Large
13 Years
40 Kg
Gun Dogs
Affectionate, Energetic, Loyal, Stubborn
The Bracco Italiano or Italian Pointer is a large breed belonging to the Gundog group. It typically weighs around 25-40 kg and stands between 55-67 cm with males on the taller side. The Bracco, as it is simply called, is an athletic breed that closely resembles a Bloodhound and a German Shorthaired Pointer in appearance. It has the typical head with pendulous upper lips and long ears of the Bloodhound and the physique of the German Shorthaired Pointer. It also resembles the physique of the Spinone but with a much shorter coat. The Bracco Italiano’s body length is almost the same as its height at the withers. It has a very distinctive sculpted head with a deep muzzle and chiselling below the eyes. The fairly large and oval eyes project a soft expression, not protruding or too deep and are dark ochre or brown. The leathery ears extend to the tip of the nose when pulled forward. The coat of the Bracco is short, dense and glossy with shorter, finer hairs on the head, ears, front of the legs and feet. The coat comes in white with markings of orange, amber or chestnut (Bianco-Arancio) and roan with solid markings (Roano-Marrone).
All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Bracco Italiano is a native of Italy and is one of two indigenous Italian Gundog breeds, the other one being the Spinone. It was originally used to hunt, point and retrieve game. Although it is still being utilized as a hunting dog in some parts of Europe, the Bracco Italiano is more often seen today as a companion and show dog. The Bracco Italiano is an ancient breed and is considered one of the oldest Pointer breed, if not the oldest. Paintings and writings from the 4th to 5th century B.C. depicts Bracco-type dogs and are considered the predecessor of many of today’s European pointing breeds. Paintings from the 14th century depict dogs similar to the modern-day Braco. These dogs were originally used as net dogs to point partridges and francolins which are then captured in nets.
The Bracco is believed to be a product of a cross between the Seguglio Italiano or Egyptian sight hounds brought to Italy and the Asiatic Mastiff or Molossus. The Bracco was popular during the Renaissance when hunting was a popular sport of the nobility and was often given as a gift to high-ranking government officials. It went nearly extinct from the late 19th century to the early part of the 20th century when interest in hunting dwindled. It was primary saved by breed fanciers, including Ferdinando Delor de Ferrabouc, an Italian breeder in cooperation with the Societa Amitori Bracco Italiano). The official breed standard was drawn up in 1949.
The Bracco thrives on human companionship and is a family-oriented breed, making it a wonderful family companion. It is generally not an aggressive breed but it will alert the owner of strangers by barking. This breed is a natural hunter and is very good at it. It is generally calm and gentle at home but fairly active outdoors. Its patience enables the Bracco Italiano to get along well with children, even younger ones. When working, the Bracco will typically start with a slow trot with long strides (although it is capable of fast gallops). Upon locating a quarry, it will reduce its speed gradually, coming to a near crawl when it nears the target and ending in a stationary “point” towards the game.
The Bracco loves to please and is relatively easy to train. It must be taught not to chase small animals at an early age if it is to be kept as a pet. Obedience training is a must as well as socialisation at an early age. Training must be gentle and consistent. The Bracco Italiano is an active breed and requires a lot of mental stimulation to keep it happy. Training the dog to play hide-and-seek (using an object or with a person) which is similar to the breed’s original purpose will keep it extremely happy and healthy.
The long droopy ears of the Bracco Italiano is one of the main concerns when grooming this dog. Long-eared dogs tend to develop ear infections primarily from sniffing the ground. Inspect and clean the ears regularly, making sure it is always dry to prevent the onset of bacterial infections. The short coat is very easy to maintain. Weekly scrubbing with a grooming mitt or a rubber brush will keep the coat shiny and the skin healthy because brushing promotes proper blood circulation. Bathe only when necessary.
There are no definitive health studies done yet to assess the overall robustness of the Bracco Italiano, although there have been some health issues on individual lines but this still doesn’t represent the overall health assessment of the breed. Some of the most noticeable health issues observed in some dogs are entropion and ectropion, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, panosteitis, umbilical hernias, yeast infections, and a sensitivity to a certain anaesthetic drug.
As a breed that was originally developed to be a pointer or retriever, the Bracco Italiano loves an active lifestyle. A good-sized yard with a fence is an ideal playing ground for this dog. It is a highly adaptable breed and can live in any home setting – even in an apartment, provided that it is given daily mental and physical stimulation. A good half-hour walk daily will be adequate for the Bracco, although it will gladly accept a bit more.
The natural enthusiasm of the Bracco Italiano to always be with his family makes it a wonderful dog not only for the children but for the whole family as well. In fact, many Bracci have strong love for children and love playing with them enthusiastically. It gets along quite well with other dogs and pets (even cats) especially if it is raised with them.
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