Overview
The Bracco Italiano is one of the oldest pointing breeds in Europe, bred in northern Italy to hunt feathered game at a distinctive, elastic trot. It is a large, loose-skinned dog with long ears, a Roman nose and a solemn expression, usually white with orange or chestnut patches. The Kennel Club lists it among the gundogs.
Owners prize the breed's soft, affectionate nature and its patience with children. It is also stubborn, a dribbler, slow to grow up, and more interested in the smell of a field than in anything you have to say about it.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour and a half of steady exercise a day is about right for an adult, ideally with time to range on a long line or off lead in a safe field. The gait is a slow, ground-covering trot, not a sprint.
Bracchi grow for a long time and carry a lot of bone. Keep young dogs to shorter, gentler walks and avoid stairs and jumping until the owner confirms the joints have matured.
On the walk
- Recall: Decent in a trained dog, but scent wins when the two conflict. Call before the nose goes down, not after, and pay well for the return.
- Pulling: Steady and strong. A padded harness suits the loose skin better than a collar, which can slip or rub.
- Drool and ears: Both are a fact of life. Wipe the jowls, dry the ears after water, and keep a towel in the car.
- Other dogs: Easy-going and tolerant, rarely the one starting anything. Good company on calm group walks.
Tips for professional walkers
- Walk slowly and let the dog work the ground; a hurried Bracco is a frustrated Bracco.
- Carry small, strong-smelling treats to compete with the field.
- Look at the ear flaps for cuts and the ear canals for damp after walks through cover.
- Keep an eye on the eyes; loose lower lids collect grit and seeds.
What to ask the owner
- Any hip, elbow or eyelid problems, and are there limits on stairs or jumping into the car?
- How reliable is recall when the dog hits a scent, and is there a whistle cue you should use?
- Does the dog need a rest period around meals?