Spinone Italiano vs Pharaoh Hound - Breed Comparison

Spinone Italiano vs Pharaoh Hound - Breed ComparisonSpinone Italiano is originated from Italy but Pharaoh Hound is originated from Malta. Spinone Italiano may grow 7 cm / 3 inches higher than Pharaoh Hound. Spinone Italiano may weigh 12 kg / 27 pounds more than Pharaoh Hound. Spinone Italiano may live 5 years less than Pharaoh Hound. Spinone Italiano may have more litter size than Pharaoh Hound. Spinone Italiano requires Moderate maintenance. But Pharaoh Hound requires Low maintenance

History

spinone italiano - historyThis Italian breed has an ancient blood line tracing all the back to 500 BC. Originally bred to hunt, he is today a friendly, alert and loyal companion. He is intelligent enough to do any job you give him. The Spinone is thought to be one of the oldest gun dogs ever, but it is not entirely clear that he came from Italy. There are some who think he may have come from somewhere in these European countries – Italy, Greece, France, Celtic Ireland, Spain or Russia. However, most believe the breed came from Italy in the Piedmont area.

The most common thinking is that he is a descendent of the Spanish Pointer and/or the Russian Setter. One other theory is that setters from Greece were brought to the Roman Empire and crossed with a variety of Italian dog to make the coarse haired Spinone we see today. Then the French put in their claim that the breed is a cross of many French pointers.

The theory that counts might just belong to the Italians who believe the ancestor to the Spinone includes the German Wirehaired Pointer, the Pudelpointer and the Wirehaired Pointer. It was not until the 19th century that the name Spinone was officially given to the breed.

Before that it might have been known as a Spinoso and named after a thorn bus in Italy called the Spino. This bush was so thick and sharp that small prey animals learned to hide under it because the predators could not get through it. The Spinone however was able to fight through the briars with its thick, coarse hair and tough skin.

The breed almost became extinct during the second world war as before and after the hunters in Italy had started to use other breeds for hunting. Breeders also began to cross the Spinone with wire hairs like German Wirehaired Pointer, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and the Boulet.

The most popular hunting dog in Italy today is the Bracco Italiano while the Spinone is still used for hunting.

pharaoh hound - historyThe Pharaoh Hound hails from Malta and is the national dog there. These dogs are rare and are looked upon as endangered. Because they are a primitive type dog, they enjoy good health.

It has always been used as a hunting dog for rabbits. The dog has been recreated from mixing a combination of other breeds. It certainly seems to be an ancient dog breed, having existed for more than 2 000 years.

It is thought that the dog was imported to Malta by Phoenician traders. The dog has been classified as a member of the sighthound group, and arrived in England in the 1930s and to the USA in 1967. The breed was also officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1984.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Italy
Malta
Height Male:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
53 - 63 cm
20 - 25 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
53 - 63 cm
20 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
34 - 39 kg
74 - 86 pounds
18 - 27 kg
39 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 37 kg
70 - 82 pounds
18 - 27 kg
39 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 9 Years
11 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 11
6 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Spinone Italian Spinone Italian Griffon Italian Wire-haired Pointer Italian Coarsehaired Pointer
Kelb tal Fennec 
Colors Available:
white with orange markings, white with brown markings, and brown roan with or without brown markings , orange roan with or without orange markings, solid white
Tan or red
Coat:
tough, slightly wiry, and close fitting. rough
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

spinone italiano puppy - descriptionThe breed is made up of strong, solid and muscled dogs that have an almost square build. His legs are made to travel any terrain and his head is long with an occipital that is pronounced and unique to the Spinone. They are said to have “human appearing eyes”, with a docked tail in countries allowing it and webbed paws.

Shorter hair covers their feet, head, legs, muzzle and ears. They have longer hair on their eyebrows and it is stiff, with soft hair on the muzzle and cheeks with a beard and mustache. It is a single coated dog though the coat is rough. They should have skin, lips, nose, and pads in colors that coordinate with their coats. For white dog it is a red-orange color, brown in dogs that are roan colored and dark red-orange in the orange and white colored dog.

pharaoh hound puppy - descriptionThe Pharoah Hound is an elegant looking dog standing at roughly between 53 and 63cm and weighing 18 to 27kg.

They are sleek dogs without any bulkiness about them and the coat is tight fitting with short smooth hair. The coat is a tan or red color, the eyes bright and the color of amber. The ears are fairly large and erect and the long tail slim with sometimes a white tip. The skin can be thin so the dog can be sensitive to the cold.

The neck of the dog is long and lean, as are the legs. An interesting aspect with this dog is that when the dog becomes excited its ears and nose become bright pink.

Temperament:

Pharoah Hounds are calm dogs and they can live in the city or in the countryside. They love kids and will be a wonderful playmate for them. Once he has had a lot of exercise and play, he is the kind of dog that will settle down happily with his human family for some quiet time.

Just as with any other dog, he will require training and socialization to make him obedient and better behaved.

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness – yes they live kids.

2.Special talents – Digging and running.

spinone italiano dog - characteristics3.Adaptability – Young dogs need a lot of attention but they don’t need a lot of space. The young dogs are energetic while the adult dogs are laid-back. They need exercise every day and at least a small back yard.

4.Learning ability – good/stubborn/intelligent.

pharaoh hound dog - characteristicsThe Pharaoh Hound is quite interesting in a number of ways and he is independent, strong-willed and able to entertain and amuse himself.

He loves to join in with the children and be part of their games. He’s intelligent and easily trained and he is also low maintenance.

While he’s not the most attractive dog to many people, others look at him as a true beauty. Whatever your opinion is, he will still make you a good family friend.

Health Problems

spinone italiano puppies - health problemsThis is an ancient breed with not a lot of documented genetic issues, but it does have one deadly condition.

• Cerebellar ataxia (CA) is inherited and hits the puppies. Because it is a recessive gene both the mother and father must carry it for the puppy to inherit it. This makes it less likely than it would be otherwise. Puppies with the condition do not live more than a year. Since it is a genetic problem there is now a test for it that identifies carriers at a 95% accuracy rate.

• Like many other large breed dogs, they are susceptible to hip dysplasia. This can cause arthritis and/or lameness. There are now hip replacement surgeries available for this condition.

• Bloat is again common in large dogs and you need to watch for it with the Spinone. It can be deadly if not treated immediately. Let your dog rest quietly after eating. Do not let her exercise or play energetically after eating.

pharaoh hound puppies - health problemsPharaoh Hounds are uncommon outside of the Maltese Islands and with very little irresponsible breeding, these dogs are virtually free of genetic diseases. A common dog illness to look out for includes -

Patellar Luxation:

Your Pharaoh Hound can suffer from patella luxation, and in more severe cases it can be painful and even be disabling for a dog. This ailment comes about when the kneecap is dislocated from its normal position. You’ll find your dog lifting his hind leg quite a bit. Unfortunately this problem can lead to arthritis developing.

Other illnesses to look out for are bloat, cancer, skin allergies and ear infections.

Caring The Pet

spinone italiano dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – feed a high quality dog food for puppies of large breeds. Feed 3-4x day but don’t overfeed or let him exercise after eating even as a puppy.

2.Feeding the adult - feed a high quality dog food for large breeds. Feed 1-2X day but don’t overfeed or let him exercise after eating.

3.Points for Good Health – Active and strong

4. Games and Exercises – The Spinone is an active breed, but not a fast dog. In fact, they like to travel at a trot so it becomes a great dog for jogging or running with. They love to jump, track, hunt, hike. They do well with agility, retrieving, flyball, carting, being a therapy dog, a rescue dog and a watchdog.

Grooming:

pharaoh hound dogs - caringThe Pharaoh Hound’s short coat is easy to groom and it will require a brushing at least twice a week just to get rid of loose hairs.

At the same time trim his nails, check inside his ears for infection and look inside his mouth for any rotting teeth.

Exercise:

Your Pharaoh Hound is an active, energetic dog and he will need a good dose of exercise every day. Take him with you on your walks or allow him to join you with your hikes, jogging or cycling. At home involve him in some ball games.

Diet:

How much any adult dog eats will depend on a number of factors such as size of dog, age and his activity levels.

You get some excellent dog kibble these days on the market but the idea is to choose one of the high quality ones which have minerals and vitamins in them. Home-made food is also good for your pet and this should be kept simple, consistent and nutritious.

Every now and then you can add in some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and sweet potato, carrots and spinach to the kibble. Some raw meat added in can also be of benefit to your dog’s health.

Stay away from spicy, exotic foods and keep your dog's food easy like suggested so as to avoid digestive problems

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pharaoh Hound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  2. Pharaoh Hound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  3. Pharaoh Hound vs Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  4. Pharaoh Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  5. Pharaoh Hound vs Hungarian Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  6. Pharaoh Hound vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  7. Pharaoh Hound vs Norwegian Elkhound - Breed Comparison
  8. Pharaoh Hound vs Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  9. Pharaoh Hound vs Bavarian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison
  10. Pharaoh Hound vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  11. Pharaoh Hound vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison
  12. Pharaoh Hound vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  13. Pharaoh Hound vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison
  14. Pharaoh Hound vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison
  15. Pharaoh Hound vs Basset Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  16. Pharaoh Hound vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  17. Pharaoh Hound vs Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison
  18. Pharaoh Hound vs Chippiparai - Breed Comparison
  19. Pharaoh Hound vs English Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  20. Pharaoh Hound vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  21. Pharaoh Hound vs Grand Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison
  22. Pharaoh Hound vs Hamiltonstovare - Breed Comparison
  23. Pharaoh Hound vs Beago - Breed Comparison
  24. Pharaoh Hound vs Kanni - Breed Comparison
  25. Pharaoh Hound vs Lithuanian Hound - Breed Comparison
  26. Spinone Italiano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  27. Spinone Italiano vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  28. Spinone Italiano vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  29. Spinone Italiano vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  30. Spinone Italiano vs Portuguese Pointer - Breed Comparison
  31. Spinone Italiano vs Perdiguero de Burgos - Breed Comparison
  32. Spinone Italiano vs Irish Red and White Setter - Breed Comparison
  33. Spinone Italiano vs Pachon Navarro - Breed Comparison
  34. Spinone Italiano vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  35. Spinone Italiano vs Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  36. Spinone Italiano vs Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac - Breed Comparison
  37. Spinone Italiano vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  38. Spinone Italiano vs Spanish Pointer - Breed Comparison
  39. Spinone Italiano vs Longhaired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  40. Spinone Italiano vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  41. Talbot vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  42. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  43. Weimaraner vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  44. Spinone Italiano vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  45. Spinone Italiano vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  46. Spinone Italiano vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  47. Spinone Italiano vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  48. Spinone Italiano vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  49. Spinone Italiano vs Akita - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds