Bracco Italiano

Infobox Dogbreed
name= Bracco Italiano


image_caption=
altname= Italian Pointer
Italian Pointing Dog
nickname= Bracco
country= Italy
fcigroup= 7
fcisection= 1
fcinum= 202
fcistd= http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:fqs18-xMeb8J:www.fci.be/uploaded_files/202gb98_en.doc+&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=1
akcgroup= FSS
kcukgroup= Gundogs
kcukstd= http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/discoverdogs/gundog/g7951.htm
ukcgroup = Gun dogs
ukcstd = ?
akcfss= yes
note= The UKC does not have its own official standard, it currently uses the FCI standard.|

The Bracco Italiano is a breed of dog developed in Italy as a versatile gun dog. It is common in its native country, but rare elsewhere.

Description

Appearance

The Bracco should be athletic and powerful in appearance. It has pendulous upper lips that create a serious expression. It should be "square", meaning that its height at the withers should be the same as the length of its body.

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. The most common colour is white with orange, chestnut, or amber coloured patches on the face, ears, base of tail, and body. Black on the coat is a fault.

Movement

The gait should be long and fluid, with plenty of reach and drive. The head should be held above the topline. A well built Bracco is an attractive mover and covers a lot of ground.

Temperament

The Bracco is very much a people loving dog. They thrive on human companionship and have a need to be close to their people. The breed bonds closely with its family. The closer to its owner a Bracco is, the more content it is. It is affectionate and loyal. Bracchi love to play. They get along well with other dogs and pets. They are very willing to please. The Bracco is highly trainable, but can be stubborn. Harsh reprimands do not work with this breed. The breed loves to hunt, and they excel at it. The Bracco knows when it has a job to do and takes it seriously. They are an active breed and need sufficient exercise to keep them happy. As puppies they may chew, but do not get neurotic as some other high energy breeds are prone to do.

History

The Bracco Italiano originated in Italy, and there are writings concerning the breed that date back to the 4th and 5th centuries BC. It is believed to be a cross between a Segugio Italiano (a coursing hound) and the Asiatic Mastiff. There are two variations of the breed. The first originated in Piedmont, and was for that reason known as the Piedmontese Pointer. The other originated in Lombardy, and was known as the Lombard Pointer. The bracco from Piedmont is lighter in color and in build, probably due to the mountainous terrain there. The Lombard Pointer is dark in color and thicker in body. It was well established by the Middle Ages. The Bracco thrived during the Renaissance and was bred by both the Medici and Gonzaga families. They were sought out by the aristocracy and used to hunt feathered game. At the end of the 1800s and the early 1900s the breed nearly became extinct. It was saved primarily by the efforts of the Italian breeder Ferdinando Delor de Ferrabouc. The Italian standard for the breed was released in 1949. It came to England in 1988. It is practically unheard of by most in the United States. Though it has a small, but staunch, group of supporters there.

External links

* [http://www.enci.it/en/breeds/description.php?id=202 Italian Pointer] breed description at the Italian federation (ENCI)
* [http://www.braccoitaliano.org/ North American Bracco Italiano Club]
* [http://www.bracco-italiano.co.uk/ Bracco Italiano Society (UK)]