Bracco Italiano Breed Profile

Head: Somewhat dolichocephalic skull type, the skull is long, angular, and narrow compared to the length and in proportion to the rest of the body. From above, the skull appears to taper from the back skull toward the tip of the nose only slightly and almost imperceptibly. The topskull plane appears as a very open (slight) arch. When viewed from above, the topskull forms an elongated ellipse. The topskull width, measured at its widest point in front of the ears, is approximately ½ the total length of the skull. The frontal bulge of the forehead and supraorbital ridges are perceptible. The median furrow and frontal groove are slightly marked. The occiput is fairly well-marked. The head is furnished with somewhat looser skin and moderately pendulous lips, flews, and ears. However, dogs with loose skin around the eyes or drooping eyelids are to be heavily penalized.

Eyes: The eyes are set well into the skull, are medium in size, and are oval-shaped. The eyelids should be well-fitting, never appearing heavy, loose, sunken, with exposed haw, or with any sign of ectropion or entropion. Color should be as dark as possible, preferably a dark ochre to brown color, but may include hazel, amber, or light brown. Loose eyes in any capacity have the tendency to capture debris and are not conducive to a working dog’s ability to perform the task at hand without injury to the eyes.

Ears: The ears are long, large, hound-type ears that are set low on the skull. Ears should extend no further than the point of the nose without being stretched or pulled forward, as longer ears are prone to dragging the ground and retaining dirt and moisture. The ear is set somewhat back and in line with the zygomatic arches. The inner edge is held close to the cheeks, while the outer edges may have some lift, especially apparent when alert.

Muzzle: Strongly developed, equal in length to the topskull, and uniformly broad throughout. The upper and lower jaws have good bone substance. They are strong and well-developed, never appearing snipey or weak. The plane of the muzzle may be straight and level or convex (Roman nose).

Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, liver, or self-colored, according to the coat. The nostrils are well opened. The nose protrudes slightly over the plane of the end of the lower jaw.

Neck: Moderate length allows for proud head carriage. It is powerfully muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head, giving a truncated cone appearance. Some loose skin on the neck and throat is permissible, but preference should be given to dogs with cleaner necks and tighter-fit skin. Excess throatiness and excessively pendulous dewlap should not be preferred. A very slight double dewlap at the throat area is permissible.

Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows. Well-filled between the forechest, forming a keel of good depth and somewhat of prominence.

Body: Compact, solid, and good substance, yet capable of great speed, endurance, strength, and stamina. The body is never racy or refined nor heavy and cloddy. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.

Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads. Hindlimbs may or may not have dewclaws or double dewclaws.

Tail: Set high on the croup. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. It is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, usually horizontally, but never tucked or carried up over the back. When alert or in motion, the tail is carried above the level of the horizontal. The tail may be left natural (preferred) or docked short. Natural tails are of a medium length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved. Docked tails are cut to approximately 5-10 inches.

Movement: The gait of the Bracco Italiano breed is energetic and springy for a large breed. It is efficient, effortless, and agile. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.

Temperament: The Bracco Italiano breed is known to be a hard-working canine, but they also have a reputation as a gentle, friendly, and people-oriented dog. As with most gun dogs, he does well with active families. They have also earned the reputation of being somewhat stubborn in activities that aren’t necessarily their idea. They are sensitive to their master’s mood and actions, so gentle-but-firm reinforcement-based obedience training helps them to be a great household companion. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.