Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Italian Spinone is considered one of the oldest pointing breeds of Italy, formed naturally in the northern regions of the country, especially in Piedmont. It is believed that the ancestors of the Spinone were used by local hunters as early as the Middle Ages for bird work in difficult, rugged terrain. Depictions of dogs resembling the Spinone appear in Italian engravings of the 16th–17th centuries, where they are shown as reliable hunting assistants. The breed developed through the selection of strong, hardy, calm dogs with harsh protective coats. In the 19th–20th centuries, as hunting evolved and interest in pointing breeds grew, the Spinone gained wide recognition. Today the Spinone is valued as a working breed with a stable temperament and a rich historical heritage.
General Appearance
The Italian Spinone is a strong, powerful pointing dog with an expressive working type and a slightly elongated body format. It gives the impression of a dog with a stable balance of strength and endurance, capable of working effectively in any terrain. The skeleton is dense and well developed, the musculature dry yet powerful. The back is straight and firm, the croup slightly sloping, the chest deep and capacious. The characteristic wiry, medium-length coat protects the dog from moisture and cold. The overall silhouette emphasizes the breed’s functionality and natural adaptability. The Spinone moves smoothly and freely, demonstrating confidence and economical steps. The expression of the muzzle is gentle, attentive, and friendly.
Important Proportions
The breed has a moderately elongated format: the body length slightly exceeds the height at the withers, while maintaining harmonious lines. The chest depth is approximately half of the dog’s height. The head is long and corresponds to the overall mass of the body, and the muzzle is slightly longer than the skull. The neck is strong, of medium length, smoothly transitioning into the shoulders. The limbs are proportional to the body: the forelegs straight with a well-developed shoulder, the hind legs muscular with correct angulation. The tail is thick at the base and gradually tapers, carried on the line of the back or slightly lower. All proportions emphasize the breed’s working specialization and its ability to withstand prolonged physical exertion.
Behavior and Temperament
The Spinone is characterized by balance, a gentle temperament, and a stable psyche. The breed combines household calmness with pronounced working drive in the field. The dog is attentive, devoted, owner-oriented, highly trainable, and able to maintain concentration in difficult conditions. The Spinone is not prone to aggression or nervousness, making it a reliable companion and suitable for families. In hunting, it demonstrates determination, steadiness, and excellent scenting ability, maintaining confidence even during long work. The breed adapts well to various environments and is patient with children and other animals. The Spinone requires gentle, consistent training, to which it responds willingly and steadily.
Head
The Spinone’s head is long, dry, and expressive, forming the characteristic soft expression thanks to the developed beard and eyebrows. The skull is slightly convex, fairly broad, with a moderately defined stop. The muzzle is long, deep, almost rectangular at the end, with a large nose protruding forward; pigment corresponds to the coat color. The lips are moderately developed, close-fitting, without excessive looseness. Jaws are strong, with a scissor or level bite. The eyes are oval, medium-sized, with a warm, attentive expression; their color ranges from ochre to dark hazel. The ears are long, soft, wide at the base, set low, and lie close to the cheeks in smooth folds. All features of the head emphasize the breed type.
Facial Region
The facial region of the Spinone is elongated, deep, and well defined, emphasizing the breed’s working type. The muzzle maintains nearly the same width along its length, without tapering, showing straight lines and a slightly rounded end. The brow ridges are moderately developed, forming a soft, attentive expression. The nose is large, fleshy, well pigmented, slightly protruding beyond the lip line, with large, well-opened nostrils that ensure excellent scent perception. The lips are moderately pendulous but not loose, forming a neat outline. The jaws are strong, straight, muscular, with a scissor or level bite. The facial region harmoniously continues the line of the skull and highlights the natural functionality of the breed.
Eyes
The eyes of the Spinone express softness, attentiveness, and calmness and are an important breed characteristic. They are oval, medium-sized, deep-set but not narrow. The expression is calm and slightly pensive, highlighting the breed’s innate balance. The iris color ranges from ochre to rich hazel, harmonizing with the coat color and nose pigmentation. Eyelids are tight, without excessive looseness, fitting closely and emphasizing the purity and expressiveness of the gaze. Round, protruding, or excessively light eyes, as well as signs of irritation, are undesirable. The eyes must retain natural depth of set and form a breed-typical expression reflecting working quality and the Spinone’s good-natured temperament.
Ears
The ears of the Spinone are long, wide, soft, and have a characteristic velvety texture. They are set low—at the level of the eyes or slightly lower—lying close to the head and hanging in smooth folds without coarse creases. The ear leather is wide at the base and tapers slightly to a rounded tip. The ears are covered with moderate hair that does not form heavy or long strands. Correct ear placement creates the typical breed expression and highlights the softness of the gaze. Undesirable features include ears that are too high-set, shortened, stiff, or excessively developed. Their shape and length must harmonize with the overall morphology of the head, preserving breed style and functionality.
Neck
The Spinone’s neck is of medium length, strong, dry yet massive, smoothly transitioning into a well-defined withers and shoulder assembly. The upper neck line is slightly arched, emphasizing a noble profile. The neck must provide sufficient head mobility during search and point, and harmoniously support the skull’s mass. The skin on the neck is dense and elastic, without excessive dewlap, though slight looseness is allowed due to natural structure. Correct neck placement contributes to body balance and free movement. A neck that is too short, thick, excessively long, or weak is undesirable. The Spinone’s neck should underline the breed’s stability and functional type.
Body
The body of the Spinone is strong, somewhat elongated, with a level topline and pronounced functionality. The withers are noticeable but smooth, transitioning into a broad, firm back. The loin is short, muscular, and slightly arched, increasing stability when moving on uneven terrain. The croup is slightly sloping, broad, and of sufficient length. The ribcage is deep and voluminous, with a well-developed keel and long, curved ribs that ensure endurance and good respiratory capacity. The abdomen is moderately tucked up, without excessive lightness. The lower body line is straight and defined yet without abrupt transitions. All body components should highlight the strength, stability, and working suitability of the breed in various natural conditions.
Tail
The Spinone’s tail is thick at the base, gradually tapering toward the tip, and covered with harsh medium-length hair. In a natural position it is carried at back level or slightly lower, without excessive curvature or high carriage. Tail docking is not practiced. In motion the tail swings freely and energetically, but without excessive action, highlighting the dog’s confidence and stability. Undesirable tail traits include those that are overly thin, short, long, high-set, or curled. The tail must harmonize with the body, maintaining stability and balance when working over rough terrain. Its shape and carriage emphasize the breed’s working style and natural determination.
Exterior Description
Forequarters
The Spinone’s forequarters are strong, straight, and well-boned, harmonizing with the massive body. The shoulder blades are long, sloping, close-fitting to the ribcage, and highly mobile. The upper arm is slightly longer than the shoulder blade, with a well-developed angle that enables a free, wide stride. Elbows point strictly backward, turning neither inward nor outward. The forearms are straight, strong, and of even thickness. The pasterns are slightly sloping, resilient, and capable of enduring long work in difficult terrain. The feet are round or slightly oval, with tight pads and strong nails. Undesirable traits include weak pasterns, turned-out elbows, narrow or splayed feet. Correct front structure ensures stability and working efficiency.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are powerful, muscular, with well-defined angulation that provides thrust and stability on uneven ground. The thighs are long, broad, and covered with strong musculature. The stifles are defined, with correct angulation that allows free and economical movement. The lower thighs are long, with dry, dense musculature. The hock joints are low-set, strong, and placed strictly vertically, ensuring confident movement. The metatarsi are short, strong, without deformities or weakness. The hind feet are slightly oval, with tight pads and strong nails. Undesirable features include straight angulation, weak joints, cow hocks, or barrel hocks. The limbs should underline the power and endurance typical of a working breed.
Gait and Movement
The Spinone’s movement is free, confident, and economical, reflecting its working purpose. The stride is wide and stable, with good forward reach of the forelegs and a powerful push from the hindquarters. At the trot, the dog moves straight, maintaining a level and steady body line without rolling or excessive amplitude. The back remains straight and firm, demonstrating strength and endurance. As speed increases, movements become more energetic while maintaining coordination. Short steps, restricted or insecure trot, imbalance, or crisscrossing are undesirable. Movements must retain the functionality required for long-distance work, allowing the dog to maintain a stable pace for extended periods in various natural conditions.
Coat
The Spinone’s coat is a key breed feature: harsh, wiry, dense, and of medium length, evenly covering the body. The coat texture provides protection from moisture, cold, and vegetation, which is important for work in difficult hunting grounds. The facial hair forms characteristic eyebrows and beard, creating a soft expression. The ears and limbs are also covered with harsh hair but without excessive length. Undercoat is minimal or absent. Undesirable coat types include soft, curly, silky, or overly short hair that compromises the working type. The coat must emphasize the breed’s natural adaptability and correspond to the climatic conditions in which the Spinone developed.
Permissible Colors
The Spinone’s traditional colors include white, white-orange, white-brown, roan, or patched patterns. Various degrees of intensity and distribution of markings are permitted, provided the appearance remains harmonious. The color should highlight the breed type and not distort the overall silhouette. Heavy or moderate roaning is characteristic. Non-standard colors such as black or tricolor are unacceptable. Nose and eyelid pigmentation must correspond to the main coat color and be full and even. Color does not influence working ability but must preserve breed-typical clarity and purity.
Size
The Spinone belongs to large pointing breeds with impressive yet balanced size. Height at the withers for males generally ranges from 60–70 cm, and for females 58–65 cm. Weight ranges from 28–37 kg depending on sex and bone density. Body proportions must remain harmonious regardless of height. The dog must not appear overly heavy or overly refined. Size should emphasize the breed’s working functionality, endurance, and stamina. Deviations from standard parameters are undesirable, especially when they affect balance, movement, or the dog’s ability to perform hunting tasks in difficult terrain.
Faults
Faults include deviations that reduce the harmony of the exterior and the Spinone’s working style but do not completely impair functionality. These include insufficiently harsh coat; excessively long, soft, or wavy coat; weak skeleton; insufficient chest depth; a light body. Undesirable are light or round eyes, loose eyelids, excessive lip looseness. Structural faults include weak ligaments, turned-out elbows, weak pasterns, splayed feet, insufficient angulation. Restricted, short, or poorly coordinated movement is also considered faulty. Evaluation must consider the degree of impact on working ability.
Disqualification
Disqualifying faults include any serious deviations impairing conformation, health, or temperament. Aggression, extreme shyness, or absence of breed type are unacceptable. Soft, curly coat completely lacking harshness is a disqualifying trait. Serious bite defects such as pronounced underbite or overbite, as well as the absence of functionally important teeth, are grounds for exclusion. Complete depigmentation of the nose or eyelids, heterochromia, or excessively light irises are unacceptable. Colors not recognized by the standard, including black and tricolor, are forbidden. Any physical deformity affecting movement also results in disqualification.
Important Notes
The Spinone is a breed with a pronounced working purpose, and its evaluation must be based on functionality, stable temperament, and correct movement. Light seasonal coat changes and age differences related to muscular development should not overly reduce evaluation. Minor working marks from use that do not affect overall health are acceptable. The appearance must not become decorative: priority always lies with working ability, endurance, and adherence to the historical type. When comparing dogs, preference is given to the one demonstrating the best combination of temperament, harmonious proportions, and confident movement reflecting the breed’s nature.
Conclusion
The Italian Spinone is an ancient, valuable, and highly functional pointing breed, combining endurance, calm temperament, and the ability to work in challenging natural conditions. The standard emphasizes the importance of a harsh coat, strong skeleton, stable temperament, and coordinated movement. With proper care, training, and use, the dog fully reveals its working abilities, remaining a reliable hunting partner and a balanced family companion. The Italian Spinone preserves historical significance in European cynology and continues to demonstrate relevance as a universal working breed, consistently passing on characteristic traits and natural functional type to its offspring.
