|
Other Names: Italian Pointer, Italian Setter, Bracci (plural) Country of Origin: Italy Height: 22 - 26.5 inches. Weight: 55 - 90 lbs. Life Span: 12 - 13 years
|
|
Italian pointing dog—Bracco italiano |
|
History: Italy Based on fourteenth century frescoes made in that era, the Bracco Italiano is thought to have been around since then. These artworks depicted a similar looking dog to the Bracco, and the Bracco is thought to be a very old breed. Some say the breed evolved from crosses with the Segugio Italiano and Asiatic Mastiff, while others say it is a descendant of the St. Hubert Hound, so famously the ancestor of hounds such as the Bloodhound and Beagle. The breed originated in two different place, thus creating the names Piedmont and Lombardy for the different colorings. One originated in Piedmont, known as the Piedmontese Pointer, while the other came from Lombardy, known as the Lombard Pointer. The Bracco Italiano sufficiently thrived during the Renaissance era, bred by the Medici and Gonzaga families. They lived mostly among the wealthy, as hunting dogs. But their popularity soon slowed down in the 18 and 1900s, when they almost became extinct. But thanks to the efforts of Italian Breeder Ferdinando Delor de Ferrabouc, the breed lived on. The standard was creating in 1949. The breed is hardly known outside its home country, though a few supporters reside elsewhere. |
