Spinone Italiano
義大利硬毛指示犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Spinone Italiano is an ancient all-round gundog of the Italian Alps and Piedmont, named for the 'pino' thorn scrub it worked through — a squarely built, wire-coated, bearded hunter built for endurance rather than speed, with soft, sweetly expressive, almost human eyes. Spinoni are sociable, patient and docile: gentle family companions that are, one breeder tells the AKC, 'very soft, very stubborn and very smart' — a dog that asks 'why?' rather than 'how high?', shuts down if training is harsh, and hunts where it wants. They are 'low octane' for a sporting breed, need a fenced garden and playtime more than daily hikes, must live indoors as part of the family, and come with a beard that needs a rag at the ready.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 56–69cm |
| Weight | 26–32kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–12years |
| Breed group | AKC: sporting FCI: 7 |
| Role | Sporting |
| Coat | Wire coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 45–150min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 4/ 5 |
| Trainability | 4/ 5 |
| Barking | 2/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 4/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 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.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Cerebellar ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia, a fatal inherited neurological condition of young puppies, is reported in the breed; a DNA test is on the Royal Kennel Club's Good Practice list — imported dogs must be tested — and among the parent club's recommended screenings. Ask your breeder whether the parents were tested.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is among the conditions the parent club's health page lists in the breed, with thyroid blood tests among its recommended screenings. Ask your vet about thyroid testing if you notice weight gain, lethargy or coat changes.
Heart conditions
The parent club lists dilated cardiomyopathy and heart murmurs among conditions seen in the breed and recommends heart testing by auscultation or echocardiogram. Ask your vet about heart checks at routine visits.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)
Deep-chested dogs of this breed are at risk of bloat, a life-threatening emergency. Ask your vet about the warning signs and prevention options.
Behaviour
Soft, stubborn, smart — training is 'barter'
The AKC quotes an experienced breeder: Spinoni are very soft, very stubborn and very smart, and training is mostly about barter — where other breeds ask 'how high?' a Spinone asks 'why?', can learn the basics and even competitive obedience but may say 'not today, maybe later', and will shut down if training is too hard or harsh; when hunting they hunt where they want and teach hunters to trust their dogs. Its trait chart scores affection 5/5 and barking 2/5. The CKC says the Spinone's gentle disposition and docile temperament make it an excellent family companion.
'Low octane' — but a house dog, never a kennel dog
The AKC calls Spinoni 'low octane' compared with other sporting breeds: a hike or walk is always a good idea but not a daily must, and a large, securely fenced garden plus plenty of playtime keeps one happy — along with being part of the family, which matters as much as exercise, because Spinoni are not kennel dogs and must live indoors with their people; the coat is hand-stripped, not scissored, and the ears cleaned weekly. The CKC calls it an excellent swimmer and model retriever with great strength and stamina, best suited to country living with a fair amount of outdoor exercise; the Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at more than 2 hours a day.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 3/5 (moderate) 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 4/5, 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 — Spinone 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
Canadian Kennel Club — Spinone Italiano (Sporting Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Italian Spinone
Breed characteristics (size large, exercise more than 2 hours per day, lifespan over 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Italian Spinone (standard no. 165, 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 parent club's 'About Spinoni' page says Spinoni are sweet but often require your undivided attention, making their opinions known with a quiet grumble, a piercing stare or 'the Spinone paw'; bred to search, point, track and retrieve on land and water with endurance, calmness and a cooperative style, they excel as family companions but are not the breed for everyone — and can quickly become an addictive habit. It says living with one means a beard rag at the ready, that the coat needs minimal bathing, combing and hand-stripping but does shed, and that the breed is generally healthy, living 10 to 12 years, with breeders tracking hip, elbow and eye evaluations. The club's health page lists CHIC hips, elbows and eyes as the minimum, plus cerebellar ataxia, heart, thyroid and von Willebrand tests and patella and shoulder X-rays at 12 months.”
— Spinone Club of America — About Spinoni via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Spinone Italiano — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Spinone Italiano — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Italian Spinone — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Italian Spinone — FCI standard no. 165 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]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)
- [7]About Spinoni — Spinone Club of America — Spinone Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Health — Spinone Club of America — Spinone Club of America (public breed information) (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.