BRACCO ITALIANO
A page to help understand the Bracco Italiano
Adorable puppiesIn the UK Puppies can not leave the breeders home until they reach 8 weeks of age.
The Bracco puppy is well developed and more than ready for its new home at 8 weeks. When you collect your puppy you will continue social skills which your breeder started your puppy on. As a behaviourist I can confirm now that no HPR breed should be kept past 8 weeks. The reasons are many. |
SHOW TRAININGMake sure you go to a show breeder if you want a show dog. Their expertise will help you choose the right dog in the litter for you. In a litter not all dogs have show quality. If you do not tell them you may end up with one thats not going to get placed, or if it gets a place it wont be first places. There are many good show breeders in the UK.
Working dogs - The Bracco has inheritable a working instinct like no other gun dog. When they reach adolescence the hunt instinct is activated. With good training your dog will be an excellent working dog. But listen to your breeder and let them select the one which has the most likely chance of success in the field. You can not select this by seeing a dog for an hour. |
SOCIALISEDHome raised puppies have a much better outlook, as they are used to the sights and sounds of family life. Good breeders will have enrichment toys, and devote their time to social development.
Many breeders do not home raise so it is up to you to ask the right questions. Being inside the home for a start brings their best qualities out. In the UK we have some excellent breeders but equally some I would not purchase from. Do your research. If someone works another job are they with your puppy? As a behaviourist we see more problems since covid in all dog breeds through lack of time given by breeders to their puppies. Again do your research. Is the breeder at home and has lots of time for the puppies or are they out doing other things. |
They are short coated breed. Yes they loose their coat and more than other HPT breeds. They can have weeks of loosing coat. You will want a throw over your furniture.
The Bracco has a huge blanket of skin covering his/her skeleton. They are a breed of dog where dust, muck clings to the hair. I have always said my Braccos need bathing more regular than the Hungarian Vizsla. They are known to roll in anything disgusting, and take pleasure in doing so. Because the breed has a lot of loose skin, it folds and you must keep the skin clean, as to stop mites building up and causing health issues. I give mine a good groom every few days with a Zoom Groom. When I bath my Bracco I blast their coat with a blaster. These can be purchased on Amazon for under £80. Bracco play quite hard with each other as they pull the skin. They grab tails on other dogs to stop them from running away. Damage can easily be done. But it's not nasty, it is hard play. They do not realise how hard they are sometimes with each other but if you shout at them they will stop instantly and reevaluate and stop. They do listen, they are intelligent and they don't like getting things wrong. They make good dogs to train. Puppies in particular play hard around 7 weeks of age and they are very mouthy. But once removed from their siblings at 8 weeks it stops the mouthing. Be sure to provide lots of healthy chew items for your puppy to bite. Teething hurts. Lots of puppies go away with redness from the over biting from siblings. Which just goes days after because it is not being chewed all the time. I should mention Bracco teeth. When they are born they have flatter faces which has to lengthen over time. This can cause irregular tooth shape which you will not see in other breeds of dogs. If your puppy has mis-shaped teeth do not panic as it will right itself. Ill never forget my sons puppy Letty had the largest over bite with miss-shaped canines. But once she reached 9 months of age she had the perfect scissor bite, and she has been shown since. A big mistake is to allow vets to remove teeth too soon. If your dogs mouth does not change by 18 months then you can think about removing problematic teeth. But do not be quick to do so as you may regret it. They usually come right in the end. Young males can be a bit silly and if you've given them a inch they will take a mile. Or in many cases ten miles. They go through the puberty stage from 7 months and it can last up to 2 1/2. In this time you may have to re tech the dog recall and rules again. The breed is well known for its huge paws, they should have cat like feet not hare feet. Puppies feet can go flat, and pasterns can be weak during teething stages. Wait it out, walk the puppy on stones or hard surfaces and the legs will strengthen. Do not over exercise and make sure you are giving a balanced diet. Bracco benefit from the raw diet, because Bloat and gastric torsion is seen in the breed. Dogs that are raw fed have less chances of developing bloat. Exercise - The guideline of the 5 minute rule is beneficial to large breeds of dogs. Five minutes of exercise per month of age, up to twice a day until the puppy is grown. The Bracco has a set of dew claws on the front and on the back. Some do have double dew claws on the back legs. Double dew claws are not as desirable in the UK but in Italy they are. The job of a dew claw is supporting the leg when scrambling down rocks, holding bones to eat. Some breeders do remove the dew claws but they should really leave them alone. 
They are a slow maturing breed of dog, and males do not gain their muscle until they are 3 plus. It is important not to neuter during the growing stages and only do once the dog has reached adulthood.
The breed is not well known in the UK and you may not of seen one before. If you have stumbled across one you may wrongly think its a bloodhound. If you stood a blood hound beside a Bracco you would see they are quite different. The Bracco is a gun dog from Italy. In the UK we have spaniels, labradors, retriever's but in Italy they have Bracco. They are part of the HUNT, POINT, RETRIEVE breeds. Because they can do the whole job at hand. They live to work. They are the best of both worlds as they can chill at home, and be content, but when you say okay walk time, they will spring to life. The Bracco was bred to cover the ground effortlessly, and they do. They have an extended trot which is a massive feature of their movement. They are pretty awesome to watch. But the one thing you must train is recall. Because it takes them seconds to cover a field. Their are two breed clubs in the UK, with like minded enthusiasts trying to preserve the breed and always happy to give advice. Not all breeders are members of the clubs. Colour - Their are differences between colour that not many will tell you about. The chestnut is a more stubborn and difficult dog to the orange. They were different breeds almost in the early days. The chestnut is although beautiful I think I prefer the oranges nature. I remember someone telling me years ago never have a chestnut and I just thought they were being odd. But now I completely agree that the orange is an easier dog. But saying that I would not be with out my chestnut girl Nancy. She is easy peasy to own. Maybe Im just lucky with her. I suppose what Im saying is their is a difference and hold onto your hat if you own a chestnut. You will need to be in training for over 18 months if you own a chestnut. LOL. |
BRACCO ITALIANO
The Bracco italiano is a wonderful breed of dog. They are a large dog and their neck size as an adult can start at 18" plus. The bracco is a heavy boned dog, and they have very large feet. See an added part to this page at the end on health of this dog. You must read this before you purchase any Bracco italiano. The Plural for Bracco Italiano is Bracchi I adore this breed of dog to bits and can not imagine life with out one. They are a large dog which is heavy boned. They have very large feet. They can reach weights over 30 kilos, and males can easily reach 45 kilos and more. Although they are large, they are not clumsy and can be quite mindful around young children and you. They are just awesome dogs to live with. I find them less demanding than other HPR breeds. They are very affectionate and have no awareness of your personal space. You will learn quickly the Bracco Boof! This is when you're sitting watching TV and they want to be touched. They smack you with their paw. They do not let up until they have got your attention. Boys are certainly needy. I have owned 3 males in my time and all would not fair well in a kennel, would not fair well even outside. They have to be with you. They stress when they can not be with you. Girls however are independent, and although love affection they are happier to be sitting in the garden in the sunshine. They are affectionate dogs, and love cuddles. You should not buy one for a guard dog. They were bred for a purpose which was flushing birds. Their bark however is loud and deep. They do not seem to bark at anything, and will only bark if they think someone is on your property. But do not expect a Bracco to defend you. Colours seen in the breed: White and Orange, orange roan, chestnut and white, chestnut roan. Rarely there is solid orange or chestnut. Amber is a deeper Orange colour. Burnt Orange is seen in Italy. Coat patterns vary from patches to blanket markings. Fawn is undesirable, Chestnut should ideally not be too dark, it should be the colour of a monks habit, but the FCI standard also states a warm chestnut. The chestnuts in the sunshine will have a metallic sheen to the coat. Tri colour is undesirable. Try colour is in many breed lines, usually these dogs are not bred from unless there is good reason. It is a pretty colour but undesirable. For a pet it really makes no difference. 
This is very much what we call a head breed. This means the head is an important part of the standard. With the divergent planes, Their eyes should be oval ,hazel coloured if the dog is orange and white, darker if the dog is chestnut. The nose is large, spongy which is used to draw in scent. They use their noses, and you can watch them scent the air and then run towards what ever they are scenting. Their noses are never usually wrong.
The Bracco has long ears which will drag in water bowls, or food. You must keep their ear tips clean other wise a build up of bacteria can cause dried ear tips. The Bracco has a dewlap which is folds of skin under the chin. These must be kept clean other wise bacteria can build up in the warm, damp environment and mites. If you own other dogs watch they do not play and hang on the dewlap s they can make the skin sore. Do they drool? When they drink water they will leave trails around the water bowl. If you eat in front of them they will drool. But apart from that they are fairly good. Stress also can make them drool, if you take them out of their comfort zone. Slobber is part of owning one of these dogs. The breed has back as well as front dew claws. Some breeders remove all dew claws, but we leave them on. 
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The Bracco is a super natured dog. They are great with Children and other animals. They are often in the middle of what children are doing just sitting there. Where as I wouldn't like to sell a Vizsla to young babies or children, the Bracco is well suited.
All HPR dogs need to be socialised to cats, rabbits etc as these avid hunters may be too tough with them if not socialised.
They like to be included in what your doing. The gardening or going out.
They suit busy households, and enjoy going out with the family.
They are quite a contented breed compared to other HPR breeds and they will entertain themselves. But if they do not get adequate exercise they can be diggers, pull your fences and chew if absolutely bored out their minds. A good exercise twice a day is required. Once if you have a large property. They also need off lead exercise as they will need to have that brain exercised. They are not a breed for lead walking around the block once a day. They need to run on grass, swim in rivers and enjoy the countryside.
Stubborn - Yes they are stubborn and you have to really show them what you want them to do some times. Reward training helps, or love. If a bracco is unsure of something then it is not going to respond. It would rather run a mile than confront it.
You will feel like your getting nowhere with training and then one day it all falls into place. You just have to have oodles of patiences your self to own this breed. |
Training With this breed of dog training is very important. Yes you can train it to do any tricks at home you like, but you'll need training in a group of people with dogs so they are well socialised to other animals. Plus if trained in a distracted environment their is a better chance of it remembering when you in the park and calling it. 1 on 1 sessions are good for tuning up the skills. But group sessions teach loads more. You should be in a training school before 16 weeks! This social window for any HPR is so important. Miss it at your peril. Dogs which have been in some kind of training or just socialisation before 16 weeks will be far better coping with the second fear period which hits bracco around 9 months onwards. It is when hormones are changing within the dog. All dogs go through a fear period, but the Bracco is especially sensitive. They can panic over something and run away and nothing you can do with convince it that its not the bogey man standing there. |
Brief History
The Bracco Italiano is one of the oldest known gun dogs, originates from Italy. They date back to 4th and 5th century. The exact origins are unknown. You may ask why? History on animals wasn't always recorded as it did not seem important at the time. Articles easily lost. Knowledge was passed down from hunter to hunter. Historians accept that although its origins are unknown that a cross between a Segugio Italiano white and the Asiatic Masfiff (Which is now extinct), is how the breed came about.
Bracco Italiano translates to Italian pointer. Their are two types of Bracco originally. The orange and white which came from the Piedmont region of Italy and the chestnut and white which came from the Lombardy region of Italy. Italy does have other gun dogs as they have the Italiano Spinone, the Lagotta Romagnolo. The Cane Corso was also a dog used to hunt wild bore.
During the medieval period, the breed became well established. They were owned by Italian Aristocracy who exported the dogs across the world. They became popular during the Renaissance era, and they had many dogs in number until the turn of the 20th Century, It got to the end of 1800's and they faced extinction. Breeders started to cross them with hounds and they ended up with heavily build dogs with health problems. Things had to change although they wanted to preserve the original bracci, they had to introduce dogs of lighter frame into the breed. The Piedmontese pointer was used. this created a lighter boned dog which was mainly white. But with or without orange. Then the Lombard Pointer was rich brown roan, heavier build type. This dog was used to hunt in the marshes and lowlands and was a trotting breed. In 1949 the breed club called the societa amatory Bracco Italiano was founded in Italy. A standard was produced which incorporated aspects of both breed types. Some breeders in the UK will not mix the two colours together.
In the 1980's the Bracco was Brought to the United Kingdom.
FCI Breed Standard: CLICK HERE. and the UK Kennel club breed standard CLICK HERE
The Bracco Italiano is one of the oldest known gun dogs, originates from Italy. They date back to 4th and 5th century. The exact origins are unknown. You may ask why? History on animals wasn't always recorded as it did not seem important at the time. Articles easily lost. Knowledge was passed down from hunter to hunter. Historians accept that although its origins are unknown that a cross between a Segugio Italiano white and the Asiatic Masfiff (Which is now extinct), is how the breed came about.
Bracco Italiano translates to Italian pointer. Their are two types of Bracco originally. The orange and white which came from the Piedmont region of Italy and the chestnut and white which came from the Lombardy region of Italy. Italy does have other gun dogs as they have the Italiano Spinone, the Lagotta Romagnolo. The Cane Corso was also a dog used to hunt wild bore.
During the medieval period, the breed became well established. They were owned by Italian Aristocracy who exported the dogs across the world. They became popular during the Renaissance era, and they had many dogs in number until the turn of the 20th Century, It got to the end of 1800's and they faced extinction. Breeders started to cross them with hounds and they ended up with heavily build dogs with health problems. Things had to change although they wanted to preserve the original bracci, they had to introduce dogs of lighter frame into the breed. The Piedmontese pointer was used. this created a lighter boned dog which was mainly white. But with or without orange. Then the Lombard Pointer was rich brown roan, heavier build type. This dog was used to hunt in the marshes and lowlands and was a trotting breed. In 1949 the breed club called the societa amatory Bracco Italiano was founded in Italy. A standard was produced which incorporated aspects of both breed types. Some breeders in the UK will not mix the two colours together.
In the 1980's the Bracco was Brought to the United Kingdom.
FCI Breed Standard: CLICK HERE. and the UK Kennel club breed standard CLICK HERE
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BRACCHI are hunters and have a natural instinct. They are also very nosey and like too ee things and be involved. When they hit adolescence they can bog off into the distance and gone. They come back eventually but the hunt insinct is activated come adolescence. This means unless you've put in a great foundation of recall early on expect to loose your dog.
In my experience of a dog we own we introduced a ball early on which totally caught his interest. We could not loose him if we wanted too. He is so ball orientated he is great fun. He loves to retrieve and is faster than any Vizsla which is saying something as that breed can go 40 mph. He is extreme fit and healthy and like a rocket. So find what ticks their box and if you get one like our Eddie who loves a ball you have his love for ever and he wont leave my side unless we say go play. He has BRILLIANT recall because he loves a ball. It's just knowing your dog, putting time into training and you end up owning the best dog in the world like him.
With Geralt it took longer, he is an orange male and it took him 3 years to stop being fascinated with sand flies on beaches. He would follow his nose and be gone. Now I own a very easy going orange boy who loves to swim, is fun. He is not really ball orientated but his love is me, so he doesnt like to run off as he wanted to be close to me. SO find what ticks your dogs box and get their attention with it.
My girls are different again. All of them fabulous recall. I believe girls to be easier on recall than males. They all have a hunting instinct but they are all obedient.
In my experience of a dog we own we introduced a ball early on which totally caught his interest. We could not loose him if we wanted too. He is so ball orientated he is great fun. He loves to retrieve and is faster than any Vizsla which is saying something as that breed can go 40 mph. He is extreme fit and healthy and like a rocket. So find what ticks their box and if you get one like our Eddie who loves a ball you have his love for ever and he wont leave my side unless we say go play. He has BRILLIANT recall because he loves a ball. It's just knowing your dog, putting time into training and you end up owning the best dog in the world like him.
With Geralt it took longer, he is an orange male and it took him 3 years to stop being fascinated with sand flies on beaches. He would follow his nose and be gone. Now I own a very easy going orange boy who loves to swim, is fun. He is not really ball orientated but his love is me, so he doesnt like to run off as he wanted to be close to me. SO find what ticks your dogs box and get their attention with it.
My girls are different again. All of them fabulous recall. I believe girls to be easier on recall than males. They all have a hunting instinct but they are all obedient.
HEALTH
I think the first point to make about health in any dog is that be it pedigree or cross breed it can not float through life with out a health issue. Be it a virus or something more serious. Insuring your pet is a priority so you can afford any health issues that occur.
Dogs live 10-14 years if we are lucky, some animals will unexpectedly die young. This is always unfortunate for everyone involved. Over 30. years in the industry ive seen so many different things that happens to dogs of all breeds. Cross breeds are no healthier than pedigree in fact I would say more unhealthy now.
The Bracco is a dog with a lot of skin, and when you have a lot of skin you can get problems and you need to keep them clean. They are also a breed which do not fair well with the over use of pesticides ie flea and wormers. So the least you give them the better.
I aim to give you an account of possible health problems the breed may come across.
I will describe each health issue below and what can be done. All of the above requires vets. When you buy a Bracco insure it. So you have then all the help possible at your finger tips. If you can afford it you need at least £10,000 to £15,000.
Insure your dog for the day you pick it up. Do not use free insurances which can be a problem if you claim on them.
Always tell your breeder if your dog develops any health problems which could be hereditary. So they can work around the problem.
BLOAT & GASTRIC TORSION
Ten years ago I sat through a health seminar on Bloat with Dr Professor Dick White who started Dick White referrals and he gave an interesting perspective on bloat. Sadly a lot of dogs will not make it through bloat and gastric torsion.
There are many theories as to the cause of bloat but one of the main denominators is STRESS. Over exercise on a full stomach. Over eating. Kibble foods causing gas. Cancers. After a bitch has whelped. Be insured as operations can cost £5000 upwards.
It is the mother of all emergencies and you can not hang around if you suspect Bloat.
Symptoms - Standing haunched, trying to hide, yawning, under a bush, expanded rib cage, trying to be sick and can not be sick, collapse, die.
You can not leave this and hope it gets better. You must go to the vets as soon as possible.
ELBOW DYSPLASIA
I think the first point to make about health in any dog is that be it pedigree or cross breed it can not float through life with out a health issue. Be it a virus or something more serious. Insuring your pet is a priority so you can afford any health issues that occur.
Dogs live 10-14 years if we are lucky, some animals will unexpectedly die young. This is always unfortunate for everyone involved. Over 30. years in the industry ive seen so many different things that happens to dogs of all breeds. Cross breeds are no healthier than pedigree in fact I would say more unhealthy now.
The Bracco is a dog with a lot of skin, and when you have a lot of skin you can get problems and you need to keep them clean. They are also a breed which do not fair well with the over use of pesticides ie flea and wormers. So the least you give them the better.
I aim to give you an account of possible health problems the breed may come across.
- BLOAT
- ELBOW DYSPLASIA
- HIP DYSPLASIA
- PANOSTEITIS
- KIDNEY FAILURE
- SKIN ALLERGIES
- EYE CONDITIONS - Junior Entropion, Entropion, Ectropion, Cherry eye.
- EAR INFECTIONS
- CANCERS
- MISS ALIGNMENT OF TEETH - This can take up to 2 years to correct.
- HEART FAILURE - DILATED CARDIO MYOPATHY - TAURINE DEFICIENCY
- VACCINE DAMAGE
I will describe each health issue below and what can be done. All of the above requires vets. When you buy a Bracco insure it. So you have then all the help possible at your finger tips. If you can afford it you need at least £10,000 to £15,000.
Insure your dog for the day you pick it up. Do not use free insurances which can be a problem if you claim on them.
Always tell your breeder if your dog develops any health problems which could be hereditary. So they can work around the problem.
BLOAT & GASTRIC TORSION
Ten years ago I sat through a health seminar on Bloat with Dr Professor Dick White who started Dick White referrals and he gave an interesting perspective on bloat. Sadly a lot of dogs will not make it through bloat and gastric torsion.
There are many theories as to the cause of bloat but one of the main denominators is STRESS. Over exercise on a full stomach. Over eating. Kibble foods causing gas. Cancers. After a bitch has whelped. Be insured as operations can cost £5000 upwards.
It is the mother of all emergencies and you can not hang around if you suspect Bloat.
Symptoms - Standing haunched, trying to hide, yawning, under a bush, expanded rib cage, trying to be sick and can not be sick, collapse, die.
You can not leave this and hope it gets better. You must go to the vets as soon as possible.
ELBOW DYSPLASIA