Italian hound

The Segugio Italiano, another name for the Italian Hound, is a highly skilled and historically significant breed of dog. For centuries, people in Italy have cherished this animal companion due to its exceptional tracking skills and unwavering loyalty.

These dogs have an athletic, endurance-focused build. The Italian Hound infuses enthusiasm and love into any setting, whether it is used for field work or just relaxing at home.

The Italian Hound may be the ideal dog for you if you’re searching for a companion that combines intelligence, drive, and a warm disposition.

Breed information

Name:	Italian hound
Classification:	hounds and related breeds (198, 337)
Purpose:	hunting
Homeland:	Italy
Weight:	~18-26 kg (short-haired), ~18-28 kg (wire-haired)
Height:	wire-haired ~50-58 cm (females), ~52-60 cm (males), short-haired ~48-56 cm (females), ~52-58 cm (males)
Life:	10-12 years
Color:	black and tan
Price:	300-500$

Photo of the Italian hound

Characteristics

The versatile and active Italian Hound, also known as Segugio Italiano, is renowned for its excellent hunting abilities and amiable disposition. Tracking game such as hare and wild boar is common with this breed because of its strong, muscular build and excellent sense of smell. Italian Hounds are noted for their intelligence and close relationship with their families, which makes them devoted and loving companions in addition to their hunting prowess. Perfect for energetic owners, they flourish when given lots of physical and mental challenges.

Interesting facts and features

To help you learn more about the breed, consider the following information:

• Two breeds of Italian hound got their names based on the type of fur, although they have other differences, including height, some features of build, character.
• The population of the short-haired variety is larger – in 2009 there were 4,500 individuals, when their wire-haired counterparts were 2.5 times less.
• As hunting dogs, representatives of the breed work well both alone and in a pack.
• Italian hounds adapt well to different conditions. With this dog, you can hunt equally successfully both in the mountains and on the plain.
• Representatives of the breed are scent hounds that can follow him for hours. They are born with a wonderful sense of smell.
• Hunting for the Italian hound is its true passion, calling. Regular walks and even daily exercise cannot replace this.
• The wire-haired variety has longer hair, so dogs can be used for hunting in cooler regions.
• The breed is a hunting breed, so living together with cats is not recommended. They can be perceived as prey.
• Italian hounds have a sonorous, harmonious-sounding voice. It is pleasant to the ear.

History of origin

The Italian hound is thought to be an ancient breed, however exact origins are unknown. Some ancient Roman sculptures in Italian museums feature dogs resembling it, such as the goddess Diana, who is known for her hunting skills. Two dog skeletons discovered in a 7th-century Lombard necropolis in an Italian commune also suggest an ancient origin. They resemble contemporary hounds in appearance but are taller.

It is believed that the Italian hound’s progenitors were simple hunting hounds from ancient Egypt. They traveled to the Mediterranean coast and then, accompanied by Phoenician traders, to Italy. The theory that they originated in ancient Egypt is corroborated by the illustrations of dogs—which closely resembled Italian hounds—that were painted on household objects during the reign of different pharaohs. Genetically, the Maremma and Apennine hounds are similar to it.

The breed was introduced to England in the seventeenth century, and the aristocracy, including the royal dynasty, took to it. Subsequently, the Italian hound was the subject of intense interest only to a small number of fans. When the first breed standard, which was the same for both varieties, was created in 1920, things started to change. It received the Italian Kennel Club’s approval in 1929.

The situation took a turn for the worse during World War II. There was a serious decline in population size and a risk of extinction. The Società Italiana Pro Segugio society was founded in 1947, marking the start of the revival. There were only 69 registered dogs in that year. Gradually, the population started to increase. A total of 120 people were registered in 1948.

The two breed varieties were eventually split apart in 1976, and crossbreeding was outlawed. Two standards were approved in 1989 by the Italian National Cynological Organization (ENCI). Only in 1993 was the short-haired Italian Hound recognized as a distinct breed by the International Cynological Federation (FCI), having been recognized as a breed since 1956.

Appearance

The Italian Hound has a balanced build and medium-sized frame. Males and females of the breed differ in size, a trait known as sexual dimorphism.

Head and neck

The length of the Italian Hound’s elongated head should be 40% of its height at the withers. The back of the head has a distinct shape. From above, the skull appears elliptical rather than elongated. Less than half of the length should be the width. The skull has a slightly convex profile. The frontal groove is not expressed, and the superciliary arches are not well developed. The only way to identify the short, distinct, and slightly recessed occipital protuberance is by touch. There is not much definition to the cheekbones.

The width of the muzzle is 17% of the head’s length, and it is half its length. There is a gentle change from the forehead. The muzzle’s sides converge but do not get sharper.

The large nose of Italian hounds extends beyond the lips’ vertical front line. The nostrils are easily accessible and movable. Any color can be black for the nose. The lips are thin, with the top one appearing slightly convex when viewed from the side. Lip margins are invariably black.

The head is positioned atop a neck that resembles a shortened cone. It has no dewlap at the bottom, is extremely light, and the upper line is slightly convex. The neck makes up 40% of the height at the withers and is the same length as the head.

Eyes, ears and jaws

The eyes are almond-shaped and large. They have a distinctive sheen and are colored a dark ocher. The eyelids’ edges are invariably black. There’s a soft expression on the face.

The hanging ears are positioned either slightly below or at the level of the cheekbones. They make up roughly 70% of their head’s length, are triangular in shape, and are fairly wide. The cartilage is hard, despite the ears’ thin, flat shape.

Italian hounds have uniformly white teeth and powerful jaws. Straight bites are also acceptable, but scissor-shaped bites are preferred.

Body, paws and tail

The body of Italian hounds is square – the length of the body corresponds to the height at the withers. The topline in profile looks straight, only the lumbar region is slightly convex. The latter is three times shorter than the length of the back and less than 1/5 of the height at the withers. The loin is short and muscular, slightly less in width than in length. The withers are narrow and slightly raised. The back is straight, more muscular in the short-haired variety. If you look at the upper profile, the croup is slightly convex. It is quite wide and muscular, approximately a third of the height at the withers in length.

The dog has a thin, accidentally untucked belly. The sides should not be fleshy because they are thin. At the withers, their chest depth is roughly half their height. It is not barrel-like, but it is developed. The ribs on top are nicely curved.

The Italian hounds’ tails were positioned high on the cereal line. When at rest, his shape resembles a saber with a thick base. The dog wags its tail back and forth as it rises to the top line during movement. It is nearly as long as the hock joints.

In profile, the front limbs look parallel, very thin and lean. The height of the leg to the elbow is half a height at the withers. The dog’s shoulders are dry and long, fit well to the body. The angle of shoulder-bearing joint is 110 °, the shoulder blades are tilted at an angle of 45 ° (in a hard-stir variety of 45-55 °). The forearm is vertical, a third of growth at the withers are equal in length. The wrists are dry, the skin on them is thin. The paws have an oval shape, vaulting fingers, dry and hard pads are always black. Strong claws are curved and also black. They are occasionally white, but this is not considered a disadvantage.

The hind legs are almost 90% of the height at the withers, in the wire-haired variety 93%. Italian hounds have wide thighs that are at least a third of the height at the withers. Their lower parts are inclined relative to the horizontal by 40°, the muscles are dry. The angle of the hip joint is 90-95°, and the knee, located on the same vertical with the limb, is 110-120°. The hocks are strong and lean, from the side they look very wide, they are located low – the distance to the ground is no more than 27% of the height at the withers. The hind legs are also oval, but compared to the front legs they are more rounded. The toes are arched, the pads are dry and hard, only black.

When the dog moves, its shoulders are free, and its shoulder blades are near to one another. Although the hound prefers to gallop, it can use a lynx if needed during the hunt.

Coat and color

Italian hounds have skin that is firmly affixed to the body. It is thinner in the short-haired variety.

The wire-haired Italian hound’s coat is only five centimeters long. With the exception of the head, muzzle, ears, hind legs, and tail, the entire body is coarse. Though short, the hair beneath the lips creates a little beard. The hairs are short and do not hang over the eyes on the superciliary arches.

The hair on the body of short-haired Italian hounds is short and straight. There may be some coarse hairs strewn throughout the body, muzzle, and legs, but the majority of the hairs are dense, straight, and smooth.

Any variation of fawn is acceptable for both varieties. The muzzle, skull, neck, chest (shaped like a star), hocks, pasterns, paws, and tail tip may all have white. The mask might or might not be symmetrical. While white is acceptable, it is preferable to have very little of it.

It could be tan and black in color. In this instance, the muzzle, eyebrows, chest, legs from the wrists to the feet, and perineum all have tan marks. It is acceptable to have a white star on the chest. At that point, the hue is regarded as tricolor.

Black is required for the pads, claws, and eyelids. While not essential, a similar palate pigmentation is preferred.

The characteristics listed below are regarded as Italian hound disqualifying faults:

• The muzzle is concave.
• Most or all of the nose, eyelids, edges of the lips are unevenly colored.
• Underbite.
• The tail is short or absent, including an acquired problem.
• Predominance of white in the color.
• The coat is brown, brindle, coffee, slate or lead color.
• Aggression or excessive timidity.

Character

The Italian hound breed is well-balanced. They bond deeply with their owner and get along well with kids of all ages. Individuals belonging to the breed need human care. The dog will suffer when it is separated from its owner.

Hounds make poor guards because they are gregarious with strangers and are frequently timid. They get along well with each other and have no issues with other dogs.

Italian hounds with wire hair are more reserved by nature. They are serene, wise, and a little depressed.

The Italian hound changes during the hunt. It follows the trail without fail, chasing the prey with passion. When it finally catches it, it lets out a loud bark to let the owner know that it is happy with its catch.

Education and training

Italian hounds are relatively easy to train. This is something the owner should do because the dog grows attached to him. Problems only occur when the hound is ordered to return after following a scent that piques its interest. Making sure it always reacts to its name is essential.

Physical punishment, hostility, and rudeness are not acceptable in the training of Italian hounds. Positive reinforcement should not be overlooked.

Care

An Italian hound thrives in a country home with a sizable fenced-in yard that allows the dog to run around freely. The dog requires regular walks and exercise.

Italian hounds, in both varieties, leave quite unpretentiously. In molting, combing the wool more frequently is sufficient, once a week. Dogs are bathed as needed, but no more frequently than once every three to four months. Every week, brush and examine your teeth, ears, and eyes.

Both natural diets and prepared foods are appropriate for eating. It is advised to divide the daily food rate into at least two or three doses.

Health

The health of Italian hounds is good. No specific genetic diseases were found in the breed.

If fractional nutrition is not given in small portions, there is a chance of stomach issues and flatulence. An infection is more likely to occur as a result of hanging ears.

The choice of a puppy

Italian hound puppies are selected based on how well they conform to the breed’s aesthetic standards. By the age of the dog, all required documentation must be present. Timely completion of all vaccinations and treatments is crucial. If the dog is being taken hunting, it is important to consider the professional accomplishments of its parents. The absence of inherited illnesses and their general health are also crucial.

How much does an Italian hound puppy cost?

Puppies of Italian hounds fetch between 200 and 400 euros back home. The price is determined by the dog’s lineage and the professional accomplishments of its parents. Males are typically less expensive in a litter because females produce offspring.

Italian hounds are exceptionally resilient hunting canines with keen senses of smell. Those who are fit and will provide the breed with the required amount of daily exercise should select this breed. Since the Italian hound is a hunting dog, it should be utilized for that specific activity.

Characteristic	Description
Origin	Italy
Size	Medium, agile, and muscular
Coat	Short and smooth
Color	Varies, but often found in shades of fawn, red, or black
Temperament	Energetic, friendly, and loyal
Exercise Needs	Requires daily physical activity
Training	Quick to learn but needs consistent guidance
Lifespan	Typically 12-14 years
Good with Kids	Yes, generally good with families

Italian Hounds are devoted, playful, and loving dogs that do best in active homes. They are excellent companions for people who enjoy outdoor adventures because of their strong hunting instincts.

Although these dogs are bright and quick learners, they need to be socialized and trained consistently from an early age. They can develop into obedient, well-behaved pets with the right training.

For Italian Hounds to remain healthy and happy, they require a lot of exercise. They will provide you a lifetime of love and companionship if you can give them the time and space they require.

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