Features breed dogs Volpino Italian

Gorgeous Italian Spitz are called Volpino Italian, they are small dogs, beautiful, long-haired. Due to their attractive fox eyes they resemble puppet dogs. But this should not mislead future owners: Volpino copes with the functions of watchmen. They are characterized by determination, courage, wariness against strangers. As for the attitude to a close circle, family members have nothing to fear - the Italians are very affectionate, affectionate, positive, they love to play.

The ancestors of the Italian Spitz first appeared on the territory of Europe in the Bronze Age. Cynologists tracked the history of the breed to such ancient times. Italian dog became the progenitor of a very large number of different breeds.

Most often, these dogs were bred by Florentine breeders. Beautiful animals are often depicted in paintings by famous artists of the Middle Ages. Not only noblemen and famous people, such as Michelangelo Buonarroti, started these wonderful dogs, but also ordinary people.

The breed owes its name to the Italian word "chanterelle" (volpino). That is, literally, the name of the breed means "Italian fox". The first official recognition of the breed dates back to 1901. Standards and requirements for the exterior appeared 10 years later. In the middle of the 20th century, the International Cynological Federation registered a breed that was on the verge of extinction after the Second World War. In the 60s, purebreds numbered only five.

In the 80s, Italy began a state program to restore the breed, which is in a deplorable state, thanks to which the dogs were kept. Breeders were able to fully return a healthy and strong breed of Italian Spitz.

"Italian Fox" has a fairly compact size, the body of her extremely harmoniously developed, proportional. The hair is elongated, raised above the skin. There is a moderate sexual dimorphism. External Description:

• height at withers - from 25 to 30 cm depending on gender;
• the head is wedge-shaped, its length is slightly less than half of the entire body;
• frontal zone convex type;
• the muzzle is strongly narrowed to the nose, the nose itself is straight, the nostrils of the open type;
• mouth is black, lips are tightly pressed to teeth;
• bite in the form of scissors, but can be straight, on this basis, dogs are not rejected;
• round eyes have medium size, black eyelids and a dark ocher shade of the iris;
• ears in the form of a triangle, stand high, short, slightly tilted forward, located close to each other, length - ½ the length of the entire head;
• neck length is about ½ head length;
• straight back;
• prominent loin;
• croup is inclined horizontally, not explicitly;
• rib cage down to the elbow, rounded ribs;
• tail curved, towering above the back, length slightly less than the height of the dog;
• limbs parallel, stand upright, legs are oval, fingers tightly pressed, pads and claws painted black;
• wool is thick, dense, coarse, straight, sticks out;
• around the neck there is a voluminous collar of wool, abundant cover of medium length on the head, hiding the ears at the base, the muzzle is covered with short hair, the fluff on the ears is soft, fits snugly, there are batons on the backs, the tail is covered with long hair;
• the color is reddish or snow-white according to the standard, occasionally champagne is found, but it is not welcomed by dog ​​handlers.

By their nature, Volpino is very friendly, optimistic, balanced, calm, at the same time very determined and bold. These are incredibly loyal creatures, very loving owners., affectionate, loyal. Among the undoubted advantages of this dog - patience, intelligence, ingenuity, curiosity. They rarely throw tantrums, waiting for the return of the owners calmly, very active, cheerful, energetic. The character practically does not change over the years; until old age they remain mobile and curious.

The excitement makes them bark loudly, this can happen both during the game and in other situations. Be prepared that, waiting for the ball, before the jump, obstacle or in other similar situations, the dog will bark. The guard qualities of the dog are excellent: if she hears the slightest rustle, she will definitely warn the owners. A call or a knock at the door will not be left without her attention. At the same time, it is not difficult to teach her to distinguish between rustles and noises according to the degree of danger.

Over time, the dog will learn to respond only to those noises that may be deemed dangerous. This, of course, requires education, training. If you do not do this, the dog will be a real wilderness, barking at any rustle and movement. The Italian Spitz is mistrustful to strangers, he is afraid of them, but he is friendly to friends and is absolutely benevolent.

It is necessary to properly organize the communication of the dog with strangers to her, although she rarely shows aggression, preferring to avoid contact if she does not like the person. In ordinary life, the dog is very calm, rarely nervous or spiteful.

In order for a pet to be well-mannered and obedient, it must be socialized from an early age, in which case it will be agreeable. This breed is an excellent partner for children and the elderly.

Ideally, it is better to start such a dog with grown-up children, who can be explained how to behave with animals, as it is very easy for the dog to be harmed. Italian spitz is excellent not only with children, but also with other pets, especially if they grow together.

The dog has a sharp mind, good acumen, perfectly responds and interacts with the person. The dog is great as the first pet, as the difficulties in his character are not serious. Even an amateur will cope with raising this dog. Enough training basics that are easy to learn to achieve a good understanding with the dog. It is important to have patience, perseverance and to be consistent in education in order to achieve quick success.

If you decide to purchase a puppy of a given breed, you must bear in mind that Volpino nurseries are most common in Italyand in our country they are much smaller. In Russia there are only a few professional breeders with whom you can safely deal. Italian spitz we have rarely, wait for the announcement of the sale can be very long. Pre-booking is preferable, since a line is formed on the little ones.

Before you buy a puppy, learn the distinctive features and standards of the breed at a young age:

• the young dog's hair is short, sticks out, gives the impression of a plush surface, in the area of ​​the muzzle and behind the ears is very short;
• limbs of strong type, round feet;
• the color of the eyes is only dark, the eyes are like beads;
• the even dark pigment of the nose and lips is important;
• tail rounded to the body;
• ears stick out, the size is small, but look larger than in adults, up to 2.5 months of age can be bent forward.

In no case should not be observed:

• bald spots, bald patches;
• pus and discharge of fluid from the eyes, nose, ears;
• crusts near the nose;
• any impurities on the body.

Pay attention to the behavior of puppies: as a rule, they are active, energetic, very friendly. Must be alarming lethargy, apathy, aggressiveness. Check your puppy card if all vaccinations are in the passport.

The price for puppies is usually high, undercharging is a sign of fraud. The cost is influenced by gender, parental achievements, representative representative prospects. Undocumented dogs and pedigrees are very rarely sold, as this is not a commercial breed.

Italian spitz dogs are recommended as decorative dogs for a private house or apartment in the city, although in Italy they are often street, living in booths. Our climate is well suited to dogs, they adapt well, especially since the wool has water-repellent properties, the undercoat is very thick, it allows us not to freeze in the cold. In the heat, they feel pretty good, but very shed in the season.

Dog handlers recommend organizing the following dog lifestyle:

• it is necessary to walk every day for at least half an hour; if you do not do this, Volpino will begin to throw out energy in the house, spoil things;
• pets love to play, move, participate in sports, are quite clever in learning;
• dogs swim well, so if you can go to the pond, the spitz will be very happy.

As for hygienic care procedures, they are simple, but require regularity:

• combing with a special comb at least once every 7 days, this allows to reduce the amount of wool in the apartment and to avoid the formation of fallen lumps;
• Italians wash three times a month, pre-comb the dog, otherwise the tangled hair will have to be cut off after bathing;
• It is recommended to wash your pet with special shampoos and use conditioners to make hair easy to comb;
• claws are cut every 2 weeks with a special claw cutter;
• if necessary, trim the hair between the fingers;
• clean the ears and teeth once a week;
• wipe your eyes twice a day to prevent leakage.

It is very important to provide a dog balanced nutrition so that the pet is well developed and not sick. The diet should be nutritious, high-quality, feed the dogs with both ready-made feeds and independently prepared food. The finished feed is chosen from the premium and holistic series; it can be either wet or dry. It is important that the amount of feed is age appropriate. If you decide to cook for a pet yourself, observe the following proportions:

• ⅓ - protein food, that is, meat, ideally - beef;
• ⅔ - cereals;
• fruits;
• vegetables;
• sour milk.

If you follow all the recommendations for the care and feeding, the dogs will rarely get sick, this is a pretty strong breed. They live to 16 years, there is a genetic predisposition to the following ailments:

• dislocation of the lens, the patella;
• Addison's disease;
• cryptorchidism.

Very important time to vaccinate, to carry out the treatment of parasites, both external and helminths. Do not self-medicate in case of problems better to get a vet consultation.

The dogs of this breed are very intelligent, well and quickly think, they must be trained. Their inquisitiveness is striking, but it is necessary to teach a pet to practice and training from an early age.In this case, success in raising a disciplined dog is almost guaranteed. If you do not deal with Volpino, they can be angry, self-centered.

In training, persistence and softness are required at the same time. You can not shout at the dog, especially to beat him. It is impossible to offend a dog, it will refuse to fulfill the requirements. It is better to devote some time to classes, but every day so that the dog does not get tired and is used to training.

And do not forget to encourage your pet! It takes up to 3 days to study one team, new ones are gradually added, with the obligatory repetition of the previous ones.

On the peculiarities of the Volpino Italian breed, see the following video.