I just recently heard of a girl who met a man with a black puppy, looking very much like a flatcoated retriever (this happened in Sweden). To her astonishment the owner of the puppy said it was an Italian black setter. My question is: Is there such a breed? I have personally never heard of it myself. But on a site about Bracco Italiano, that breed was also called Italian pointer (which I could sort of understand) as well as ITALIAN SETTER! Is this correct? Could they be solid black and have a longer coat as well?

Yours Sincerely

Eva Christensson
Sweden

Welcome to the forum Eva.

Italy has only two native gundog breeds. The Bracco Italiano and the Italian Spinone. Both breeds are also known as Italian Pointers although neither is Black !! I believe that somewhere in spin history, they were originally known as Italian Coarsehaired Setters?
Black is not recognised in either breed today and I'm not sure that it ever was :-)

Maybe that could explain the confusion over names?

Leigh