We have enjoyed hunting and showing our Spinone Italiano. Our journey together started in 2003 when we brought home a little Spinone puppy, Julie. She has been a wonderful addition to our family. We enjoy her greatly. We are also very proud of her. On June 12, 2005, she completed her championship.
Spinone are in the class of the all-purpose bird dog, who should perform the functions of hunt, point and retrieve. Other breeds that are also in this class of gun dogs are the Weimaraner, the Visla, the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Brittany, and others. The origins of the Spinone is debated, but it is one of the oldest of the Continental pointing breeds. It can be seen in Italian art as early as the 1400s.
It was the working ability of this breed which were of primary importance then and the preservation of these natural abilities have been maintained. It is known for the tight contact it keeps to its owner when hunting. Its harsh coat protects the dog no matter what the terrain. Unlike other breeds where they are seeing splits between the show dog and hunting dog - a great majority of Spinone show dogs are also hunting dogs. Form and function continue to be important.
I will admit I was attracted to the Spinone not for their hunting prowess. In fact, I had never hunted before, but I believe in allowing a dog to do their purpose. So at 11 months of age, Julie spent a month away from home for some hunt training. Everywhere we go, most people have never seen a Spinone, let alone a Spinone hunting. And Julie has left an impression. Julie has definitely proven herself a worthy hunting companion. She received her Junior hunt title on April 17, 2005.
Julie started showing as a special in October of 2005. Since then she has been doing very well. She is currently ranked in the top 15 Spinoni in the U.S.
In 2006, we added another member to our Spinone family. Royal del Subasio. We went all the way to Italy to get him. |
