
Segugio Italiano

Description

The Segugio Italiano is
medium-sized, lightly built, square in outline. Gentle, affectionate,
even tempered, is equally good as a working dog and companion. Ancestry
going back to the coursing hounds of the early Egyptians, Mastiff blood
was introduced to the Segugio Italiano to give more bulk. With long legs,
like those of a sighthound and a head more like that of a scent hound,
the beauty of the breed was highly regarded during the Italian
Renaissance. This breed has an exceptional sense of smell and shows
interest not only in the capture but also in the kill of prey.
Colors: Black/tan or any shade from
deep red to wheaten. White makings on head, chest, feet and tip of tail
permissible. Coat: Short-haired: smooth, thick, shiny.
Coarse-haired: harsh dense, wiry.

Temperament: Sociable
and even-tempered fellow who is generally reliable with children and who
gets along well with other dogs. As with most hounds he thrives on
companionship and he enjoys the comforts of home. He needs to be
regarded as one of the family and not shut out in the yard or left alone
for long periods of time. If deprived of company and interaction with
his people he will become bored and miserable, with consequent
behavioral problems such as digging, escape attempts and nuisance
barking - and his lovely voice may seem less than harmonious to
neighbors.

Care and Training: The coat
requires only minimal maintenance, a weekly brushing to remove dead
coat; the addition of boiled linseed oil to his feed will bring out the
lovely gleam of the black and tan coloration.
Learning Rate: High Activity:
Long walks every day to keep their minds alert and active. Caution is
needed with off-lead exercise in case the drive to hunt should make them
wander, but if a safe area can be found the opportunity to gallop around
and investigate interesting scents is exciting for them. The canine
sport of tracking is an excellent way to provide an outlet for their
energy, to engage the mind, and to allow them to use their superb nose.
They also enjoy swimming and retrieving . Special
Needs: Fenced yard, leash, socialization and training.
Living Environment: The Segugio Italiano requires a securely
fenced yard as he has a strong hunting instinct. Country living
environment is suitable. Health
Issues: No known hereditary disorders. May be susceptible to gastric
dilitation volvulus (GDV), bloat.
Life Span: 10 - 14 yearsLitter Size.

Country of Origin: Italy
History: The Segugio Italiano is an old breed whose likeness is to be
found in ancient sculptures and in Italian Renaissance works of art.
Also known as the Italian Hound it is believed to have developed in
Italy from Phoenician sight-hounds and the Celtic hounds of southern
Gaul. The addition of Mastiff blood to the lithe sight-hound stock
produced a dog of more substance with the ability to work quarry by
scent as well as sight. Wild boar were the traditional target of the
Segugio but the end of the great hunts saw the numbers of pure-bred dogs
decline. Interest in the breed was revived in the 20th century. Careful
breeding built up the numbers and the Segugio is now extremely popular
in Italy both as a hunting partner on a variety of game and as a
companion, but it remains rare and relatively unknown outside its native
land. Other Names:
Italian Segugio, Segugio, Italian Hound Type: Hound Height: 19 - 23
inches Weight: 40 - 62 lbs.

Faults
*** Any departure
from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the
seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree. Note ***
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into the scrotum.

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