Bracco Italiano Dog Breed Introduction
Bracco Italiano is a pointing dog breed derived from Italy. It is also known as the Italian Pointing Dog and Italian Pointer. These dogs are among the oldest pointer breeds and are great retrievers due to their soft mouth. Bracco Italianos can retrieve and carry birds with their mouths without hurting them. Their adaptability level is high hence they can adjust to any setting including weather. Bracco Italianos are easily trainable dogs, making training easy and fun for the dog and the owner/handler.
They have high hunting instincts and are known to be slow and planned hunters. A Bracco Italiano is great with kids and can live in homes with other pets. They are known to be busy during the day and cuddling and bonding with their owners during the night. It has a slim nose, long droopy ears, and floppy jowls. They are moderate-to-high energy level breeds that need enough exercise every day for mental stimulation. Bracco Italianos first arrived in the U.S. in the 1990s.
History
They derived from Northern Italy and were the first dog breeds registered by the Kennel Club Italiano, established in 1882. A breed standard was approved in 1949 by the Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italian, and a breed society called the Società Amatori Bracco Italiano was established later the same year. Bracco Italianos were completely accepted in 1956 by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.
In 41 years, 24,613 Bracco Italianos were registered from 1970 to 2011. Additionally, Italy had roughly 700 new registrations yearly from 2010 to 2018. Every year, there were a majority of Bracco Italianos that had white-and-orange colored coats. These dog breeds arrived in the U.S. for the first time around 1994 and in the U.K. in the late 1980s. They were later received into the AKC Foundation Stock Service in 2001. The first national Assembly was conducted in 2005 and, the Bracco Italiano Club of America was established in 2007.
Lifespan
An Italian Pointer can live between 9 to 14 years.
Grooming
Check your dog’s ears frequently for any infections, pests, debris, and parasites at least once a week. Clean your Bracco Italiano’s ears using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls or dog wipes to remove any accumulated wax and trapped moisture that might cause infection. Also, remember to clean the ends of your dog’s ears since they often drag in water and food bowls due to their long nature. Brush their coat once every week using a boar-bristle brush to get rid of dead and loose hair and brush them at least twice a week using de-shedding or hound gloves during shedding
Ensure that you brush your Bracco Italiano’s teeth frequently, at least 3 times every week to keep their teeth clean and protect them from having dental issues that may cause other health problems. Brushing your dog’s teeth using a suitable canine toothbrush and toothpaste helps to remove plaque and tartar and keep your dog smelling fresh. Clip your dog’s nails once a month using nail grinders and whenever needed to prevent them from overgrowing. Overgrown nails may begin to curl and enter your dog’s paws resulting in pain.
Bath your Bracco Italiano at least once or twice every three months using a suitable shampoo and conditioner for your dog. Rinse off the shampoo and conditioner properly to protect your dog from skin irritation. Bathing your dog frequently may rip off their natural oils causing them to have dry skin which can eventually lead to skin problems. Dry your dog properly after bath and whenever they get into water or rained on to prevent them from fungal or bacterial infections and hot spots that are quite difficult to handle.
Shedding
Bracco Italianos are low shedders hence there will not be a lot of fallen hair on the floor, seats, and all over the house.
Coat
They possess a smooth short coat that doesn’t need a lot of maintenance.
Hypoallergenic
Bracco Italianos are not hypoallergenic dogs hence are not recommended for people with allergies. They tend to drool a lot and hence need to be wiped frequently using a towel. This dog may not be suitable for people who cannot handle their drooling. Bracco Italianos are also known to produce less dander, however, their drool, dander, musky odor, and urine, are the main triggers of allergic reactions in people.
Training
These dog breeds require a patient, calm, tender, and strict trainer. Bracco Italianos are always eager to please and are excited to see that they’ve made their owners/trainers happy, but, can be a little independent. These dog breeds are recommendable to homes that will put their hunting abilities to use and give them work to do. However, instead of hunting, an Italian Pointer owner can train his/her dog in sports like rally, obedience, and agility.
Positive reinforcement training methods work best for Bracco Italianos. While teaching them simple commands like come, lay, off, down, and sit, you can use treats, rewards, or praise every time your dog gets a command right. Training sessions for your dog should be around 5 – 15 minutes to keep your dog interested. This helps them to get the commands faster and to enjoy the training.
Socializing your Italian Pointer at an early age is also crucial especially if they are going to live in homes with kids and other pets. Expose them to different sights, people, sounds, and pets during their developing weeks to help them grow into well-rounded dogs. Start potty training your dog outside when they are still young since it is much easier than when they are older. Take your dog outside frequently to potty until they can go on their own. Housebreak your Bracco Italiano by crate training and coming up with a feeding schedule.
Bracco Italiano Temperament
– Affectionate.
– Protective.
– Playful.
– Highly adaptable.
– Trainable.
– Energetic.
– Friendly.
– Intelligent.
– Docile.
– Reliable.
– Sensitive.
Exercise
These are moderate to high-energy dog breeds hence they need adequate exercise every day for mental stimulation. Ensure your Italian Pointer gets to exercise at least 30 minutes through scheduled exercises like daily jogs or running free in a safe fenced space. Bracco Italianos also need to spend time with their family every day playing or doing organized training.
Barking
They have a low barking level but are known to bark when they see a stranger since they take time before warming up to new people. Italian Pointers can also bark while chasing wildlife.
Apart from Bracco Italianos, other dog breeds include:
Bracco Italiano Size
Italian Pointers weigh between 54 to 90 lbs ( Approx. 24 – 41 kg ) and are 20 to 27 in ( Approx. 51 cm – 69 cm ) tall.
Height
Italian Pointers have a height of 20 to 27 in ( Approx. 51 cm – 69 cm ).
Weight
This dog breed weighs between 54 to 90 lbs ( Approx. 24 – 41 kg ).
Health Problems
They are mostly known as healthy dog breeds, but, are likely to have a few hereditary health issues. Bracco Italianos are susceptible to health conditions like:
– Eye anomalies.
– Kidney issues.
– Elbow and hip dysplasia.
– Entropion.
– Back Pain.
– Hernia.
– Allergies.
– Bloat.
– Infections.
– Obesity.
– Dental issues.
Bracco Italiano Puppies
An Italian Pointer can litter 5 – 8 puppies at a go.
Names
An Italian Pointer can also be given other names like:
– Biscotti.
– Caesar.
– Sorriso.
– Milan.
– Mercede.
– Vita.
– Luna.
– Bella.
– Mira.
– Oria.
– Giada.
– Galileo.
– Michelangelo.
Food
This dog breed requires high-quality dog food that is either homemade or commercially manufactured. Ensure that any diet you feed your dog is suitable for their age whether it’s a puppy, senior, or adult. Be on the lookout for your dog’s weight level and calorie consumption since some of these dogs are prone to get overweight. Treats are a crucial part of training but can also cause obesity when given in large quantities or frequently.
Before attempting to give your dog any human food, first distinguish human foods that are good for your dog from those that are not. Check your dog’s ribs using your fingertips to know whether they are obese, if you can’t feel their ribs your dog is most likely to be overweight. The amount of food your dog eats will depend on their weight, age, activity level, metabolism, and number of meals per day.
Feed your dog fresh and high-protein diets mostly with offal, meat, and bones. Ensure that your dog feeds on a balanced diet that consists of healthy fats, minerals, high-quality protein, and fiber from berries and vegetables. Feed your dog 2 to 3 cups every day divided into two meals. Ensure your dog has clean water every day to stay hydrated.
Bracco Italiano Colors
An Italian Pointer can have a white colored coat, orange and white, white and chestnut, or white and amber with roan markings. The only recognized colors as breed standard colors by the American Kennel Club are white and orange, white, and white and chestnut. Bracco Italianos with white and amber colored coats are considered as a fault
Chestnut
Some chestnut Bracco Italianos mostly possess a chestnut color with a little white that almost looks like chocolate. Some have a prominent white and the two colors seem to be balanced.
Hunting
These dog breeds tend to have natural hunting instincts, however, they can be slow to mature sometimes being a little stubborn and a little soft. Bracco Italianos require an experienced dog trainer and owner. They can be good, particularly for an older hunter who has trained and hunted other gun dogs and is looking for a dog that will instinctively hunt hard. Italian Pointers are good hunting dogs with lots of resistance and well-concentrated intensity.
Pointing
Bracco Italianos are popularly known as pointing dogs because of their hunch to point by halting and directing their muzzles toward the game. This ability shows the hunter where their quarry is located and permits them to move into gun range. They are also called Italian Pointing Dogs.
Bracco Italiano Cost
A Bracco Italiano puppy costs around $2,000 to $2,800 depending on the breeder.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Bracco Italiano Good Pets
Bracco Italianos are good family dogs that are affectionate with their family and are good with children and other dogs.
Is Bracco Italiano Rare
These dogs are mostly well-known in Italy where they originated from, however, they are quite rare in the U.S.
Does Bracco Italiano Smell
Bracco Italianos are known to produce a musky odor, however, some do not have this odor.
What Are The Cons Of Bracco Italiano
They are more likely to have ear infections because of their long floppy ears that might trap moisture which will not dry easily. This trapped moisture will create a good environment for bacteria to thrive causing an infection.
Bracco Italiano Quick Facts
- They are purebred dogs that have a strong hunting instinct.
- Bracco Italianos have long droopy ears that are prone to infection.
- Aside from hunting, a Bracco Italiano can also learn dog sports like obedience, agility, and rally. They can also take part in dog shows.
- Tim McGraw, a renowned American country singer, record producer, songwriter, and actor has a Bracco Italiano dog named Lepshi. McGraw disclosed on May 9, 2023, through Instagram that Lepshi attained the “Best of Breed” award at the reputable Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.