Historic
We find in the bibliography some descriptions which evoke a dog with hard hairs of Italian origin which passes to be the ancestor of current Spinone. Thus this breed would be strictly of Italian origin.In its book "the perfect hunter" Sélincourt, in 1983, speaks about a "griffon" coming from Italy and Piedmont. In the Middle Ages and the XV century, this dog was often represented by famous painters; the most known painting is a fresco of Andrea Mantegna to the ducal Palate of Mantoue.
General aspect
Dog of robust, rustic and vigorous construction; powerful skeleton; well developed muscle. Free step, at hunting, trot elongate and rapid, interspersed by times of gallop. Its skin is well applied to the body. It must be thick and dry... Its hairs of length from 4 to 6 cm are stiff, hard, clenched, and rather down.
Behavior and character
Of a sociable naturel, flexible and patient, the spinone is suited to hunting in all the grounds; very resistant at tiredness, it engages easily in brambles or pounces on cold water. It has remarkable gifts for a trot elongate and rapid ; by nature, he brings back very well.
