched, which gives them a slight “Roman nose”. They are well-chiselled below the eyes and the corners of their lips are well-marked but never pendulous.

Their oval-shaped eyes have a very soft look about them, making them appear very soulful. The colouring is either dark ochre or brown, depending on coat colour. Their ears are set level to the corner of their eyes, and the leather is long, supple, and folded inwards. These dogs have strong jaws with perfect scissor bites.

The neck of the Bracco Italiano is powerful, well-rounded, and a little short, but it is wider at the shoulders. Their shoulders are strong, long, well-muscled, and well laid-back. Their withers are well-defined, with the top of their shoulder blades set well apart. Front legs are powerful, straight and show well-defined tendons.

Their almost square body has a deep, broad chest and well-sprung ribs. Their loins are somewhat arched, short, wide, and very well-muscled. Their topline slopes gradually from the withers to the middle of the back before climbing to a broad and muscular croup. These dogs have bellies that are a little tucked up, which adds to their powerful and athletic appearance.

Their muscular hindquarters are powerful, with long, well-developed thighs and robust back legs. Their feet are somewhat oval-shaped with well-arched and strong toes. Nails match their coat colour. They have single or double dewclaws, which are both acceptable as a breed standard. The tail was previously customarily docked. It is set a bit low and carried down with a slight curve.

The Bracco Italiano has a dense, short, and glossy coat. It is shorter and finer around the head, ears, and the front of the legs and feet. The pigment of their skin can be anything from pale pink to dark brown to match the coat colour.

Accepted coat colours of the breed according to the UK Kennel Club breed standard are as follows: White, White with orange markings, White with amber markings, White with chestnut markings and Roan with solid markings.

A symmetrical face mask is preferred but the absence of this is not classed as a fault.

Trainability

The Bracco Italiano’s training must start at puppyhood for them to grow up into well-balanced, well-rounded, and obedient dogs. Their training must be fair and consistent. They need to be handled with a firm yet gentle hand, so they are best suited to more experienced owners. Because they are bright and eager to please, in the right hands, the Bracco Italiano is easy to train and quick to learn. However, these active dogs are known to be sensitive by nature, so they do not respond well to any type of harsh correction or handling.

Obedience training is a must for this breed. Because without the correct guidance and education, Bracco Italianos may start to show a more dominant side. They do have a stubborn streak so repetition and positive reinforcement training are important.

They can sometimes suffer from separation anxiety so they are best suited to homes where someone is around for most of the day. They love a good snuggle with their favourite people when not playing or exercising.

Health

The Bracco Italiano’s average life expectancy is between 11-14 years with proper care and handling, as well as high-quality nutrition and sufficient exercise. They are a hardy breed but can develop certain health issues, so you need to ensure you only buy from reputable breeders. Avoid buying a puppy online or from puppy mills. A good breeder will also DNA test your pup to check for any underlying or genetic health conditions that you need to be aware of.

The Bracco Italiano may develop some of the health issues below:

Hip Dysplasia – An inherited health condition where the thighbone does not fit firmly into the dog’s hip joint. Some dog breeds display pain and limping on one or both back legs, while others do not show outward signs of discomfort. However, long term, it can lead to arthritis or other joint issues.

• Cataracts – This occurs when protein begins to clump together and form into a cloud-like substance in the lens of the eyes. It often causes vision issues but is more commonly seen in older dogs.
• Cherry Eye – A prolapsed gland of the nictitans. It happens when a tear gland in the third eyelid becomes inflamed. While it is harmless, it can be very itchy.
• Ectropion – An ocular condition that causes the eyelid to become slack and roll outwards. This condition exposes the delicate eye membranes and conjunctiva which are prone to infection.
• Elbow Dysplasia – A health condition that affects the front limbs. It occurs when the bones that consist of the elbow joint don’t come together correctly, resulting in painful movements in the front limbs.
• Glaucoma – An eye condition that occurs when there is a sudden increase in eye pressure, resulting in redness, pain, and loss of vision.
• Entropion – An eye condition where there is an abnormality in the eyelids that cause them to roll inward. This causes the hair on the surface of the eyelid to rub against the cornea, resulting in corneal ulcers, perforations, and a pigment that can interfere with vision and cause pain.
• Ear Problems – These are relatively common in Bracco Italianos because they have pendulous eyes that can trap dirt and debris easily. Keep your dog's ears clean and dry to prevent this.
• Amyloidosis – A kidney disease that occurs when abnormal protein fibrils are deposited into this organ, leading to a build-up of toxins in the blood and protein loss in the urine. Symptoms include increased thirst and urination, vomiting, weight loss, and diarrhea.