Italian Pointer
The Bracco Italiano (Italian Pointer) is one of the oldest European pointing dog breeds. Typical of the Bracco is its characteristic gait, the "trotto," but also its affinity for people and its strong work ethic.
Originally bred for bird hunting, he has never lost his strong hunting instinct and is not just a "casual" dog.
If you are looking for a passionate hunting companion or a comrade by your side who enjoys nose work, searching and retrieving, then the Bracco is a good choice.
If you're looking for a dog for relaxed walks in nature, where you can let your mind wander or chat with friends, then the Bracco is probably not the right dog for you, as it will definitely give free rein to its hunting instincts if you don't keep an eye on it. Of course, you can enjoy relaxed walks with a Bracco, but you should always be mindful of your dog, encourage its natural pointing instinct (so it doesn't immediately bolt), and ensure it gets enough exercise, both mental and physical.
In 2016, I deliberately chose a Bracco for mantrailing, and it was a good choice. However, one has to consider that such a dog develops a certain pulling force while trailing, which I hadn't taken into account. This leads to some incredulous looks during training from people who don't know what we're doing.
But dog sledding is also something you can do really well with a Bracco, if he enjoys it.
As exciting as it is for a Bracco to be outdoors, he is quite relaxed indoors. With enough to keep him occupied, he is a calm housemate with a healthy appetite and creative drinking habits. After drinking, he likes to distribute the water clinging to his lips all over half the apartment and shake it off in inconvenient places.
Due to its long lips, the Bracco tends to drool quite a bit, and the drool sometimes lands at considerable heights on walls, windows, televisions, etc. You can't be squeamish about it. The Bracco is not suitable for cleanliness fanatics.
The coat is short and easy to care for, but the Bracco sheds all year round, sometimes more, sometimes less (brushing and a robot vacuum cleaner are very helpful).
The Bracco bonds closely with its owner and ideally wants to be with them all the time. Since that's not always possible in our daily lives, it's a good idea to start training them to be alone from an early age. My Bracchi are all very affectionate, and physical contact is very important to them. They are not kennel dogs.
They do not tolerate a "tough hand" in training, but need a good dose of consistency from their owners, because they like to question whether what was true yesterday is still true today.
They tend to be neutral but open towards other dogs, although this always depends on the individual. They remain playful within their pack well into old age.
Breed description from VDH:
Italian Pointer
FCI Group 7: Pointing Dogs
Section 1.1 Continental Pointing Dogs, Braque Type. With working trial.
Standard number: 202
Weight: 25-40 kg
Height at the withers: Males: 58-67 cm, Females: 55-62 cm
The Bracco Italiano is robust and harmoniously built, with a powerful appearance. Dogs with lean limbs, well-defined muscles and clean lines, a well-modeled head and distinct chiseling below the eyes are preferred – all typical characteristics that particularly distinguish this breed.
personality
Resilient and suitable for all hunting purposes; reliable, docile, with quick comprehension and great learning ability.
Look
Short, dense and glossy, finer and shorter on the head, ears, front of the limbs and paws.
Origin
This dog is of ancient Italian origin. It was used for bird hunting and was shaped and developed over the centuries; from the once common practice of hunting with nets, it adapted to hunting with firearms. Frescoes from the 14th century undoubtedly prove its continued existence throughout the centuries, both in terms of its morphology and its hunting instincts as a pointing dog.
