ICCF Official Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The term Bracco refers to an ancient group of European pointing dogs that developed as versatile hunting companions capable of working at long distances, performing a steady point, and retrieving game. The breed’s origins trace back to the Middle Ages, when various bracco-type dogs were bred at European courts to hunt feathered game and hare. The ancestors of the modern Bracco were heavy hunting dogs from southern France, Germany, and Italy, known for their strong bodies, stable temperament, and soft, controlled working style. Selective breeding refined the type further, aiming to produce a dog equally skilled in pointing, searching, and retrieving. The Bracco has preserved the hallmark traits of classical pointing dogs—high trainability, patience, reliable cooperation with the hunter, and natural confidence in the field and forest.
General Appearance
The Bracco is a medium-large, well-balanced dog of strong yet harmonious build, with well-developed musculature and the characteristic elegance of a pointing breed. The body is slightly elongated; the chest deep; the ribs long; the back straight and firm. The head is large, noble, with a broad skull, soft contours, and expressive features. The ears are long, thin, and set low. The skin is elastic and firm, without excessive folds. Movement is free, wide, and well-extended, reflecting endurance and lightness typical of the breed. Overall, the Bracco should give the impression of a dog capable of prolonged, intensive work over varied terrain while maintaining balance, obedience, and confidence. Structural balance is a key component of the breed type.
Important Proportions
The height at the withers is slightly less than the body length, contributing to stability and smooth movement. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows or slightly below, providing adequate lung capacity. The head is proportional to the body: the muzzle length is approximately equal to the skull length, producing the balanced profile expected in pointing breeds. The tail is long, carried horizontally or slightly above, but never over the back. Limbs are long, dry, and parallel, with well-defined angulation that ensures a wide stride and energetic drive. Musculature should be well developed without heaviness. Dogs that are overly heavy or short-legged lose functional efficiency. Proportions must emphasize the universal working type—mobile, energetic, and enduring.
Behavior and Temperament
The Bracco is characterized by a calm, balanced, friendly temperament and high natural trainability. It is a dog strongly oriented toward cooperation with humans, possessing notable patience and steadiness. In work, the Bracco is confident, persistent, scent-focused, capable of a clear and stable point, and demonstrates a dependent yet initiative-driven hunting style. The breed is not prone to aggression or nervousness and typically has a soft, stable disposition, making it easy to handle and compatible with family life. The Bracco requires regular physical and mental stimulation due to its combination of activity, intelligence, and strong desire to work. Excessive shyness or excitability, as well as low work motivation, are considered faults. Temperament must reflect the breed's working nature—calmness, confidence, and resilience.
Head
The Bracco’s head is large, noble, with smooth, flowing lines and a clearly defined breed type. The skull is moderately wide and slightly convex, blending harmoniously into the muzzle. The brow ridges are noticeable but not coarse. The median furrow is visible but not overly deep. The stop is gently defined, creating a harmonious pointing-dog profile. The skin on the head is elastic and close-fitting, forming slight folds only when the dog is alert. The ears are long, thin, low-set, enhancing the nobility of the head. The jaws are strong; the bite is scissor; the teeth well aligned and well developed. The head should convey harmony, gentleness, and natural working expression. Faults include a narrow skull, coarse muzzle, excessive skin folds, or lack of breed expression.
Foreface
The foreface is elongated and straight, with a well-formed but not coarse muzzle. The nasal bridge is straight or slightly convex, without abrupt angles. The nose is large, well developed, and its color corresponds to the coat, though darker tones are preferred. The lips are moderately developed, slightly pendulous, but without excessive folds; the upper lip slightly overlaps the lower, forming a soft mouthline. The jaws are strong and well filled, ensuring a firm grip. The chin is moderately developed without sharpness. The foreface should give an impression of precision, strength, and functionality while maintaining the softness and proportionality typical of pointing breeds. Excessive dryness, weak lips, over-massiveness, or narrowness are considered faults.
Eyes
The eyes are oval, of medium size, set slightly obliquely, giving a soft, attentive expression. Eye color ranges from amber to dark brown, matching the coat; darker shades are preferred for enhanced expression. The expression is intelligent, calm, and working-focused, demonstrating composure and confidence. Eyelids fit closely without looseness or drooping. Round, protruding, or overly light eyes are faults. The eyes must express the breed’s character: friendliness, attentiveness, steadiness, and natural orientation toward cooperation with humans. Harsh or aggressive expressions are undesirable.
Ears
The ears are long, thin, soft, and set low—at eye level or slightly below. They hang close to the cheeks in smooth folds, often curling inward at the tips. Their length usually reaches the middle of the muzzle or slightly below, enhancing the noble head expression. The ears should not be heavy or thick; delicacy and elasticity are characteristic. High-set, short, stiff, or coarse ears are undesirable. Ear shape plays an important role in creating the breed’s typical expression—attentive, calm, friendly, with the subtle contemplative quality characteristic of scent-driven working dogs.
Neck
The neck is moderately long, dry, strong, yet elegant, blending smoothly from the head into the shoulders. The topline of the neck is slightly arched, giving nobility and a working appearance. Musculature is well developed but not coarse, allowing free head movement during scenting and pointing. The skin is elastic and may form a slight dewlap, but excessive folds are undesirable. The neck must combine strength and flexibility—qualities essential for a pointing dog working in fields, uneven terrain, and water. A short, thick, or weak neck disrupts balance and reduces functionality.
Body
The body of the Bracco is harmonious, strong, and slightly elongated, reflecting its working purpose. The topline is straight and stable; the back is strong and long without softness. The loin is short, muscular, blending smoothly into the croup. The croup is wide, slightly sloping, providing strong rear drive. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows, with long, well-arched ribs providing ample respiratory capacity. The belly is moderately tucked up. The body should convey endurance and stability suitable for prolonged work without loss of pace. Faults include narrow chest, weak back, barrel-shaped ribs, excessive heaviness, or looseness.
Tail
The tail is long, thick at the base, gradually tapering toward the tip. At rest it hangs down forming a slight arc. In motion it is carried level with the back or slightly above, remaining straight without curling. The tail’s carriage must underline the dog’s activity and working style without excessive height or tension. The coat on the tail is short and dense. Faults include overly short tail, kinked tail, high tail set, or overly restless tail movement. A correct tail balances the silhouette, supports stability in motion, and completes the typical profile of a pointing dog.
Forequarters
The forequarters are straight, parallel, strong, with well-developed bones but without heaviness. The shoulder blades are long, well laid back and tightly fitted, forming proper angles with the upper arm to allow a wide forward reach. The shoulders are muscular but not heavy. Elbows are directed backward, not turned out or in. Forearms are long, dry, vertical; pasterns are strong and slightly sloping. Feet are round, strong, with tight toes and thick pads. Faults include turned elbows, weak pasterns, insufficient bone, pigeon-toed stance, or flat feet.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are powerful, with well-developed musculature providing strong propulsion. Thighs are long, wide, muscular. Lower thighs are similarly long, forming proper angulation with the stifles. Hock joints are strong, low-set, moving strictly in a single plane. Metatarsi are short, vertical, stable. Hind feet are strong, oval, with thick pads. Faults include straight or overly angled hind limbs, weak joints, cow hocks, bow-legged stance, or narrow hindquarters.
Gait and Movement
The Bracco’s gait is free, wide, and elastic, with pronounced extension that reflects its purpose as a working pointing dog. The dog demonstrates a long stride, strong rear drive, and confident forward reach. The topline remains stable without sway or dip. At the trot the Bracco moves smoothly, evenly, and directly, maintaining a steady rhythm and conserving energy. Movement must show lightness, endurance, and capability for prolonged work in fields, uneven terrain, or water. Faults include short stride, stiffness, weak drive, crossing over, instability, or incorrect limb alignment.
Coat
The coat is short, dense, and close-fitting, with an even texture. It should be firm enough to provide protection from wind, moisture, and vegetation, but never coarse. Undercoat is moderate and climate-dependent. On the head and ears the coat is thinner and softer. Faults include long, wavy, overly soft hair, absence of undercoat, or uneven coat texture. The coat must emphasize the dog’s dry, functional appearance without obscuring outline.
Permitted Colors
The standard permits several typical pointing-dog colors: solid shades of fawn (light to dark), brown, gray, and combinations of these with white markings. Spotted, flecked, and roan patterns are common among working strains, as well as orange-fawn variants. White markings are allowed on the chest, neck, legs, and tail tip but must not dominate. Faults include washed-out colors, excessively large white areas, or nonstandard colors such as merle, blue, or liver (unless part of a recognized local Bracco type). Color must be clear, clean, and enhance the breed’s silhouette.
Size
The Bracco is a medium-large dog with proportions that ensure endurance and working efficiency. Males typically stand 58–68 cm at the withers; females 55–65 cm. Minor deviations are acceptable if overall balance and breed type are preserved. Weight ranges from 25–35 kg for females and 28–40 kg for males. The emphasis is on correct proportion—height, body length, chest depth, and bone strength—not absolute size. Excessive heaviness reduces agility; insufficient substance weakens working ability. The Bracco should appear strong, dry, powerful, and agile—traits essential for its function as a pointing dog capable of long hours in the field.
Faults
Faults include any deviations reducing harmony or working capability: weak bone, shallow chest, soft or sagging back, short body, excessive heaviness, poor musculature. Head faults include narrow skull, coarse or overly dry muzzle, weak lips, lack of fill under the eyes. Movement faults include short stride, stiffness, poor propulsion, unstable topline, or crossing limbs. Coat faults include overly soft, long, wavy hair or lack of undercoat. Temperament faults include shyness, excessive excitability, unjustified aggression, or low work motivation.
Disqualifications
Disqualifying faults include serious structural defects, anatomical abnormalities, and behavioral issues. These include aggression toward the owner, extreme fearfulness, severe nervousness, making the dog unfit for work. Anatomical disqualifications include incorrect bite, missing teeth beyond permitted limits, albinism, significant limb deformities resulting in gait abnormalities. Blue eyes, heterochromia, large white patches, or nonstandard colors are disqualifying. Excessively loose eyelids, pronounced facial folds disrupting expression, or traits contradicting breed essence are also grounds for disqualification. Any signs of lost working function or absence of pointing-dog expression exclude the dog from breeding.
Important Notes
The Bracco is a universal working pointing breed, and all aspects of its evaluation must consider its functional purpose. Every element of the dog’s exterior must contribute to its ability to point, scent, retrieve, and remain effective over long hunting sessions. The breed developed across various European regions, leading to multiple local types differing slightly in size, color, and working style. Limited variation in type is acceptable as long as overall breed characteristics remain intact. Young dogs often develop unevenly; slight looseness or lack of musculature in early age should not be penalized if development is proper. Temperament is especially important: the Bracco must be balanced, human-oriented, reliable, and free from unwarranted aggression or fearfulness.
Conclusion
The Bracco is a classical European pointing dog combining endurance, strength, balanced temperament, and highly developed hunting instincts. Its harmonious conformation, expressive head, free movement, and high trainability make it a valuable hunting partner. The standard emphasizes preservation of functional qualities—pointing ability, scent work, obedience, cooperation with the hunter, and confidence in varied terrain. With proper breeding and selection, the Bracco retains its type, versatility, and natural gentleness. This is a dog capable of being a reliable working partner and companion when provided with proper training, socialization, and living conditions. The conclusion underscores the importance of maintaining the breed’s historical traits and high working potential.
