Features of the dog breed Volpino Italiano

Magnificent Italian Spitz is called Volpino Italiano, these are small dogs, beautiful, long-haired. Thanks to their attractive fox look, they resemble puppet dogs. But this should not mislead the future owners: Volpino do an excellent job with the functions of watchmen. They are characterized by decisiveness, courage, wariness in relation to strangers. As for the relationship with a close circle, family members have nothing to fear - Italians are very affectionate, affectionate, positive, love to play.

The ancestors of the Italian Spitz first appeared on the territory of Europe in the Bronze Age. Dog handlers traced the history of the breed to such ancient times. The Italian dog became the progenitor of a very large number of different breeds.

Most often these dogs were bred by Florentine dog breeders. Beautiful animals were often depicted in the paintings by famous artists of the Middle Ages. These wonderful dogs were brought not only by noble gentlemen and famous people, for example, Michelangelo Buonarroti, but also ordinary inhabitants.

The breed owes its name to the Italian word "fox" (volpino). That is, in a literal translation, the name of the breed means "Italian fox." The first official recognition of the breed dates from 1901. Standards and requirements for the exterior appeared 10 years later. In the middle of the 20th century, the International Cynological Federation registered a breed that was on the verge of extinction after the Second World War. In the 60s, there were only five purebred representatives.

In the 80s, Italy began a state program to restore the breed, which is in a deplorable state, thanks to which the dogs were saved. Breeders were able to fully return a healthy and strong breed of Italian Spitz.

The "Italian fox" has a fairly compact size, its body is extremely harmoniously developed, proportional. The coat is elongated, raised above the skin. Moderate sexual dimorphism is observed. External description:

• growth at the withers - from 25 to 30 cm, depending on gender;
• the head is wedge-shaped, its length is slightly less than half of the entire body;
• the frontal zone is convex;
• the muzzle is strongly narrowed to the nose, the nose itself is straight, open nostrils;
• black mouth, lips tightly pressed to the teeth;
• a bite in the form of scissors, but it can also be straight, according to this sign the dogs are not rejected;
• round eyes have a medium size, black eyelids and a dark ocher shade of the iris;
• ears in the shape of a triangle, stand high, short, slightly inclined forward, located close to each other, length ½ the length of the entire head;
• neck length is approximately ½ the length of the head;
• straight back;
• convex lower back;
• the croup is inclined horizontally, not explicitly;
• the ribcage descends to the elbow, the ribs are rounded;
• the tail is bent, rises above the back, the length is slightly less than the height of the dog;
• the limbs are parallel, stand upright, the legs are oval, the fingers are tightly pressed, the pads and claws are painted black;
• the coat has a thick type, dense, coarse, straight, sticks out;
• in the neck area there is a voluminous collar of wool, on the head there is a plentiful cover of medium length, hiding the ears at the base, the muzzle is covered with shortened hair, the down on the ears is soft, snug, the back paws have hairs, the tail is covered with elongated hair;
• the color according to the standard is reddish or snow-white, champagne is occasionally found, but is not welcomed by dog ​​handlers.

The nature of the Volpino is very friendly, optimistic, balanced, calm, while also very decisive and courageous. These are incredibly loyal creatures, very loving hosts., affectionate, faithful. Among the undoubted advantages of this dog are patience, intelligence, quick wit, curiosity. They rarely throw tantrums, await the return of the owners calmly, very active, cheerful, energetic. The character practically does not change over the years, until they are old, they remain mobile and curious.

Excitement makes them bark loudly, this can occur both during the game and in other situations. Be prepared that, waiting for the ball, before the jump, obstacle or in other similar situations, the dog will bark. The watchdog qualities of the dog are excellent: if she hears the slightest rustling, she will certainly warn the owners. A doorbell or knock will not be left without her attention. At the same time, teaching her to distinguish rustles and noises according to the degree of danger does not seem difficult.

Over time, the dog will learn to respond only to those noises that can be considered dangerous. This, of course, requires education, training. If this is not done, the dog will be a real idol, barking at any rustle and movement. The Italian Spitz is distrustful of strangers, he is afraid of them, but he is disposed to acquaintances and is absolutely friendly.

It is necessary to properly organize the communication of the dog with strangers to her, although she rarely shows aggression, preferring to avoid contact if she does not like the person. In ordinary life, the dog is very calm, rarely nervous or angry.

In order for a pet to be educated and obedient, it must be socialized from an early age, in which case it will be complaisant. This breed is an excellent partner for children, the elderly.

Ideally, it is better to start such a dog with older children, who can explain how to behave with animals, since it is very easy for a dog to do harm. Italian Spitz gets along well not only with children, but also with other pets, especially if they grow together.

The dog is distinguished by a sharp mind, good quick wit, responds very well and interacts with a person. The dog is great as the first pet, since the difficulties in its nature are not serious. Even an amateur will cope with the upbringing of this dog. Enough basic training, which is easy to learn, to achieve good understanding with the dog. It is important to have patience, perseverance and to maintain consistency in education in order to achieve quick success.

If you decide to purchase a puppy of this breed, you must consider that Volpino nurseries are the most common in Italy, and in our country there are much fewer. In Russia there are only a few professional breeders with whom you can safely deal. Italian spitz are rare in our country, it can take a very long time to wait for the announcement of the sale. Pre-booking is preferable, as a line is formed for the kids.

Before buying a puppy, study the distinctive features and standards of the breed at a young age:

• the coat of the young dog is short, sticks out, gives the impression of a plush surface, in the area of ​​the muzzle and behind the ears it is very short;
• limbs of strong type, paws round;
• eye color - only dark, eyes look like beads;
• the even dark pigment of the nose and lips is important;
• the tail is rounded to the body;
• ears stick out, small in size, but look larger than in adults, up to 2.5 months of age can be tilted forward.

In no case should be observed:

• bald spots, bald patches;
• pus and discharge of fluid from the eyes, nose, ears;
• crusts near the nose;
• any contamination on the body.

Pay attention to the behavior of puppies: as a rule, they are active, energetic, very friendly. Lethargy, apathy, aggressiveness should alert. Check for a puppy card, whether all vaccinations are in the passport.

The price of puppies is usually high, an understatement indicates fraud. The cost is influenced by gender, parental achievements, approximate prospects of the representative. Very rarely dogs without documents and pedigree are sold, as this is not a commercial breed.

Italian Spitz are recommended as decorative dogs for a private house or apartment in the city, although in Italy they are often outdoor, live in booths. Our climate is well suited to dogs, they adapt well, especially since the coat has water-repellent properties, the undercoat is very thick and does not freeze in the cold. In the heat, they feel pretty good, but very shed very much in the season.

Dog handlers recommend organizing the following dog lifestyle:

• you need to walk every day for at least half an hour, if you don’t do this, Volpino will begin to pour out energy in the house, spoil things;
• pets love to play, move, participate in sports, are pretty smart in learning;
• dogs swim well, so if there is an opportunity to go to the pond, the Spitz will be very happy.

As for hygienic care procedures, they are simple, but require regularity:

• combing with a special comb at least once every 7 days, this allows you to reduce the amount of hair in the apartment and avoid the formation of fallen lumps;
• Italians are washed three times a month, the dog is pre-combed, otherwise tangled wool will have to be cut after bathing;
• It is recommended to wash your pet with special shampoos and use conditioners, so that the hair is easy to comb;
• claws are trimmed every 2 weeks with a special clipper;
• if necessary, trim the fur between the fingers;
• once a week, ears, teeth are cleaned;
• rub your eyes twice a day so that there is no leakage.

It is very important to provide the dog balanced nutrition, so that the pet develops well and does not hurt. Diet should be nutritious, high-quality, feed dogs with both prepared feeds and self-cooked food. Ready food is selected from the premium and holistic series, it can be either wet or dry type. It is important that the amount of feed is age appropriate. If you decide to cook for your pet yourself, observe the following proportions:

• ⅓ - protein food, that is, meat, ideally - beef;
• ⅔ - cereal products;
• fruits;
• vegetables;
• sour milk.

If you follow all the recommendations for grooming and feeding, then the dogs will rarely get sick, this is a fairly strong breed. They live up to 16 years, there is a genetic predisposition to the following ailments:

• dislocation of the lens, patella;
• Addison's disease
• cryptorchidism.

Very important do vaccinations on time, carry out treatment against parasites of both external and helminths. Do not self-medicate in case of problems better get a consultation with a veterinarian.

Dogs of this breed are very smart, they think well and quickly, they must be trained. Their curiosity is amazing, but you need to train your pet in classes and training from an early age. In this case, success in raising a disciplined dog is almost guaranteed. If you do not deal with volpino, they can be spiteful, egocentric.

In training, perseverance and gentleness are required at the same time. You can not shout at the dog, let alone beat him. You can’t offend a dog, it will refuse to fulfill the requirements. It is better to devote some time to classes, but daily so that the dog does not get tired and is used to training.

And do not forget to encourage the pet! It takes up to 3 days to study one team, new ones are gradually added, with the obligatory repetition of the previous ones.

About the features of the Volpino Italiano breed, see the next video.