Noble and faithful, this is the definition given by those who know the breed of Braco-Italian Dog best, and it is not for less, since this dog is truly faithful and affectionate. The Braco-Italians have been appreciated for centuries for their hunting skills, as well as for their good personality, which is why the Italian noble families wanted to have this breed of dog. However, not everything was easy for the Bracos, as this breed went through many difficult times during the Second World War when it was really feared its disappearance. Want to know more about this breed of dog that has survived so many challenges? At Animal Expert we tell you all about Braco-Italiano.
Braco-Italians are considered one of the best hunting dogs, especially for bird hunting, from birth. In Italy, the country of origin of the breed, they were coveted by noble families for their great skills as hunters and also for their beauty.
- It is a breed of distant origin.
- Since the Braco-Italians were born in the late Middle Ages.
- Being descendants of the Tibetan Mastines and Humberto-Dogs.
- The places where the first examples of Braco-Italian appeared were Lombardy and Piedmont.
- Spreading throughout Italy in a short time.
The emergence of other hunting races and the war conflicts of the nineteenth century, as well as the First and Second World War, made the Braco-Italians see the brink of extinction, even though they lived a golden age in the past. Fortunately, an Italian group of Braco-Italian protectors and breeders managed to preserve the breed and re-cultivate it, recovering it and perpetuating it with great success today.
Braco-Italians are large dogs, weighing 25 to 40 kilos depending on their size, ranging from 58 to 67 centimeters for males and 55 to 62 centimeters for females. The life expectancy of Braco-Italians varies between 12 and 14 years.
The body of these dogs is robust and balanced, with thin legs and a well-developed musculature. Its tail is straight and wider at the base than at the tip. The head of the Braco-Italiano is small, with a snout of the same length as the skull and an angle between the frontal bone and the small nasal bone (in fact, almost nothing appears in some examples of Braco-Italian). The eyes have an expression of softness, being brown or ochre in different shades, depending on the color of the hair. The ears are long, reaching the height of the tip of the snout, low and narrow base.
An Italian braco should have a short, dense and shiny fur, especially shorter and thinner on the ears, head and front of the legs. As for the colors of Braco-Italiano, white is the reference tone and combinations with other colors such as orange, amber, brown and violet red are accepted. It is especially appreciated the examples of Braco-Italiano with uniform spots on the face, although this is not necessary to fit the standard characteristics of the breed.
A braco-Italian will show a noble and docile temperament, being a very sociable dog. The Braco-Italiano has become one of the dogs most appreciated by families, since we are faced with an attentive, respectful and patient breed of dog, with ideal personality traits especially if the family is composed of young children. Braco-Italian also gets along very well with other animals. However, if it has already been used for hunting, it may require rehabilitation using positive reinforcement methods. With other dogs living close to perfection.
Although the Braco-Italians adapt perfectly to living in tight spaces, such as small apartments, the best thing is that they have outdoor space to exercise and play freely. So, if you have a braco-Italian and you live in the city, you should go for a walk and exercise with it every day.
One of the main requirements to have a braco-Italian as a pet is its high need for physical activity. It is a dog that requires intense daily physical exercise because it has a lot of energy, something that can be counterproductive if you leave standing for a long time. In case of prolonged inactivity, problems such as aggression, depression, anxiety or destructive behavior may arise. In addition to practicing street exercises, we recommend playing smart games with your Braco-Italian at home, as well as trying to make available several toys that allow the dog to have fun and not get bored at all times.
Its fur, being short, does not require much care, and a weekly brushing is enough to keep it in good condition. In addition, a good diet will be the key to the good condition of your hair and your overall health, so you should provide Braco Italians with a balanced diet and abundant water.
Regular cleaning of eyes, mouth and ears is recommended, thus preventing the accumulation of dirt that can trigger infections or other diseases in your dog.
Because of the characteristics and personality of the Braco-Italian, his training is generally quite simple. We have already said that it is a very noble dog, docile and intelligent, able to learn new things without having to repeat the exercises several times. In any case, it is worth mentioning that Braco-Italiano is particularly adept at activities that require prolonged physical exertion, such as tracking objects or racing in the background. This explains why these dogs were so popular with hunters.
For a braco-Italian to be calm and meet the expectations of its caregivers, it is recommended to start training from an early age, because when puppies can be somewhat stubborn and if this behavior is not changed from an early age, it is possible to stay a lifetime. If you are adopting a Braco-Italian adult, it is important to note that with positive reinforcement and a lot of patience, it is possible to educate it perfectly. As always, the key to success lies in the frequency of activities and, above all, in ensuring the welfare of dogs, because an animal trained with inadequate techniques will be unhappy and will not present the expected results.
In general, braco-Italians are strong and resistant dogs, but this does not exclude the possibility of presenting certain diseases that we need to know to detect and treat them as soon as possible. One is hip dysplasia, a bone problem that affects the hip joint. This disease is common in large breeds and its treatment can be complicated if not detected early.
Another of the most common diseases among braco-Italians are ear infections or ear infections, so it is so important to frequently clean the ears of dogs with dog products.
Braco-Italians can suffer many other conditions, even if they are not as common as the previous ones. Some of them are entropion and ectropion that affect the eyes, cryptorchidism and monorchidism that affect the testicles, or intestinal problems such as dangerous gastric sprains.
Therefore, it is essential to carry out periodic checks in the veterinarian, which in addition to analyzing the general health of your puppies, will also be able to apply the necessary vaccines, as well as internal and external deworming.