The Italian hound, elegant and noble in form, sagacious and passionate in character
We all know the Italian hound, and we all know that he was born for hunting, but especially to hunt hares. What everyone does not know is that the origins of the dog as a hound are very remote. We know for sure, for example, that since the Paleolithic, the ancestors of those who would later become five-star hounds already accompanied the man during the hunt and to tell us about it we think of various kinds of figurations, mainly cave paintings. That of Cueva de la Vieja represents, for example, a dog chasing and detaching its prey, bringing it to the hunter. One would think that things have not changed too much.
Xenophon thought of describing these particularly astute dogs in his famous, at least for dog lovers, Cinegetico. It was the Romans, later, who created a first subdivision between races: the hounds (sagaces) were endowed with an amazing nose and an exceptional sense of smell, able to follow the traces even in the worst conditions. Then there were the greyhounds (celeres) faster than the wind in following their prey on sight and the molossoids (pugnaces) excellent in attacking.
Much later, in 1898, the National Dog Association brought forth a new distinction, this time relating to our own hounds.
Among the best known, it is impossible to forget the Lomellini or plains, according to some the purest and closest breed to the Italian Hound, the Cravin, from Piedmont, whose origin is probably to be found among the hounds of Gaul. No less attractive and capable is the Montagnino born between the Alps and the central-eastern Prealps, and the Apennine Hound was selected from the Apennines. To date, the Italian company Pro Segugio is working to obtain the recognition of the Italian Lepraiolo, which should include the characteristics of the aforementioned hounds, both in terms of morphology and in terms of psycho-attitudinal traits.
When we talk about the Italian Hound, however, we refer to two identical breeds both in structure and traits, but which differ in the type of coat: the short-haired hound and the strong-haired hound.
The selection of the Italian hound was long and morphological and behavioral traits were defined to give it identity. The size had to be between 48 and 58 cm, but above all an attempt was made to eliminate all those traits and characteristics that denoted the fusion between Italian and foreign hounds: the particularly developed auricle and rounded end, the skull with a characteristic dome shape, or the coat excessively stained with white.
To differentiate the Italian breed there was also the rumor that in the Italian Hound it is the scagno, in the French one it is the scream. Furthermore, Italians also demonstrate greater sagacity than foreign specimens.
Finally it was also decided not to accept the spur present in the hind limbs as it was a clear demonstration of influences by the Bracco or the Spinone.
The Italian hound (short-haired or strong-haired) is today the result of this rigorous selection and has a very noble mesomorph structure, with a square trunk. It is well suited to hunting in the plains and in the mountains, and does not let itself be frightened by even the most difficult terrain. Excellent speed and endurance, and unparalleled passion and determination that he shows both when he works alone and when he is in a suit. The differences between short-haired and strong-haired hounds are found only at the behavioral level. The latter is certainly less exuberant and more reserved than the first, although both temperamentally they are calm, balanced, mentally lively and sagacious.
Luigi Zacchetti, who for a long time observed the hunting hound, defined him not by chance as the best for hunting hare with a rifle. To justify this choice certainly his very fine sense of smell, but above all his passion in following the track, his tenacity and excellent resistance to fatigue.
How to recognize a real Italian hound? It is a dog that hunts us with class and style, capable of respecting the four fundamental phases, from the search for the past, to the approach, to the discovery and finally to the pursuit. And to warn his fellow hunter he will use his shrill and very pleasant voice that had convinced even Zacchetti. Finally, as regards its diet, it is good to remember that during periods of full activity its diet must be slightly richer: for this reason, a daily meal consisting of meat (about 300 g), rice (about 150 g) is recommended. association with cooked vegetables.