The Bracco Italiano is a large sporting breed from Italy with long hound ears, floppy jowls, a slim nose, and a lean but powerful build. Also known as Italian Pointers or Italian Pointing Dogs, these talented hunters are popular in their home country but rare in the United States. One of only two gun dogs native to Italy (the other is the Spinone Italiano), the Bracco Italiano is classified as a versatile hunting breed.

The Bracco Italiano is equally skilled at all aspects of bird hunting: scenting birds in the field, pointing them out, and retrieving downed birds to the hunter. Their white coats can be speckled or marked with orange and chestnut. While these dogs are great on the hunt, they also make beloved companions at home.

Characteristics of the Bracco Italiano

The Bracco Italiano loves to hunt. In fact, its instincts are so ingrained that providing the Bracco with a hunting home is almost a prerequisite to owning this breed. These dogs are slow, methodical hunters. The Bracco has an exceptional nose, is a great retriever, and has a very soft mouth (a term that refers to its ability to retrieve and carry birds without damaging them). 

At home, this gentle-natured dog forms a strong bond with its owners and needs to be included as part of the family. Bracco Italianos tend to get along well with dogs and other household pets when socialized properly, and they're known for having loving personalities toward children. Since this breed is large, adults should always supervise its interactions with young kids. When provided with the proper exercise and mental stimulation each day—especially when it's able to hunt—the Bracco Italiano has a gentle and well-mannered temperament in the house.

History of the Bracco Italiano

The Bracco Italiano originated in Northern Italy. In fact, its name translates to "Italian hound." It has been registered with an official breed standard since 1949, but its roots go back as far as the 4th and 5th centuries B.C. When it was first bred, two types existed simultaneously, including white-and-orange dogs in the Piedmont area and roan-and-brown dogs in the Lombardy area. When the Bracco Italiano neared extinction in the late 1800s, dedicated enthusiasts repopulated the breed. During that process, they brought the two varieties together. 

The first Bracchi Italiani (the Italian plural spelling of its name) didn’t step onto American soil until the 1990s. The Bracco Italiano Club of America was formed in 2007. These dogs are part of the American Kennel Club’s Miscellaneous Class, which is a stepping stone toward full recognition, though the breed is closest to the Sporting Group. The Bracco Italiano is also recognized as part of the Gun Dog Group in the United Kennel Club.

Bracco Italiano Care

The Bracco Italiano is a high-energy dog with considerable exercise needs each day. Thankfully, as long as owners keep these dogs active, their grooming and training requirements are typically easy to fulfill.

Exercise

These large, athletic dogs have the strength and endurance to work all day in the field, but with enough regular exercise, the Bracco Italiano is calm and obedient in the home. Owners should plan for at least two hours per day of vigorous activities like hunting when possible, but other options like walking, jogging, and swimming can suffice as well. Without enough exercise and work—which can include any activity that engages their instincts and skills—the Bracco Italiano may become bored and destructive inside the home.

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Grooming

The Bracco Italiano's short, glossy coat is easy to care for. Brush your dog a few times each week using a de-shedding glove or a boar-bristle brush to remove loose hair. This breed is also known for excessive drooling, so it's not the best choice for owners that can't tolerate this messy habit.

Since the Bracco Italiano has such long ears, it's more prone to ear infections than those with short or upright ears. Floppy ears trap in moisture, so owners need to be proactive by checking them weekly and cleaning the ears anytime dirt and debris build up inside. Use a pet-safe ear cleaner with a cotton ball, avoiding cotton swabs that can damage the delicate inner ear structure. Owners should also trim the nails and brush the teeth regularly.

Training

The Bracco Italiano is loyal and willing to please. These dogs can be quite trainable aside from occasional stubbornness, but it's important for owners to know that they don't do well with harsh training techniques involving punishment. Instead, this friendly hunter's sensitive side responds best to positive reinforcement with repetition and gentle delivery. Reward your dog with treats, affection, and playtime for desirable behaviors and provide consistency.

Basic obedience lessons should begin when puppies are about eight weeks old. If you intend to hunt with your Bracco Italiano, start training early with lots of bird exposure. In addition to hunting, this breed excels at field trials, tracking, and nose work.

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Common Health Problems

The Bracco Italiano is a relatively healthy breed. However, like most purebred dogs, it's still susceptible to a few inherited health conditions. Reputable breeders test their adult dogs for genetic issues before breeding to avoid passing problems down to puppies. When buying a Bracco Italiano puppy from a breeder, always ask for clear test results from both parents. 

The following are common conditions associated with this breed:

• Elbow and Hip Dysplasia: This condition is caused by a malformation in the dog's joints as they age, and it may require surgery in severe cases to help your dog live comfortably.
• Cataracts: Like humans, dogs can develop cataracts, which resemble cloudy patches on the eyes that impair the dog's vision.
• Entropion or Ectropion: Affecting the eyelids, these conditions cause them to either roll inward or outward, which can damage the surface of the eye.
• Kidney Disease: The kidneys filter waste from the blood. Kidney disease can occur quickly or slowly progress, but in either case, these conditions are very serious and life-threatening.

Diet and Nutrition

The large and active Bracco Italiano needs a lot of fuel and tends to eat a lot. Dogs that hunt regularly and get plenty of exercise can have difficulty keeping weight on their large frames. A high-quality, calorie-dense food can help in these cases. On the flip side, a Bracco that doesn’t exercise as much should be fed carefully measured meals to avoid excess weight gain. Too much weight can contribute to joint issues like hip dysplasia and health conditions like diabetes.

If you're unsure how much to feed your dog, the best option is to talk to your veterinarian. They can work together with you to create a healthy diet and portion plan based on your specific dog's age, weight, and activity level.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Bracco Italiano

If you’re looking for a beautiful, unique, and exceptionally skilled hunting dog, the Bracco Italiano might be right for you. Those who choose to bring a Bracco into their lives will find unparalleled loyalty, love, and affection. Since this is a rare breed in the United States, it's not likely to find these dogs in local shelters, but the national breed club offers rescue options to adopt a Bracco in need of a forever home.

To adopt a puppy from a breeder, it's important to do your research first. Ensure that your breeder provides the litter's medical background, allows you to meet their parents, and shows you that the dogs are raised in a comfortable, safe indoor location. Puppies from breeders typically cost between $1,200 and $2,500, tending toward the higher end based on pedigree and availability.

To start your search, check out resources like the national breed club's rescue and breeder referral as well as the AKC:

• Bracco Italiano Club of America Rescue
• Bracco Italiano Club of America Breeders
• AKC Bracco Italiano Breeders

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More Dog Breeds and Further Research

If you love the Bracco Italiano, you might also like these similar breeds:

• Pointer
• American English Coonhound
• American Foxhound

There are plenty of different dog breeds out there that can join your family. With a little research, you can find the perfect match to bring home!