There are actually a lot of Italian dog breeds out there. Not all of us actually wonder how many there truly are. Italy use their dog breeds for a variety of ways. Some are guard dogs, hunting dogs, or simply a companion dog. These dog breeds all differ in size, color and weight. Some of these dog breeds are fairly small, while others are actually pretty large. Now, let’s check out some of the top Italian dog breeds!
Check out these Italian dog breeds
Bolognese
The Bolognese comes, as the name suggests, from Bologna, Italy! These dogs are small dogs, only getting 10-12 inches tall and only weighing 5-5.9 pounds. These dogs can live for 12-14 years and recommended health tests include CERF and Patella Evaluation. They need regular grooming.
Lagotto Romagnolo
These Italian dogs get about 16-19 inches tall and weighs 24-35 pounds. These dog breeds are affectionate and require an active lifestyle. These dog breeds can actually live for 15-17 years, which is generally quite long for most dogs. Recommended health tests include Hip Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy DNA Test, and a Lagotto Storage Disease DNA Test.
Bracco Italiano
The Bracco Italiano gets 21-27 inches tall and weigh 55-90 pounds. These dog breeds are overall pretty healthy, but some health conditions include eye anomalies like entropion, hip and elbow dysplasia, ectropion, and cataracts. These dogs can live for up to 14 years and require minimal care.
Volpino
The Volpino is an active, small dog breed that can only get up to 12 inches tall and weigh 8-16 pounds. The Volpino should be friendlier to other dogs and easier to train. The Volpino can live for up to 16 years, if they’re taken care of properly.
Italian Greyhound
These Italian dogs are 13-15 inches tall and weigh 7-14 pounds. These dogs can live for 14-15 years and recommended health conditions include epilepsy, periodontal disease, and PRA. These dogs are affectionate and should be friendlier to other dogs.
Maremma Sheepdog
Maremma Sheepdogs are a medium-large dog that that are around 23-28 inches tall. These dogs live for around 11-13 years and weigh up to 100 pounds. Maremma Sheepdogs are suited for the experienced dog owner however, they should be easier to train. Hip Dysplasia is one health condition that these dogs can get.
Neapolitan Mastiff
The Neapolitan Mastiff can get up to 31 inches tall and weigh 150 pounds however, their lifespan is usually no longer than 9 years. Unfortunately, this isn’t rare for dog breeds of this size.
These Italian dog breeds aren’t always super energetic, but this never means that they don’t need to exercised. Neapolitan Mastiffs have a short coat, so grooming only has to be done every now and then. Recommended health tests include Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Exam, and Cardiac Exam.
Spinone Italiano
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The Spinone Italiano can live for about 12 years. They’re 22-27 inches tall and live for 10-12 years. Health conditions include Hip Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and Elbow Evaluation. These dogs are affectionate and should get along with other dogs. Make sure to always socialize medium and large dogs to keep help make sure they’re friendly to everyone.
Cane Corso
The Cane Corso is a larger dog breed that is 23-27 inches tall and live for 9-12 years. These dogs have a short coat, yet also have a double-layered coat. Always make sure to socialize large dogs such as these. Make sure to groom these dogs weekly, and daily during their ‘shedding season.’ Recommended health tests include Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, and Cardiac Exam. If you’d like to learn more about this dog breed, feel free to check out this dog breed profile on AKC.
Bergamasco Sheepdog
These dogs are 22-23.5 inches tall and weigh 57-84 pounds. These dogs live for 13-15 years and actually don’t shed. They require a moderate amount of exercise daily. At 1 year old when these dogs develop their coat completely, their coat must be ripped into mats, which can take many hours.
As you have seen, Italy have a variety of dogs. Some are large while others are small. Some are short-haired, while other dog breeds are long-haired. Some of these Italian dog breeds were bred during the Ancient times.
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