This article will benefit you if you have planned to get a Segugio Italiano home as your pet and wish to obtain more information about the same.
This article will give you all the information you require about Segugio Italiano, including Breed Information, history, temperament, health, grooming needs, and more. We have even included pictures of the Segugio Italiano so that you understand their physical appearance better.
[wpdatatable id=115]Breed Information About Segugio Italiano
What’s the easiest way to describe this breed? Loyal, elegant, agile, brave, even-tempered, and courageous. That’s what sums up the personality of this Italian gentleman. Bred for hunting boars in the past, these dogs stand out because of their powerful noses and sturdy legs. It makes them all the more enticing.
The breed is divided into two groups based on its hair type. One is the Segugio Italiano a Pelo Forte, the wire-haired type. The other is Segugio Italiano a Pelo Raso, or the short-haired kind. It’s the coat that distinguishes these dogs. Otherwise, they are similar to each other in most other traits. They are close cousins of two other Italian breeds – the Segugio dell’Appennino, and the Segugio Maremmano.
They would rise to the stature of being wonderful pets if you can devote sufficient time to utilize their high energy well.
History of The Segugio Italiano
The exact origin of the Segugio Italiano remains to be discovered. Yet, sources say that they owe their lineage to the Egyptian hounds brought to Italy by the traders. There has been evidence of the fact that these are ancient dogs. In the pre-Roman era in Italy, the scent hounds were used for hunting wild boars.
Some of the statues of ancient Rome, particularly the ones in Rome’s Vatican Museums and Naples’ National Archaeological Museum, portray a hunting dog accompanying Diana the Huntress. Sources deem these dogs in statues strikingly similar to the Segugio Italiano of the present times.
Traditionally these dogs were employed in hunting wild boars. When wild boar hunting became less popular in Italy’s countryside, these dogs experienced a population decline. To be more precise, their numbers dwindled drastically after the Second World War. Thanks to the initiatives of the houndsmen, teamed with the undying stamina of these dogs, they were saved from extinction.
The present-day Segits hunt smaller games, mostly rabbits, and are employed to kill them.
While some kennel clubs regard the short-haired and wire-haired varieties as one, a few consider them separate. The FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) regards the Pelo Forte and Pelo Raso as two breeds. It recognized the rough-haired variety in 1956 and the smooth-haired variety in 1993.
The ENCI (Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana) also walks on the same lines as the FCI. Italy’s national stud book registered 1740 wire-haired dogs and 4500 short-haired dogs.
The AKC (American Kennel Club) added it to their Foundation Stock Service in 2018, recognizing dogs with both coat types as a single breed.
More About The Segugio Italiano
Also nicknamed Segit, the Segugio Italiano is one of Italy’s popular breeds. Though, it is yet to gain popularity in the United States. They were efficient hunters in the past. They continue to do their job to the tee in their place of origin, even at present. Let’s take a look at their appearance, temperament, and other behavioral traits. It would help to know more about this breed.
Appearance
This breed gives the impression of a lean, muscular breed adding to its elegant appearance. Segugio Italianos are well-boned, with well-muscled bodies, almost square when seen sideways.
These dogs have a slightly convex tapering muzzle, half their head’s length. Their lips are thin and fine, while the rims appear black. Their jaws replicate a truncated cone, with white teeth and properly aligned.
The Segugio Italiano has big, almond-shaped eyes. It contributes to the softness and intelligence in their expression. Their low-set long ears, hanging loosely, take their cuteness to another level. The ears should reach 70% of their head’s length.
Their high-set long tail is thin near the base, fine throughout, and near the tips. The tail hangs when the dog is at rest but is carried high when it is in action.
Size
These lean dogs with a muscular build measure around 19 -24.5 inches. The short-haired dogs are an inch smaller than their wire-haired counterparts. Weightwise, the males are 44-62 pounds. The females are smaller, weighing 39-57 pounds on average.
Personality And Temperament
This one is a breed with high stamina and intense energy. So, you should go for it only if you are willing to devote ample time to its physical activities.
These high-energy dogs excel as ideal companions.
What makes the Segugio Italiano a family dog? Its docile and gentle temperament makes it perfect for individuals of any age.
It was an efficient working dog in the past. The breed carries the lineage to the present time as well.
It is a diligent worker and always looking to cater to its owner’s needs. Being aggressive or shy isn’t a part of its personality trait. Dogs with such temperament are considered a fault as per the breed standards.
The Segugio Italiano is cautious and courageous. It makes it a fabulous watchdog for homes. Needless to say that it is reserved and suspicious of strangers at the onset. But, the dog will not attack a person it isn’t familiar with.
They aren’t Velcro dogs. True that they won’t be clingy. Yet this breed bonds well with their family, desiring and loving their company.
Health Problems
They are a healthy breed yet may suffer from health problems most common in big dogs. Let’s talk about these in detail.
Ear Infections
Since they have long ears, these dogs are susceptible to ear infections. When they have an infection, the ears become inflamed and red, with a foul-smelling odor. In severe cases, the ears could get thick and crusty. So, cleaning and taking good care of their ears is always important.
Bloating
Like other deep-chested dogs, bloating is common in this breed also. Therefore, owners should monitor their diet closely. Avoid exercising your dogs right after a meal. Keep a 2-3 hours gap. If they suffer from bloating immediate medical intervention is needed. Else it might be fatal. A bloated dog will have a distended and hard stomach. He will also drool excessively and also show overall discomfort.
Care
When you have a Segugio Italiano at home, you need to give it plenty of exercises. Reserve at least 2-3 hours for their physical activities. Lest managing these dogs could get challenging.
It can include 30-45 minutes of walking and around an hour and a half of playtime. If you aren’t able to take the dog out every day, there’s an alternative as well.
You can arrange two major outings weekly: a hike session or a long walk in the woods. This way, you can compensate for not taking your dog out daily. However, that’s only possible if yours is an active home. Do not a good option for apartments. If you still have one, you must take it out daily.
They’ll be a perfect candidate for dog sports like obedience, agility, and rally. It will even help them be in a good physical and mental state.
Taking care of these dogs’ big ears is of immense importance. Clean its ears regularly, and also ensure that you keep them dry. Remember to flip over its ears from time to time. It will help the air to pass into their ear canal, minimizing the chances of infection.
Also, check their nails from time to time. Trim them once a month or whenever the nails get long. Brush your dog’s teeth twice or thrice a week. It will prevent plaque buildup.
Feeding
A diet high in protein but low in fat is apt for performance dogs like the Segugio Italiano. Free feeding isn’t a good option for these dogs since they are prone to obesity.
Give them high-quality dry dog food divided into two meals. Keep fresh and clean water near their food bowl, especially during warm weather.
Coat Color And Grooming
They come in several coat colors, which include black and tan, grizzle, tawny, and tan and black. These dogs may have markings of white visible on their chest and face.
These dogs have two distinct varieties of coat – the Pelo Raso, or the short-haired kind, and the Pelo Forte, or the wire-haired kind. The Pelo Raso variety has a smooth and short coat, whereas the Pelo Forte type has a rough and coarse coat.
They are minimal shedders, so brushing their coats once or twice a week will help keep them in good shape.
Children And Other Pets
Because of their gentle demeanor, these dogs get along well with the family’s kids. They are big, athletic dogs, so make sure that you supervise their interaction with little ones.
The Segugio Italiano will do well with other dogs of the family. But, when it comes to new dogs, the breed may only accept it readily if socialized well. Remember, proper socialization is always the key to a dog’s obedient behavior.
Smaller pets, like cats, rabbits, and hamsters, aren’t the best option to keep with the Segugio Italiano. Due to their hunting lineage, these dogs have a strong prey drive, which can be triggered when they contact smaller pets.
Training
Their eagerness to please and willingness to learn new things make training easy. Yet, they might act stubborn at times. So, a firm trainer is needed to handle them with tactfulness and intelligence.
Early socialization is a mandate for all dogs, irrespective of the breed. It helps them cope well with their surrounding world without much aggression or fear.
When you socialize your dog well, he will have a more relaxed demeanor when interacting with people and pets unknown to him.
Socialization means accepting the unknown slowly. But, if you expose your dog to varied people and situations, they will eventually learn the difference between the good and the bad. The result will be that they wouldn’t perceive all strangers as a threat. Instead, they will learn to judge people well.
Another important aspect to pay attention to is obedience training. Start it early when your dog is 8-12 weeks old. A dog trained well on commands since its puppy days appear more disciplined as it grows older. The basic commands each dog must learn include ‘Come, ‘Stay,’ ‘Heel,’ and ‘Sit.’ Once it has mastered these, you can move on to the complex commands.
They aren’t difficult to housetrain, and you must start that early to prevent accidents in your home when they grow up. Be gentle, and never scold your dog for any mess he makes during the training session.
Conclusion
Do you have a really busy home? Then, this breed will be a perfect match for your household. If you’re looking for a canine friend to match your steps as you set out on a hiking spree- no dog could be more perfect than this one. You’ll be amazed to see the resilience and ease with which it runs when assigned a task. But if you are looking for a lap dog to laze with you on the couch, this isn’t the right dog for you.
FAQs
They aren’t a perfect match for apartment dwellers because of their high energy levels. These dogs will thrive the best in big, spacious homes with fences. Yet, if you live in an apartment or a condo, and have this breed as your pet, exercise it a lot.
Overall they aren’t a nuisance barker. However, these dogs bark the most when indulged in the work they enjoy the best – to follow a scent. They get vocal and excited, then. They show their anxiousness through a deep bark which sounds musical as well.
If it’s a reputable breeder from whom you’ve bought your dog, the cost could be high – around $600-$1200. Dogs having exceptional bloodlines could cost higher, close to $2000. However, the price will be lesser if bought from a shelter home.
These dogs were used for hunting wild boar, rabbits, and hares. They would either hunt singly or in groups. Upon pursuing their prey, these dogs would get excited and bay loudly like other scent hounds. The immense stamina of this breed is highlighted through their ability to stay in their workplace for as long as 12 hours sans any break.
Hi, I’m Walter,
I live in Oklahoma City, USA, and have extensive dog caring and grooming expertise. In addition, I provide dog training tips and tricks through my blogs in Canine Weekly. I have a Dog Behavior and Training diploma and have previously worked as a Dog Trainer at ROC Animal Training and Behavior and Tip Top K9 of OKC Dog Training.
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