Blue Water Spinone Association
The Spinone is said to be the oldest of the griffon dog breeds of Europe, having its origins in Northern Italy It is a versatile hunting dog of larger than medium size with a distincitve rustic look of powerful build and ample bone . Everything about the dog should express strength and endurance while balancing its gentleness, great learning capacity and willingness to please its human.
BRED TO HUNT: The Spinone is a gun dog suited for working in all climates and all terrains. His name comes from the ‘spino’ bush – a thorny growth impenetrable to other hunting breeds, which he enters with ease. Spinoni are well known as sure and cautious hunters who stay in close contact with the hunter as they follow the scent of pray with head held high. A Spinone moves with an easy, loose pounding trot, geared for endurance and is an excellent swimmer and a model retriever. Its a hard textured, weather resistant coat and thick skin protect the dog from harsh conditions while its longer eyebrows, beard and mustache give it a look of a ‘good natured grouch’ with human-like eyes completing the breed’s unique ‘ sweet expression’.
TEMPERMENT: Spinoni (more than one) are naturally patient , easy going and tolerant of other animals. They must always have a sweet disposition. Although they can be stubborn, they learn quickly, have problem solving intelligence and are usually able ‘train’ their owners into doing what they want them to do. They do best with firm, consistent but gentle people who understand dogs so obedience training is usually a must for new owners. (obedience training is always for the benefit of people to understand how a dog thinks and reacts) The breed is very sociable, affectionate and an excellent companion. Spinoni have a following in Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland, Scandinavia, Netherlands & Germany as well as the United States. & Canada.
NOT FOR EVERYONE!:
Spinone (one Spin-no-nay) Spinoni (more than one of the breed – Spin–no-knee) are large powerful dogs with large thick padded paws – they track a lot of dirt.
Spinone are stubborn
Spinone are sensitive and will not do will with hard, harsh treatment – they will shut down and do nothing if they are treated unjustly. They will remember being wronged.
Spinone are clinging and must always be with their human – usually with their noise in everything being done.
ENCI (Italian) Standard
Country of origin: Italy
Use: pointing and retrieving wild game
FCI Classification: Group 7 (pointing dogs), Section 1.3 (continental pointing dogs, "griffon-type")
HISTORICAL SUMMARY - We find in the bibliography descriptions which evoke a rough-haired dog of Italian origin which passes as being the ancestor of the present Spinone. In his book "Le Parfait Chasseur" (the perfect hunter), Selicourt, in 1683, speaks of a "griffon" coming from Italy and the Piedmont. In the Middle Ages and in the 15th century, this dog has been represented by famous masters; the best known painting is a fresco by Andrea Mantegna in the ducal palace of Mantua.
General Appearance - Dog of solid construction, robust and vigorous; powerful bone; well developed muscles, hair rough.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS - His build tends to fit into a square. The length of the body is equal to the height at the withers, with a tolerance of 1 to 2 cm. longer. The length of the head is equal to 4/10ths of the height at the withers. Its width, measured at level of the zygomatic arches, is inferior to half its length.
BEHAVIOUR & TEMPERAMENT - Naturally sociable, docile and patient, the Spinone is an experienced hunter on all terrains; very resistant to tiredness, goes easily into brambles, or throws himself into cold water. He has remarkable dispositions for an extended and fast trot; by nature he is an excellent retriever.
HEAD - The direction of the upper longitudinal axes of the skull and muzzle is divergent. Skull region - Skull of oval shape; its lateral walls gently sloping like a roof, with occipital protuberance very well developed and parietal crest well marked. The bulge of the forehead is not very developed, not towards the front nor in height. The superciliary arches are not too prominent; the stop is barely marked, whereas the medial-frontal furrow is very pronounced.
FACIAL REGION - Nose - In the same line as the nasal bridge, voluminous, spongy in appearance with a very thick and quite rounded upper edge; of flesh pink colour in white subjects; a bit darker in the white and orange subjects, chestnut brown in the roan-chestnut (brown) subjects. In profile, the nose protrudes over the forward vertical line of the lips. Nostrils are large and protruding. Muzzle - Its length is equal to the length of the skull; its depth, measured at mid length, reached a third of its length. The profile of the muzzle is straight or slightly hilly (Roman nose). The lateral faces of the muzzle are parallel, so that, seen from the front, the muzzle is square shaped. The upper lips, rather fine, form below the nose an open angle; in their forward part, they are rounded, then, covering the lower lips, they reach the labial commissure where they form a visible fold. The lower profile of the muzzle is defined by that of the upper lips; its lowest point is the labial commissure. Jaws - Powerful and normally developed, at mid length the branches of the lower jaw are very lightly curved. Cheeks are lean. Teeth - Dental arches well adapted; incisors articulate either in scissor or pincer bite. Eyes - Large, well opened and set well apart. The eye is almost round; the lids closely fitting the eye which is neither protruding or deep set; both eyes are on a same frontal plane. The iris is of an ochre color, more or less dark according to the colour of the coat. Ears - Practically triangular shape, in length they are not more than 5 cm. longer than the lower line of the throat; in width they go from the point of insert of the head to the neck to the middle of the zygomatic arch. The forward edge is close to the cheek, not folded, but turned inwards; the tip of the ear is slightly rounded. Nearly always carried low, the ear should have little erection power. Cartilage is fine. The skin is covered with dense hair mixed with longer scattered hairs, which becomes thicker at the edges.
NECK - Powerful and muscled, clearly distinguished from the nape, merging harmoniously into the shoulders. Its length must not be inferior to 2/3 of the length of the head; its circumference reaches a third of the height at the withers. The lower edge shows a lightly developed double dewlap.
FOREQUARTERS - Seen from the front, they are perfectly parallel and perpendicular to the ground. Seen in profile, the forearm is vertical and the metacarpus is slightly oblique. Shoulder - Powerful and long. Measures a quarter of the height at the withers, and has an obliqueness below the horizontal of about 50°, in relation to the median plane of the body, the points of the shoulder-blades are not very close to one another. Perfectly free in its movements, the shoulder has well developed muscles; the opening of the scapular-humeral angle is of about 105°. Upper-arm - Oblique below the horizontal with a slant of about 60°, directed almost parallel to the median axis of the body. It is well muscled. Forearm - Slightly longer than the third of the height at the withers, vertical seen from the front as well as in profile. Strong bones. The hind tendon is strong in such a way that the groove between tendon and bone is clearly visible. The elbows are in parallel plane to the median plane of the body. The point of the elbow must be a little forward of the vertical which goes from the posterior point of the shoulder-blade to the ground. The distance from the elbow to the ground is equal to 50% of the height at the withers. Pastern joint - It follows the vertical line of the forearm. Pastern - It is flat, and, seen from the front, follows the vertical line of the forearm; seen in profile, it is slightly oblique. Its lenght is of about 1/6 of the height of the leg to the elbows. Forefeet - Compact, round, toes well closed and arched, covered with short thick hair, including the spaces between the toes. The pads, lean and hard, are more or less pigmented according to the color of the coat. Nails strong, curved towards the ground and well pigmented but never black
HINDQUARTERS - Seen in profile, back edge of the buttock is slightly convex; good angulation of the segments; the hocks must be perpendicular to the ground; seen from behind, the hindquarters are parallel and perpendicular to the ground. Tigh - Its lenght must not be inferior to a third of the height at the withers. Its width is 3/4 of its lenght. Strongly muscled. Its direction is slightly oblique from top to bottom and from back to front. Its back edge slightly convex. Leg - Its lenght exceeds just slightly that of the thigh; its obliqueness is of 55°-60° below the horizontal; lean muscles in its upper part; the furrow between the Achilles tendon and the bone is marked and clearly visible. Hock joint - Its lateral sides are very wide. The distance between the point of the hock and the ground is about a third of the height at the withers. The opening of the angle of the tibial-tarsal articulation is about 150°. Hoch - Strong and lean, its lenght is equal to the distance from the hock to the ground. Observed from whichever side, the metatarsal is vertical. On its inner side there may be a simple articulated dewclaw. Hindfeet - Showing all the same characteristics of the front feet, but slightly more oval
SKIN - Close fitting to the body, it must be thick and lean. It is thinner on the head, the throat, the groin, under the arms and on the back parts of the body; in the folds of the elbows it is soft to the touch. Just forms two folds which go from the sides of the lower jaws and disappear at the first half of the neck (dewlap). When the head is carried low, one just notices a fold which descends from the outer corner of the eye over the cheeks; in its hind edge this fold ends in a tuft of hair. The pigmentation of the skin varies according to the color of the markings of the coat. The color of the external mucous membranes must correspond with the color of the coat.
COAT - Nature of the hair - Of a length of a 4 to 6 cm on the body, shorter on the muzzle, the head, the ears, the front sides of the legs and the feet. On the back sides of the legs, the hair is a rough brush, but never with fringes. Long and stiff hair garnish the eyebrows and the lips forming eyelashes, moustache and tufted beard. The hair is stiff, dense and rather flat, with lack of undercoat. Color - Pure white, white with orange markings, white speckled with orange, white with brown (chestnut) markings, roan or roan-brown (chestnut). The preferred shade of brown is the color "Capuchin friar's frock". Not permitted colors are: tricolor, tan markings, black under any shape and combinations.
SIZE AND WEIGHT - Height at the withers - Males from 60 to 70 cm, females from 58 to 65 cm. Weight - Males from 32 to 37 kg, females from 28 to 30 kg.
FAULTS - Any departure from the foregoing points constitutes a fault which when judging must be penalised according ti its seriousness and extension.
ELIMINATING FAULTS - Head, upper cranial-facial axes convergent, concave muzzle.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS - Total depigmentation of the nose. Wall eye. Skin - Black pigmentation of the skin or mucous membranes. Tricoloured coat, tan markings, black in all its shapes and combinations. Overshot or accentuated undershot mouth.
