Hi im interested in this breed and was wondering if someone could help me with a few questions i have.

Do the males generally get on with other dogs?
Will the dog allow strangers to pet him if the owner is with the dog?
Are they affectionate?
How much exercise a day do they need?
and finally..
Training, how difficult is it to train one??

thanks alot

Have only met them at ringcraft but they seem much the same as other Gundogs. The males are like most others they get on in general but there are exceptions and it depends on the home environment (bitches present) and the amount of socialisation. They appear to accept a stranger petting but some are indifferent. Can't say if they are affectionate or the amount of exercise a day. As to training as they are Gundogs one would think it must be possible without too much trauma.

Hi Guest,

I've got Spinoni, so can answer your questions :)  Unfortunately, I'm at work just now, so this is just a quick response, and I won't be back at my own computer until tomorrow night!  However, if no one else has answered your queries before then, I will post a full reply for you tomorrow night :)

Lesley

http://www.italianspinone.co.uk/

IS belong to the HPR sub group of gundogs and therefore have a slightly different approach to life in general than say the spaniel, retreiver or pointer sub groups :D  They tend to be more independent.

I would say they are one of the most laid back of this group, very affectionate and not particularly protective, unlike some of the sub group and enjoy a bit of a cuddle :D

Trainability - again perhaps a little more compliant than some of the other members of the HPR group :D

You do need to look into the health problems of this breed carefully if you are thinking of purchasing one and their whiskers do tend to attract bits of food etc................

I think they are rather lovely but not for me...........

Hi Guest,

First of all, I hope you've managed to have a look at the website Tohme suggested, as there is a vast range of information there that will be helpful to you.  The things Tohme has said about being of the HPR sub group and what this means are spot on.  In answer to your specific questions, here goes;

Getting on with other males - as Jackie said, on the whole yes they do, but, as with any breed, different factors can come into play, eg bitches in season etc, when you would expect normal male behaviour ;)  Early socialisation with as wide a variety of situations as possible and with as many dogs as possible is important, again as it is with any breed.

Petting by strangers - Spins, on the whole tend to love attention, but I have seen some who are as Jackie says indifferent to attention from strangers (I have one like this - he just thinks there are other more important things in life, like hunting! My other one thinks everybody wants to worship at his paws ;) ).  This doesn't mean they won't tolerate it, rather they will sit there and have the petting, but with an "oh, ok, pet me, I don't mind if you do, don't mind if you don't" sort of attitude.  One thing many spinoni owners will tell you about, myself included, is that they can display an extraordinary empathy and consideration, and will be inordinately gentle with children and people who are perhaps infirm in some way, seeming to know instinctively that gentleness and restraint is called for.

Are they affectionate - oh yes indeed :D  They like a cuddle as Tohme says, and adore their human companionship.  With this in mind, its important to carefully train them from puppyhood to be used to time alone as they can be upset by being left alone.  Plus, a bored Spinone can be a bit of a monkey it has to be said!

Training - how easy?  As Tohme says, HPR breeds are more independent than others in the gundog group, and although Spins are more compliant, good training is a must.   They do have a desire to please their humans, but on the other hand they are very intelligent and extremely good at doing a quick cost/benefit analysis in certain situations, leading to selective deafness etc when it suits!  Training needs to be fair and consistent, encouraging them to know that pleasing you is a really good thing - lots of verbal praise etc when they get it right goes a long way with a Spinone.  But with any breed, you will get back what you put in - and there are no shortcuts :)  There is also a definite Kevin phase, the teenage time, when they will really push their luck.  Keep consistent, firm, but fair with them and they come out the other end of it ok!

Exercise - when they are young and developing you need to be aware of the usual things about limiting exercise.  However, a mature Spinone should be able to work all day, so you need to know that this isn't a breed who will be satisfied with a quick trot round a spot of grass, they will take all the exercise you can give them, and then some, so you are looking at a big commitment to exercise.  Another factor to consider is where you can exercise, because the quality of their exercise can play a big part in helping to ensure you that you have a happy, satisfied spinone.  The best exercise you can give them is in the type of environment where they can use their hunting instincts to the full; exciting places such as woods, moors etc where they can really get going and do what they do best :D

Finally, the health issues Tohme mentioned are important - you need to check that both parents are hip scored and also that the breeder has abided by the ISCGB code of ethics in regards to CA.  There is a lot of info on CA on the site Tohme directed you to.  Also, the beard is a magnet for food and they also slobber, some very much more so than others.  Attention needs to be paid to keeping the beard clean; we regularly wash our boys' beards in a solution of Carex, and we have trained them to the "chops" command which means that they come to get their beards dried when necessary!  Ears also need tending to, and your breeder will give you advice on this.

The Spinone is a fabulous dog, but it's not for everyone, so try to meet as many as you can to see whether they would suit you :) 

Hope this helps, and if there are other things you would like to know, please do register!

Best wishes,

Lesley

My friend has 6 spins and they are really affectionate they come and sit on your lap though you can teach them not to. I dont know much about the breed in terms of exercise and training though but i did look after a litter of 8 when our friends were at work an they were house trained before they went to their new home. And one of them came to our house for a day and  i taught her how to sit using the clicker training within half an hour. But although this breed is adorable i would have a good think about it cause i knew two of them that got really enegetic at about 8 months old but they calmed down after a while. Hope you find this heplfull.

good luck,  luv sarah xxx

Oh yes, the lap sitting, I forgot to mention that :D  If you train them not to they just sit in front of you instead and gaze at you with a piteous look, batting you with their paws every so often to remind you they are there :D 

Lesley

yeah there so cute!! :D at our friends house your scared to get up cause you know that when you come back there will be at least two in your seat! So you have to battle to get back in your place. But cause there so heavy you have to admit defeat and sit on the floor!! oh there so adorable!! :p

luv sarah xxx

Hi I have 4 spins 2 boys and 2 girls, please feel free to contact me at forrestbreeze@dsl.pipex.com if your interested in finding out more , Regards Jill