The Bracco Italiano is a breed of dog developed in Italy as a
versatile gun dog.
Description
The
Bracco - or Italian Pointer- should be athletic and powerful in appearance,
most resembling a cross between a German Shorthaired Pointer and a Bloodhound,
although it is nothing like them in character. It has pendulous upper lips and
long ears that create a serious expression. It should be "almost
square", meaning that its height at the withers should be almost the same
as the length of its body. It should not however be actually square as this
would render its famous rear driving push off and front/rear extension to be
compromised, thus losing much of its powerful grace. The tail has historically
been docked, mostly due to the strong possibility of injury in rough/dense
terrain when hunting, however there has been a sea-change in the European
Union, with some now working the breed with full tail.
Coat and colour
The
coat is short, dense, and glossy. The texture should be fairly hard, though
somewhat shorter and softer on the head, throat, ears, legs, and feet. Shedding
happens a couple of times a year, and a hound glove really helps in removing
dead coat.
The
most common colours are Bianco-Arancio - White-Orange and Roano-Marrone -
Roano-Brown, chestnut, or amber coloured patches on the face, ears, base of
tail, and body.
Black
on the coat is a fault, as are "three-color" dogs, such as
orange/white with chestnut spottings above the eyes, on the muzzle and legs,
such as the pattern of a Doberman or Rottweiler. weight is 25–40 kilograms
(55–88 lb).
Movement
The
gait, when hunting, starts out as a gallop, but slows to a long trot as the dog
comes into scent. This trot should be long and fluid, with plenty of reach and
drive (the 'almost square' body contributes to this). As a Bracco comes closer
and closer to scent, the gait slows to a creep, and settles into a
"point", with a front leg usually held up in the classic pointing dog
position. The point may be held (no movement) or the dog can "creep"
along with the bird's movement - especially convenient with birds that run,
like the pheasant. Either is acceptable in Italy. The head should be held above
the topline, which facilitates the air scenting for which this breed is known.
A well-built Bracco, with a full and developed musculature covering, is an
attractive mover and covers a lot of ground.
Temperament
Braccos
are very much a people-loving dog and thrive on human companionship, having a
strong need to be close to their people. They are a particularly good family
dog, and many have a strong love of children. They get along well with other dogs
and pets, if trained to do so - it is, afterall, a hunting breed - and must be
taught what to chase and what not to. They are very willing to please as long
as they have decided that your idea is better than theirs. Obedience training
is a must for a Bracco, and the more is asked of them, the better they do.
Harsh reprimands do not work with this breed unless the reprimand is a fair one
- and harshness must occasionally be used with some dogs to remind them who is
actually in charge. Although not an aggressive breed, many Braccos will alert
if there is a reason, and some will bark or growl if there's a good reason.
The
breed loves to hunt, and they excel at it - in fact, a non-hunting Bracco is
not a happy Bracco, and will act out in various other ways. Hunting without a
gun is an area in which the Bracco can excel and this can be a great
opportunity for training the dog to connect with the owner. They are an active
breed, but require more mental exercise than physical exercise to keep them
happy. A Bracco owner can teach games like hide-and-seek (an object or person)
which fits into the breed's original and current usage, and keeps them mentally
active.
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