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Bracco italiano

Bracco Italiano Breed of Dog:

The Bracco Italiano, also known as the Italian Setter or the Italian Pointer, is a breed of gun dog that was developed in Italy.



It is thought to be quite an ancient breed, and was quite popular for centuries, until it almost became extinct during the 19th century. Today however, this breed is once again quite popular within Italy, and although it is mostly unheard of in other parts of the world, it is slowly gaining popularity.





Bracco Italiano dogs are medium sized, usually weighing around 35 kilograms; they are lean but muscular, with rather large heads. They have droopy, low set ears, and the lips too tend to be loose and pendulous, giving them a rather worried, solemn expression.



The coat is short and hard, but glossy, and comes in several color combinations, typically orange and white or roan and brown.  Braccos are sweet tempered, affectionate dogs, but they tend to be rather willful and stubborn, so training must begin early, and must be conducted consistently, with patience and adequate motivation for the dog. If you can motivate your Bracco and make training fun, he will learn very quickly. Although they are rarely nervous or aggressive, Bracco Italiano puppies must also be socialized, just like any other breed, to ensure that they get on well with other people and pets, and are able to adapt to new situations when they are older. Braccos love human company and make for great family dogs, but due to the fact that they have been bred as working dogs, this aspect of their temperament must always be kept in mind. Like any other working breed, the Bracco must be kept occupied both physically and mentally, or else it will suffer from boredom and other more serious psychological problems. Daily walks are important, but these alone are no sufficient to keep a Bracco fulfilled and happy. Activities and games that make use of the Bracco’s natural skills as a gun dog are to be preferred.

Braccos do not require much maintenance as far as their coat goes; basic grooming is usually adequate. These are usually healthy dogs, and have no major hereditary health problems. In general however, it is advisable to take the same precautions as you would with any large breed. Avoid excessive exertion while your puppy is still growing, as this can strain the bones and joints, later leading to problems such as bow legs and hip dysplasia.

 
  Submitted on January 27, 2010  
 
 
 

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