ENCI
(Italian) Standard
Country of origin: Italy
Use:
pointing and retrieving wild game
FCI Classification: Group 7 (pointing dogs),
Section 1.3 (continental pointing dogs, "griffon-type")
HISTORICAL
SUMMARY - We find in the bibliography descriptions which evoke a rough-haired dog of Italian origin which
passes as being the ancestor of the present Spinone. In his book "Le Parfait Chasseur" (the perfect hunter), Selicourt, in
1683, speaks of a "griffon" coming from Italy and the Piedmont. In the Middle Ages and in the 15th century, this
dog has been represented by famous masters; the best known painting is a fresco by Andrea Mantegna in the ducal palace of
Mantua.
General Appearance - Dog of solid construction, robust
and vigorous; powerful bone; well developed muscles, hair rough.
IMPORTANT
PROPORTIONS - His build tends to fit into a square. The length of the body is equal to the height at the
withers, with a tolerance of 1 to 2 cm. longer. The length of the head is equal to 4/10ths of the height at the withers. Its
width, measured at level of the zygomatic arches, is inferior to half its length.
BEHAVIOUR & TEMPERAMENT - Naturally sociable, docile and patient,
the Spinone is an experienced hunter on all terrains; very resistant to tiredness, goes easily into brambles, or throws himself
into cold water. He has remarkable dispositions for an extended and fast trot; by nature he is an excellent retriever.
HEAD
- The direction of the upper longitudinal axes of the skull and muzzle is divergent. Skull region - Skull of oval shape; its
lateral walls gently sloping like a roof, with occipital protuberance very well developed and parietal crest well marked.
The bulge of the forehead is not very developed, not towards the front nor in height. The superciliary arches are not too
prominent; the stop is barely marked, whereas the medial-frontal furrow is very pronounced.
FACIAL
REGION - Nose - In the same line as the nasal bridge, voluminous, spongy in appearance with a very thick
and quite rounded upper edge; of flesh pink colour in white subjects; a bit darker in the white and orange subjects, chestnut
brown in the roan-chestnut (brown) subjects. In profile, the nose protrudes over the forward vertical line of the lips. Nostrils
are large and protruding. Muzzle - Its length is equal to the length of the skull; its depth, measured at mid length, reached
a third of its length. The profile of the muzzle is straight or slightly hilly (Roman nose). The lateral faces of the muzzle
are parallel, so that, seen from the front, the muzzle is square shaped. The upper lips, rather fine, form below the nose
an open angle; in their forward part, they are rounded, then, covering the lower lips, they reach the labial commissure where
they form a visible fold. The lower profile of the muzzle is defined by that of the upper lips; its lowest point is the labial
commissure. Jaws - Powerful and normally developed, at mid length the branches of the lower jaw are very lightly curved. Cheeks
are lean. Teeth - Dental arches well adapted; incisors articulate either in scissor or pincer bite. Eyes - Large, well opened
and set well apart. The eye is almost round; the lids closely fitting the eye which is neither protruding or deep set; both
eyes are on a same frontal plane. The iris is of an ochre color, more or less dark according to the colour of the coat. Ears
- Practically triangular shape, in length they are not more than 5 cm. longer than the lower line of the throat; in width
they go from the point of insert of the head to the neck to the middle of the zygomatic arch. The forward edge is close to
the cheek, not folded, but turned inwards; the tip of the ear is slightly rounded. Nearly always carried low, the ear should
have little erection power. Cartilage is fine. The skin is covered with dense hair mixed with longer scattered hairs, which
becomes thicker at the edges.
NECK
- Powerful and muscled, clearly distinguished from the nape, merging harmoniously into the shoulders.
Its length must not be inferior to 2/3 of the length of the head; its circumference reaches a third of the height at the withers.
The lower edge shows a lightly developed double dewlap.
FOREQUARTERS - Seen from the front, they are perfectly parallel and perpendicular
to the ground. Seen in profile, the forearm is vertical and the metacarpus is slightly oblique. Shoulder - Powerful and long.
Measures a quarter of the height at the withers, and has an obliqueness below the horizontal of about 50°, in relation to
the median plane of the body, the points of the shoulder-blades are not very close to one another. Perfectly free in its movements,
the shoulder has well developed muscles; the opening of the scapular-humeral angle is of about 105°. Upper-arm - Oblique below
the horizontal with a slant of about 60°, directed almost parallel to the median axis of the body. It is well muscled. Forearm
- Slightly longer than the third of the height at the withers, vertical seen from the front as well as in profile. Strong
bones. The hind tendon is strong in such a way that the groove between tendon and bone is clearly visible. The elbows are
in parallel plane to the median plane of the body. The point of the elbow must be a little forward of the vertical which goes
from the posterior point of the shoulder-blade to the ground. The distance from the elbow to the ground is equal to 50% of
the height at the withers. Pastern joint - It follows the vertical line of the forearm. Pastern
- It is flat, and, seen from the front, follows the vertical line of the forearm; seen in profile, it is slightly oblique.
Its lenght is of about 1/6 of the height of the leg to the elbows. Forefeet - Compact, round, toes well closed and arched,
covered with short thick hair, including the spaces between the toes. The pads, lean and hard, are more or less pigmented
according to the color of the coat. Nails strong, curved towards the ground and well pigmented but never black.
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HINDQUARTERS
- Seen in profile, back edge of the buttock is slightly convex; good angulation of the segments; the hocks must be perpendicular
to the ground; seen from behind, the hindquarters are parallel and perpendicular to the ground. Tigh - Its lenght must not
be inferior to a third of the height at the withers. Its width is 3/4 of its lenght. Strongly muscled. Its direction is slightly
oblique from top to bottom and from back to front. Its back edge slightly convex. Leg - Its lenght exceeds just slightly that
of the thigh; its obliqueness is of 55°-60° below the horizontal; lean muscles in its upper part; the furrow between the Achilles
tendon and the bone is marked and clearly visible. Hock joint - Its lateral sides are very wide. The distance between the
point of the hock and the ground is about a third of the height at the withers. The opening of the angle of the tibial-tarsal
articulation is about 150°. Hoch - Strong and lean, its lenght is equal to the distance from the hock to the ground. Observed
from whichever side, the metatarsal is vertical. On its inner side there may be a simple articulated dewclaw. Hindfeet - Showing
all the same characteristics of the front feet, but slightly more oval
GAIT - Easy loose step; when hunting, extended
fast trot with intermittent paces of gallop.
SKIN
- Close fitting to the body, it must be thick and lean. It is thinner on the head, the throat, the groin,
under the arms and on the back parts of the body; in the folds of the elbows it is soft to the touch. Just forms two folds
which go from the sides of the lower jaws and disappear at the first half of the neck (dewlap). When the head is carried low,
one just notices a fold which descends from the outer corner of the eye over the cheeks; in its hind edge this fold ends in
a tuft of hair. The pigmentation of the skin varies according to the color of the markings of the coat. The color of the external
mucous membranes must correspond with the color of the coat.
COAT
- Nature of the hair - Of a length of a 4 to 6 cm on the body, shorter on the muzzle, the head, the ears,
the front sides of the legs and the feet. On the back sides of the legs, the hair is a rough brush, but never with fringes.
Long and stiff hair garnish the eyebrows and the lips forming eyelashes, moustache and tufted beard. The hair is stiff, dense
and rather flat, with lack of undercoat. Color - Pure white, white with orange markings, white speckled with orange, white
with brown (chestnut) markings, roan or roan-brown (chestnut). The preferred shade of brown is the color "Capuchin friar's frock". Not permitted colors are: tricolor, tan markings, black under any shape and combinations.
SIZE
AND WEIGHT - Height at the withers - Males from 60 to 70 cm, females from 58 to 65 cm. Weight - Males
from 32 to 37 kg, females from 28 to 30 kg.
FAULTS
- Any departure from the foregoing points constitutes a fault which when judging must be penalised according ti its seriousness
and extension.
ELIMINATING
FAULTS - Head, upper cranial-facial axes convergent, concave muzzle.
DISQUALIFYING
FAULTS - Total depigmentation of the nose. Wall eye. Skin - Black pigmentation of the skin or mucous membranes.
Tricoloured coat, tan markings, black in all its shapes and combinations. Overshot or accentuated undershot mouth.
NOTE
- Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descendent into the scrotum.
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