Hare hunting. Do we all agree that perfection is not of this world? Yet when we talk about dogs, when we talk about hunting dogs, when we talk about hare hunting dogs all, without exception, we aspire to the perfect hound. Which is right then, being satisfied has never taken any hunter far, yet I have only ever heard of perfect dogs. Could it be due to the fact that perfection is variable and depends also and above all on the tastes of the canettiere? Whatever the truth, there are traits that a top hare in dealing with the big owl should possess: come to think of it, they are all traits that the hunter should be proud of, in one way or another. There are five of them and if you have a dog at home that owns them all, good for you.
Moderation and balance
Both dog and dog must be balanced. In both moderation and balance allow you to regulate action and reaction to any situation. Take for example the unstoppable desire of the wild that many lepraioli show: a balanced dog will be able to control this sensation avoiding useless jerks, counterproductive returns, speeding up and optimizing every hunting action.
Balance is also useful in other situations: a balanced dog is able to behave in the field also based on the type of terrain and the type of day. A balanced dog is a patient dog, able to concentrate, not necessarily old but certainly experienced. Patience and concentration will help him to give his best to solve the puzzles that the hare often disseminates on the hunting ground.
The bark
Okay, maybe this isn't exactly a trait that has to belong to the dog, but certainly a good dog has to be able to read their dog's voice. If the hunter can do without it, as far as the hare is concerned, a good voice, used properly, is an essential trait. All the hounds scream, all the hounds scagnano, but only the out-of-class do it wisely. Having a dog that knows how to use its voice properly is not only acoustically pleasant, but also quite functional, since the vocal emissions can tell us a lot about the condition of the hunting action. Obviously, what I tell you to do, the voices that have no justification are to be completely rejected: they are annoying, confuse hunter and dogs, and certainly do not help to find the wild first. Through a voice used in the best way, the canettiere who knows how to listen can always have the situation in hand.
Stubbornness
The obstinacy and tenacity of the dogs who love hunting have it all, yet each one shows them in different degrees, just like the canettieri. If you want to test your degree of tenacity and that of your dog, all you have to do is try your hand in difficult hunting grounds, in which the presence of the hare is scarce. It is enough to wait for the middle of the season, when the abundance of hare (as long as there has ever been) is a vague memory, to find the ideal terrain and conditions. The remaining hares, the survivors, the super hares will give you a hard time because more than many other wild ones they are able to put you in difficulty, to understand your behavior and the dogs and to predict it, using situations to their advantage. Just on the fouls we can test the tenacity and obstinacy: some might call it stubbornness, but they are appreciable character traits both in the canter and in the lepraiolo that are often able to make a difference.
Experience and instinct
Instinct, intuition, experience, call it what you want. There are dogs that have this behavioral trait and dogs that don't and never will. You can see it in the dog from the first moment, during the search. This super dog will inspect places neglected by others with punctuality and care, where the possibility of meeting is scarce… but there is. They are not precise and attentive dogs, they are dogs with instinct, a trait that is also good for the canettiere. Instinct doesn't explain it to you, but it can often make a difference.
Physicality and form
We close with an obvious trait but one that must never be taken for granted. Just like intelligence, essential in a dog and in a canettiere, physical fitness is also an essential detail. To better treat her, carefully manage her diet and your diet and experience nature and the territory as much as possible, always training.