Spinone an ancient Italian
One of the rarer breeds of dogs in Australia is the curiously named Italian Spinone (pronounce sp-no-nay in the singular, and spi-no-nee in the plural). In Italy they are known as Spinone Italiano, but throughout the world are commonly referred to simply as Spinone.
A dog of this type has appeared in art in Italy since the Middle Ages - the most renowned being the Fresco on the entrance wall of Camera degli Sposi in the Castle at Mantua, Italy, painted around 1469 by Andreas Mantegne.
By the early 1800's Spinone were common in the northern areas Italy where they were developed to suit the game and the terrain and renown for stamina, endurance and the ability to retrieve game from thick bushes and water.
Spinone are large, rugged dogs of striking appearance. They have a distinctive head, with hanging ears and the first thing you will probably notice about a Spinone is the gentle, meltingly soft eyes. In build Spinone are large, substantial, strong- boned dogs with everything about them indicating great strength as well as stamina.
They are a versatile breed and are suited for hunting in all climates and on all terrain. The harsh white coat and thick skin protects them in the field and in cold water. They are excellent swimmers and retrievers. However their gentle docile temperament makes them an excellent family companion as well.
Spinone require
just a small amount of stripping (pulling) dead hair as opposed to cutting,
to neaten the coat. Other than that, just a weekly brushing will suffice. They
are a quiet breed and are not inclined to be barkers, however they are capable
of jumping very high and require good fencing.