[Cosmore]

Just wondering if anyone keeps or breeds Italian Spinone dogs, I was thinking of going in for one and wondered what they are like as a breed, temperament and other aspects?

[Calvadnack]

One of my vets has spinones and I looked very carefully at them and the few breeders.  They are large, funny, slobbery and even bigger idiots than my flatcoats - lovely but OH didn't want the slobber !

[harmony]

Oh the dogs not your vets Calvadnack!


The ones who used to come to our local gundog training were  very laid back.

[doganjo]

They are very gentle dogs but they are slobbery.  The show people carry a wee towel around with them. People say that in general they aren't' very clever but my friend who has two bitches says they are totally different in intelligence - one is definitely a dumb blonde. 

[Marches Farmer]

When I was at the gundog show I spoke to someone showing a spinone.  She said they do slobber and they do shed.  Their coats need to be stripped, not clipped, from an early age.  If you clip they'll apparently grow curly.  The hair below the bottom jaw of hers was wet with slobber.  Seemed like a very laid back dog, though.

[Cosmore]

Thanks all for the replies , most interesting.
I can put up with the 'laid back' part, but I'm not so sure about the slobbering - I get enough slobber off the pigs already! . The stripping and shedding would cause more work too - as if I didn't have enough to do now (my yellow lab sheds all the time, already worn one vacuum out!) so I guess a spinone is not for me, I'll stick to pasta for my Italian .

[Wen3]

I have a spinone and they are laid back but very clever. They are slobbery we have towels dotted around to just wipe her face. I know a very good breeder who also works them let me know if you would like her details.

[Moobli]

My sister has been in Spinoni (plural with an i at the end apparently  ) for the last 30 years.  She had her first back in her teens when they were a very rare breed.  She loves them.  They are very laid back and usually are exceptionally good with children and other dogs.  They do have a beard which collects all sorts of water and food matter and they shed like crazy (as has been said they need to be hand stripped). 

[doganjo]

My sister has been in Spinoni (plural with an i at the end apparently  ) for the last 30 years.  She had her first back in her teens when they were a very rare breed.  She loves them. 

Is she in Scotland too? Does she show them?  I probably know her if so!

[Moobli]

My sister has been in Spinoni (plural with an i at the end apparently  ) for the last 30 years.  She had her first back in her teens when they were a very rare breed.  She loves them. 

Is she in Scotland too? Does she show them?  I probably know her if so!

She does show but isn't in Scotland.  She lives near Lancaster.