Italian Hound: Loved in Italy as well as abroad, the Italian hound proves to be an excellent hunting companion in pairs or in packs.
Especially used during hare hunting, the Italian hound is ideal for finding any wild furred and especially in pack, its qualities as a great hunter cannot go unnoticed. Hunter is born Italian hound, and on the other hand he feels unspeakable satisfaction only in hunting practice. Hunters who have one or more of them and who have made them their best hunting friend can tell. The animal is robust, passionate, seems tireless and gives its best on any terrain, whether it is the Po Valley, the Alps or the Apennines. Generally speaking, it can be said that the dog tends to be independent; for this reason, perhaps a hunting training is desirable from a very young age, at least if you want to engage the animation during hunting trips. In that case it must be taken into account that the Italian hound is very capable both individually and in small packs.
Needless to say, the dog expresses itself best in the hare hunting, any good hunter knows this well, yet it proves to be an excellent hunting companion even when it comes to other furred game. Appreciated in Italy just like abroad, the breed is divided into two subgroups, based on the particularities of the coat. For this we speak of Italian short-haired hounds e Italian strong-haired hounds.
As important as it is to make this distinction, it is equally important to remember that the points in common between the two subgroups are truly remarkable, so much so that the differences are insignificant. The physiognomy above all unites them: they are characterized by a muscular body, strong but lean, with large eyes and characteristically hanging ears. The muzzle is elongated and sharp especially towards the nose which diverges from the skull. The tail instead has assumes the characteristic scimitar shape. Beautiful and elegant, intelligent and gifted with a really fine nose, he is particularly loved also for his ability to coexist with the moult. The centuries-old selection in the field, and above all the speed of the breed, together with the resistance and ability to adapt to different climates and terrains, make them excellent hunting dogs for the furred game. On a character level, the animal proves to be particularly expansive and lively, but capable of obeying, especially when the trainer and owner have been able to show him the internal hierarchy of hunting. The main difference that characterizes them, according to many breeders and hunters, is the rather thoughtful and calm character of the strong-haired breed, an attitude that would show off especially during hunting.
It is true that there are some physical differences that should not be underestimated. The short-haired hound has the chiseling of the muzzle and muscles but above all it is more agile and in some cases more aggressive. Its coat is short and fits snugly to the body. The strong-haired breed, on the other hand, is more suitable for thick and particularly cold environments and in addition to being more reflective, it also has a less ringing voice. For the rest, even the history of their origins unites them. According to some specialists, they are the result of crosses between Egyptian racing hounds and Roman molossers, although these theories have not actually found any reliable source. What is certain is that the Italian hound during the Renaissance it was bred and used during different types of hunting, a little as it still happens today. However, what we can admire today is the result of several encounters with foreign hounds that have partially modified their physical and character traits. In any case, to date it proves to be the most popular dog during the chase by followed. As already mentioned, the Italian hound is well suited to hunting alone, in pairs or in packs. Normally these should not be too numerous; the ideal number of specimens is around 6 - 8 animals and of course each one must have its own role and its own specialized talent although in some cases the animals must be shown to be interchangeable exactly as the name of the group, muta, implies. The origin of the term is in fact militaristic, and meant a group of soldiers' dogs or who knows what else that could be alternated, changed from time to time.
A good pack must however be understood as a team with its pure center, with its advanced center, with its finder and with its leader. All dogs must also be in possession, to be part of the group, of some basic requirements: order, balance, tenacity and method. These elements will make hunting even more rewarding and fun. Perhaps this is why the creation of a good suit is a complex activity, which often requires continuous changes based on the evolution of the internal structure. The best teachers? Of course dogs, which teach the good hunter and of course the excellent breeder. Each hound belonging to the group, on the other hand, is endowed with a certain spirit of initiative and dumb, which helps him to carve out his space as long as there is a limited group of specimens. Over time, each animal specializes in a particular phase by finding its own role in finding, following or perhaps solving particular faults.
The collaborative spirit of the animals makes it particularly fascinating to admire a hare hunt even for those who are not cacciatore. In fact, it will be possible to denote the various phases of the search, the approach, the discovery and the follow-up, discovering what are the difficulties encountered and overcome by the animal in the group. To make communication between dog and hunting participants easier, thebark, ringing and very pleasant, which changes as situations change. The hunter has the ability to intuit and interpret the various moments. A fundamental role within the group is that played by the canettiere, an expert hound driver, who knows perfectly the terrain and pack dogs. It is a difficult kind of hunting, which requires passion, experience and excellent symbiosis between hunting companions and animals and perhaps all this together to make it so fascinating and loved.