The Spinone Italiano originated in Italy and was bred to be a hunters right hand man and either retrieve, point out, or hunt down game. It is thought that this breed is a mixture of the German Wirehaired Pointer, Russian Setter or Spanish Pointer (two of which are now extinct) but this is uncertain. These dogs were given their name from the shrub they would find their prey in which was called the “pino”.

This breed has a large resemblance to the German Wirehaired Pointer in the way that both their bodies are lean and muscular and both have long, powerful muzzles. The Spinone Italiano has large floppy ears, and big circular eyes which gives them their sweet expression. They have strong, straight legs giving them their lengthy stride when on the hunt and a thick wiry coat that will protect them from rough terrain and cold weather. Naturally the Spinone’s tail would be long but for show purposes will be docked.

The Spinone Italiano is a sweet, caring breed that is laid back and well-behaved. They are extremely affectionate and adore children, making them great for family pets as well as excellent working companions. This breed has a very high motivation to please their owners and will go the extra mile to do so. Hunting and retrieving are their specialty but if trained correctly in a gentle manner, can be taught many other different ways to help out their master on a hunt!

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

Males: 23-28 inches high
Females: 22-26 inches high

Weight

Males: 75-86 lbs
Females: 61-75 lbs

Color(s)

The Spinone Italiano will come in a brown & white, speckled brown, white, orange, speckled orange and brown with white markings. These dogs will have a large variety of coat patterns, markings, and patches but as long as their colours are within these standards, they will be accepted into show rings.

Coat

These dogs have a wiry coat that is very similar to the German Wirehaired Pointer but the Spinone will only have one layer of fur. To the touch, their coat will be dense yet hard giving them much protection from shrubs and other low to the ground plants that could potentially scratch or scrape them when on a hunt.

Life Expectancy

About 8-12 years.

Personality

The Spinone Italiano is a versatile, low-key dog that will be great for people that like to relax and lay back with their pet or for people that like to be outdoors on an adventure. They are moldable dogs that will adapt to the lifestyle of their owners, provided they still get regular exercise. These dogs are very emotional and will tap into their owners moods, so a gentle attitude and manner towards this dog is always a must because it is quite possible for them to have hurt feelings otherwise! The Spinone will always want to please their owner and make them happy, so disciplining will need to be done sensitively.

These dogs have a charming little personality, they are said to be comedians in dog suits! They enjoy playing, performing little tricks, and keeping the mood light with their funny antics! They are definitely a breed that will need to be included in family activities because if left alone too often, will become depressed. Socialization will be needed as puppies around other animals and people to ensure they will not be shy or aggressive as adults.

Care

The Spinone Italiano will need very minimal grooming to upkeep their coat. Brushing 1-2 times per week and bathing every 2 months will be perfect for this breed! Their coat is not quite long enough to tangle, but will need to have the dead fur removed weekly. The Spinone is prone to Cerebellar Ataxia, hip dysplasia and bloat. Generally they are a healthy breed but potential owners should have the puppy’s parents medical history checked before buying, just to see what their puppy might be genetically inheriting.

Training

This breed is incredibly smart and will not need a large amount of training to understand basic obedience. However they will need an owner who can stay calm and remain firm but in a gentle manner because these dogs will show guilt if they are disciplined to harshly. Short training lessons that are made to be fun and positive, will make all the difference for this breed’s understanding of any type of training concept so their owner will need to be repetitive and clear with each new command they introduce.

Activity

The Spinone Italiano will need about a half and hour to an hour of exercise per day to tire them out. Long walks or trips to a dog park will be perfect to burn off their energy. They are not as hyperactive as other sporting dogs, but will still be quite energetic! These dogs will do well in an apartment as long as they get their regular exercise and access to a backyard would be preferable so they have an outdoor area at home to roam around in.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a direct descendant of the Middle East war dogs: the Molossus. It was often used to fight against lions, bears or gladiators in Roman arenas.

The Neapolitan Mastiff fought with the Roman legions. This is how they got spread everywhere in Europe. This breed was rediscovered approximately in 1940, in Italy, and is now becoming more and more popular.

Breed Group

Working

Size

Male: 26 to 31 inches
Female: 24 to 29 inches

Weight

Male: Approximately 150 lbs
Female: Approximately 110 lbs

Color(s)

The dog’s color can be gray, blue, black, mahogany and tawny. It can also come in darker shades of these colors.

Coat

The coat is short, smooth and dense. It has straight hairs, no longer than 1 inch.

Life Expectancy

About 9 – 10 years.

Personality

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a steady dog. It is very intelligent and stubborn. It’s extremely protective and courageous as well as very suspicious of strangers but affectionate with the family and their friends. If not provoked, it is calm and silent. Females are better family pets because the males are more aggressive and dominant and females are better with children. Plus, males do not tolerate other males.

Care

The Neapolitan Mastiff is very easy to take care of. Removing dead hairs with a brush once in a while is all it needs. It is an average shedder.

Training

For the Neapolitan Mastiff, obedience training is a must. The training should start at a young age to avoid high dominance. The dog also needs to be socialized early to be sure that they don’t become too protective. The training approach should be strict and constant.

Activity

The Neapolitan Mastiff needs regular exercise. It has to be walked at least twice a day to stay healthy in what should be a big yard.

The Maltese originated in Malta which is one of seven islands located in the Mediterranean Sea. They were bred purely for human companionship and are great dogs for people that want a tiny pet that can be taken anywhere. They are energetic dogs that keep their happy-go-lucky personality throughout their life. This breed is extremely affectionate and love to be carried around which gives them the reputation for being spoiled!

The Maltese is a very small white dog with a long glossy coat. They usually have a trade mark bow tie holding the fur up away from their faces. Their ears are triangular and floppy but are usually covered in their long fur. The Maltese’s compact body is lightweight, fragile, and will look like they are “walking on clouds” which is to say they are dainty yet light on their feet. The Maltese’s fur is around 8 inches long and completely covers their body from head to toe.

This breed is loyal, caring and smart although they have been known to be temperamental with young children. They are picky when it comes to their diet but should be kept on a strict food plan so they don’t become spoiled and only eat treats or doggie junk food. They will be a great pet for families that have older children, partly due to the fact that they love attention from anybody willing to offer it, and also because they get along with other dogs and small pets very well.

Breed Group

Toy

Size

Males: 8-10 inches high

Females: 8-9 inches high

Weight

Males: 6-9 lbs

Females: 6-9 lbs

Color(s)

This breed will come in only one colour, white. A light cream or ivory will be permitted but there is to be no other colour patterns or markings on this dog at all or they will be disqualified from the Show ring.

Coat

The Maltese is notorious for their long white coat. It is pin straight and sweeps the floor when they walk. Curly or frizzy fur is not allowed as this dogs trademark must be perfected when being judged. They have only the outer coat which will grow to about 8 inches long.

Life Expectancy

About 15 -18 years.

Personality

The Maltese is a cheerful jubilant little dog that thrives on attention and love from their owners. They are animated and enjoy being the center of attention where they will take it upon themselves to do little tricks for the entertainment of their family. This breed will make a great watchdog because they have a piercingly loud bark that will alert even the neighbors! The Maltese is a stubborn breed that will need basic training and special a effort when housetraining as this can be difficult. Due to their small size and charming personality, owners might tend to let these dogs get away with more than they should, so a firm hand when setting the rules for the house is necessary.

These little dogs are spunky and are more tough than they appear to be. They can be protective of their property and be a bit snappish when they feel threatened but for a dog that averages around 7 lbs, they are a force to be reckoned with! Packed with charisma and grace, the Maltese is a very popular breed today.

Care

The Maltese is a high maintenance breed of dog when it comes to their grooming needs. Daily brushing and monthly bathes/trims will be needed to keep this show dogs coat looking perfect. Some owners opt to cut their fur to a few inches in length which gives them a more ruggedly cute look. This breed is hypoallergenic which is perfect for owners that have allergies to dogs. The Maltese is prone to slipped kneecaps, eye problems, and skin allergies.

Training

This breed will need training the day they are brought into the home. They are charming little dogs that tend to get their way, but this will not help them in the long run when it comes to obedience. Although they are small, a firm method and consistency will do them good and give them a job to constantly work on. Housetraining this breed is difficult as they can be fussy if the weather outside does not suit them. Encouraging them to do their business outside even when they choose not to is the most effective way to potty train this breed.

Activity

The Maltese will need a daily walk of about half an hour per day. They are not a breed that needs extensive exercise because they tire themselves out during their routines throughout the day. This breed will be a great apartment dog because of their small size but a small backyard would be excellent so they can run around in an outside environment at home.

The Italian Greyhound originated in Italy and was bred for human companionship. They were quite common in the 16th century and were often owned by European nobility due to their small size and sweet, timid character. Today these dogs still make great companions and are perfect for families that have a quiet laid back lifestyle.

The Italian Greyhound is a quiet, docile dog that has an energetic and playful side to them. They are a loving breed that is not the slightest bit independent as they thrive and need to be near their owners as much as possible. It is said that Italian Greyhounds should be at least 2 per household, meaning if a person owns one, that they should purchase another as these dogs get along with each other very well.

This breed has an extremely slim body with a slender neck and a long muzzle. The Italian Greyhounds coat is short and glossy but is hard to the touch. They have small floppy ears, a long lean tail, and delicate toned legs. These dogs can sprint at high speeds just as the Greyhound can.

Breed Group

Toy

Size

Males: 12-15 inches high
Females: 12-15 inches high

Weight

Males: 6-10 lbs
Females: 6-10 lbs

The 2 categories for Italian Greyhound weight is over 8 lbs and under 8 lbs.

Color(s)

This breed will come in a blue, fawn, black, cream, slate, gray or red. There will be small white patterns on their paws and chest. Most commonly seen is the slate with patches of white or the fawn with patches of white.

Coat

The Italian Greyhound has a short, glossy coat that is of a harder texture. They are a low fur shedding dog and will need very minimal grooming. A hounds brush is suggested to keep their coat glossy. During the colder seasons, the Italian Greyhound will need a doggie coat when going outside because their fur is simply to short and fine to protect them from the elements.

Life Expectancy

About 12-15 years.

Personality

The Italian Greyhound is a calm, gentle little dog that can be quite shy! They are very docile dogs and enjoy a relaxed home environment where there is less traffic and noise. This breed gets along well with people, dogs, and smaller pets but are reserved when meeting any of these for the first couple of times. Once this dog is accustomed to a stranger they will warm up quickly.

Although these dogs are considered a Toy breed, they will chase smaller animals just by instinct so when walking, always have them on a leash just in case and when they are off-leash, the park or outdoor area should be fenced in. This breed is notoriously difficult to housetrain because they have a small bladder, so they will need to be taken out at least every hour to get used to your house rules.

Care

The Italian Greyhound is a low maintenance breed when referring to their grooming requirements because they have such a short coat. They will need to be brushed about once every week or two to remove the dead fur. A hound’s glove will be useful as well because this will leave their coat shiny. This breed is prone to epilepsy, luxating patella’s, and fractures because their bones are quite fine. They may also be prone to hypothyroidism, eye problems such as cataracts and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, and Legg Perthes syndrome.

Training

This breed is intelligent and bright so training should not be difficult provided their owner is consistent and repetitive. These dogs are sensitive and will need a gentle training method to fully understand and respect their owner’s commands. Housetraining has been known to be more difficult with this breed due to their small bladder. Consistency and monitoring their pee breaks will be needed for the first month or two to ensure they have this house rule understood.

Activity

These dogs will need to be taken out on regular walks and even to dog parks so they can run around off-leash and socialize with other dogs at the same time. Leash walks will not tire these dogs out so they will need an area to run that is completely fenced in. The Italian Greyhound will do well in an apartment because they don’t take up much space. A backyard would be preferable so they can have an outdoor area to run around in.