Brief historical notes:
The origins of the Italian hound are very ancient and our hound must certainly be traced back to the primitive racing dogs of ancient Egypt then brought to the Mediterranean coasts by Phoenician traders. Thus these ancient racing dogs have also arrived in Italy. It was possible to ascertain from the examination of numerous Egyptian drawings of the Pharaonic periods the presence of dogs in ancient Egypt very similar to the current hound. In fact, in them we also note the peculiarity of the hanging ears, an undoubted sign of the advanced domesticity. It can therefore be concluded that the ancient racing dog, not to be confused with the greyhounds, landed in Italy giving rise to our current hound, which has remained almost unchanged in its general anatomical lines. Dogs of the same type and stature as our current hounds are depicted in the two statues of "Diana the huntress" (Naples Museum). and of “Diana scoccando arco” (Vatican Museum). In the castle of Borso d'Este (1600) there is a painting of a dog representing the perfection of our Italian hound.
General appearance of the dog
The conformation generated is that of a mesomorph whose trunk is in the strongly built square, of perfect symmetry, of well developed bone with lean shapes, provided with good muscles but with absolute absence of fat, dolichocephalic head with diverging superior longitudinal craniofacial axes , short-haired coat.
Important proportions
Length of the trunk equal to the height at the withers (stands in the square); the height of the chest is equal to half of the height at the withers, that is, the height of the chest is equal to the height of the forelimb from the ground to the elbow. The length of the nasal bridge is equal to half the total length of the head.
Behavior and character
Hunting dog, followed, which adapts well to the most disparate terrains - equipped with good resistance and speed, works full of ardor both isolated and in pack - daring temperament but not very expansive character, sweet look, ringing and very pleasant voice.
Head
Cranial region
The shape of the skull, seen from above, is oval. The directions of the axes of the skull and the nasal bridge are divergent - upper profile of the skull slightly convex - bizygomatic width of the skull is less than half the total length of the head - little developed superciliary arches - little marked frontal sulcus - clear occipital crust , prominent but without exaggeration, short lengthwise.
Stop
Degrees of accentuation approximately 140 °
Facial region
Truffle
Roughly parallelepiped-shaped, sufficiently large, well open and mobile nostrils but with somewhat lateral openings, always black in color.
Muso
The length of the muzzle is equal to half of the total length of the head, its height or depth must slightly exceed half the length of the muzzle itself, the width of the muzzle measured at half of its length must be slightly below the fifth. of its total length of the head, the profile of the nasal bridge is slightly convex (ram), the lateral faces of the muzzle are convergent to each other, the branches of the mandible tend to a straight line in all their length and the body of the mandible itself is poorly developed anteriorly. The lower lateral profile of the muzzle is given by the upper lip.
Lips
The lips are fine and thin, little developed in height both in front and in profile (taut), seen in profile they have at their lower edge the design of a hint of a semicircle with a very wide chord, labial margins always of black pigmentation.
Jaws
The shape of the jaw is truncated cone, vertical position of the incisors with respect to the jaws themselves with scissor bite of the incisors.
Cheeks
Flat and dry
Denti
Teeth white, regularly aligned, complete in development and number, correct pincer bite, scissors allowed.
Eye Countour
Large and bright eyes of dark ocher color and in semi-lateral position, sweet expression, almond-shaped eyelids always pigmented with black.
Ears
The insertion of the ear is at the level of the zygomatic arch or slightly below, it must be hanging and has a twist that brings the whole ear forward, not allowing it to relax or curl up. The ear is triangular in shape, flat in almost all of its length and very wide, the apex must end in a narrow tip, never widely rounded, called apex or tip, twists slightly inwards. The ear is about 70% long of the total length of the head and its width at the point of maximum width is just over half of its length.
Neck
Profile
The upper profile of the neck has a slight arch; that is, slightly convex.
Length
Its length is equal to or almost the total length of the head, that is, it must reach 4/10 of the height at the withers.
Forma
The neck is of a truncated cone shape, the neck is very dry and light to the point of giving the impression of a not very muscular neck (long muscles).
Leather
Fine, taut, no creases, no dewlap, short hair.
Trunk
Top line
Rectilinear upper line that descends harmoniously from the withers to the rump, presenting a modest convexity to the lumbar region.
Withers
The withers are not very high on the dorsal line, narrow due to the approximation of the points of the shoulder blades, in harmonious fusion with the attachment of the neck.
Back
The upper profile of the back is straight, muscles not very conspicuous, the length of the thoracic part is the length of the lumbar part as 3 to 1, the length of the lumbar part is a little less than one fifth of the height at the withers, the width of the part lumbar approach to its length, the musculature of the lumbar part is well developed in length and width.
Croup
The upper profile of the rump hints at a slight convexity, the direction of the rump presents an inclination on the horizontal of about 10 degrees, the length of the rump reaches approximately one third of the height at the withers and its width is approximately the half of its length; good muscle mass.
Chest
The length of the chest or rib is half or slightly less than the height at the withers and its width (transverse diameter) measured at half of its height is approximately one third of the height at the withers, the chest must go down to elbow or almost, the ribs are not very sprung therefore not very convex, the thoracic circumference is a quarter higher than the height at the withers, moderately broad chest.
Bottom line
The lower profile is typical as it is given by a straight line in all its length, which rises from the sternum to the belly and the latter is very dry even if not very retracted.
Tail
The junction of the tail high on the line of the rump. It is small at the root and uniform throughout its length, such as to look like a breadstick, with the exception of the tip which is very thin. The length of the tail is such that its tip reaches the point of the hock or almost. Covered with short hair along its entire length. In repose the tail is carried hanging, in action it rises up to exceed the dorsal line.
Arts
Fore limbs
Overall: the vertical line seen in profile must highlight the imaginary vertical line that descends from the scapula-humeral joint to the ground touching the fingertips, as well as the imaginary vertical line that divides the forearm starting from the humero-radial joint. and the carpus in two almost equal parts coming out in the middle of the metacarpus. Seen from the front, the plumb line must show the vertical image lowered to the ground from the point of the shoulder and divides the forearm, the carpus, the metacarpus, and the foot into two sensibly equal parts. The height of the whole front limb up to the elbow is equal to half the height at the withers.
Back
The length of the shoulder reaches one third of the height at the withers, its inclination on the horizontal is from 45 ° to 55 °, its muscles are long, lean, clean and well divided, angle of the shoulder-blade joint of 110 °. approximately.
Arm
The length of the arm is approximately half the height of the forelimb at the elbow, its direction in relation to the vertical is almost parallel to the median plane of the body. The top is equipped with long and lean muscles.
Elbow
Position at the level of the sternal line or slightly below and parallel to the median plane of the body, its tip must be on the perpendicular, which descends from the tip of the scapula. Humero-radial angle from 135 ° to 145 °.
Forearm
Its length is about one third of the height at the withers, it is perpendicular to the ground and has a very evident carpio-cubital groove giving the impression of a dry and very lean limb and not very boned.
Carpo
Dry, follows the straight line of the forearm.
Pastern
The length of the pastern must not be less than the sixth of the entire front limb at the elbow, wider than the carpus but flat and dry. Seen in profile, the pastern is slightly inclined from back to front, black pigmentation of the plantar pads.
Hind limbs
Overall: the plumb seen in profile must highlight the imaginary vertical that descends from the tip of the buttock to the ground touching the fingertips or almost. Seen from the rear, the plumb line must show an imaginary vertical which descends from the point of the buttock to the ground, cutting the tip of the hock, metatarsus and foot into two equal parts. The total length of the hind limb is approximately 93% of the height at the withers.
Leg
Long and wide. Its length is not less than the third of the height at the withers. The width of the thigh (external face) is approximately three quarters of its length, the muscles are salient but clearly divided and the posterior edge of the thigh itself is not very convex. Coxo-femoral joint angle from 90 ° to 95 °.
Gamba
The length of the leg is slightly less than that of the thigh, its inclination on the horizontal is about 40 °. The leg is covered with lean muscles also in its upper part, firm and well defined of each other, well marked and evident leg groove, well protruding external saphenous vein, rather light but very solid bone structure.
Knee
The knee must be well perpendicular to the hind limb, that is, the patella must not move too much inwards or outwards, angle of the femoro-tibial joint of about 115 °.
Hock
Its width is approximately equivalent to the tenth part of the height at the withers, the distance from the sole of the foot to the tip of the hock must not exceed 27% of the height at the withers (low hock), the bone is strong with saliences. well evident bones that denote the dryness of the region, ankle-tarsal angle of about 135 °.
Metatarsus
Its length is less than half of the foreleg to the elbow, less broad than the hock, it is in a vertical position that is perpendicular to the ground. Spurs absent.
Foot
It is less oval than the previous one and with all the requisites of the latter.
Gait
On the hunt, at a gallop.
Leather
Fine and thin skin, well adherent to the body in every region, the pigment of the mucous membranes, scleroses, nails, soles of the plantar and digital pads must be absolutely black. The black pigment on the palate is not prescribed but constitutes a quality.
cloak
Hair
Short coat all over the body, glassy texture, dense, uniformly smooth; however, there may be rare hard hairs scattered on the trunk and on the muzzle and on the limbs which do not constitute a defect.
Color
The admitted colors are: unicolour fawn in all its shades from deep red fawn to washed out fawn: black and tan. The markings in the fixed locations, that is muzzle, eyebrows, chest, limbs from carpus to foot and from tarsus to foot, as well as perineum. The fawn can have white on the muzzle and on the skull (symmetrical mask or not), white star on the chest, on the neck, on the metacarpals, on the metatarsals, on the feet, at the tip of the tail. But white is not desirable and the less of it the better. The black and tan can carry the white star on the chest and in this case the Italian hound is called tricolor. Brown is not allowed. (coffee, liver).
Size and weight
Height at the withers
Our boys from 52 to 58 cm. - Females from 48 to 56 cm.
Weight :
From 18 to 28 kg. Males must have two testicles of normal appearance and well descended into the scrotum.
Defects
Any deviation of the characteristics indicated in the description of the various regions constitutes a defect, which must be penalized in the judgment in relation to its gravity and its diffusion, as well as the continued ambition. 2 cm more or less in height are tolerated when it comes to an excellent subject.
Eliminating defects
Head
Convergent craniofacial axes. When the heights are higher or lower than the tolerance margins.
Defects from disqualification
Ognathism, concave nasal bridge, monorchidism, cryptorchidism, incomplete development of one or both testicles, congenital or artificial anurism or brachiurism, slate or lead color, brindle, coffee, brown or liver or predominantly white, total or most of the nose and eyelid margins, wall eye.