Bracco Italiano
義大利布拉可犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Bracco Italiano is the oldest of the European pointers — a powerful, long-eared Italian gundog with a sculpted head and a distinctive high-stepping trot, developed in northern Italy in white-and-orange and roan-and-brown varieties. The FCI standard calls it tough, adapted to all kinds of hunting, reliable, intelligent, docile and easy to train, and the parent club describes it as gentle in the home and tireless in the field. It needs a great deal of exercise, careful joint management as a fast-growing puppy, weekly ear cleaning and — as a deep-chested breed with kidney disease in its lines — a vet who knows the breed.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 53–69cm |
| Weight | 25–41kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–14years |
| Breed group | AKC: sporting FCI: 7 |
| Role | Sporting |
| Coat | Short coat |
| Shedding | 2/ 5 |
| Exercise | 60–150min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 3/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 2/ 5 |
| Good with children | 4/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 4/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 4/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 2/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Cataracts
Hereditary cataracts are reported in the breed. Ask your vet about eye examinations if you notice cloudiness in the eyes.
Ear infections
Recurring ear infections are commonly reported, particularly in drop-eared dogs. Ask your vet how to check and clean the ears.
Cherry eye / eyelid problems
Eyelid and tear-film problems (cherry eye, entropion, dry eye) are reported in the breed. Ask your vet if the eyes look red, sore or weepy.
Renal amyloidosis (kidney disease)
Kidney disease — specifically renal amyloidosis — is reported in the breed and was the cause of death in 14.6% of dogs in the parent club's survey; the club recommends a serum creatinine and urine protein/creatinine test for breeding stock and strongly encourages annual kidney testing from one year of age for every Bracco. Ask your vet about routine blood and urine checks.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)
Gastric dilatation-volvulus caused 9.3% of deaths in the parent club's survey, and the club says prophylactic gastropexy should be considered for all Bracchi. Ask your vet about the warning signs of bloat and about prevention options.
Cancer
Cancer was the most common cause of death (26.6%) in the parent club's survey. Ask your vet about regular check-ups and about any new lumps.
Behaviour
Docile, easy to train, tireless in the field
The FCI standard describes the Bracco as tough and adapted to all types of hunting, reliable, endowed with an excellent ability to understand, docile and easy to train; the parent club calls it a versatile gundog that is gentle in the home and tireless in the field. The AKC trait chart rates it 5/5 for trainability, 4/5 for energy and compatibility with children and other dogs, and 2/5 for barking.
Protect the growing joints; clean the ears
The AKC says that to avoid orthopaedic stress on their fast-growing bodies, Bracco puppies should eat a balanced food and not run on hard surfaces or do repeated high-impact exercise until at least a year old, and that the long, pendulous ears should be checked and cleaned with a vet-recommended cleaner once or twice a week. The Royal Kennel Club puts the adult's exercise need at more than two hours a day.
Temperament
The AKC summarises the breed's temperament as "intelligent / affectionate / enthusiastic".
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "more than 2 hours per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 2/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Bracco Italiano
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Bracco Italiano
Breed characteristics (size large, exercise more than 2 hours per day, lifespan under 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Italian Pointing Dog (standard no. 202, group 7)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The Bracco Italiano Club of America asks prospective owners to research the breed thoroughly and buy only from an ethical breeder, and its health statement is unusually frank: it publishes the breed's median lifespan (11 years) and leading causes of death, urges annual kidney testing for every Bracco from one year of age, and says preventive gastropexy should be considered for all of them.”
— Bracco Italiano Club of America — Breed Info & Health Statement via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Bracco Italiano — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Bracco Italiano — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Italian Pointing Dog — FCI standard no. 202 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Bracco Italiano Club of America — Health Statement (November 2025) — Bracco Italiano Club of America (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]FCI-Standard No. 202 — Italian Pointing Dog (Bracco Italiano) — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Breed Info — Bracco Italiano Club of America — Bracco Italiano Club of America (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.