THE BRACCO ITALIANO: A VERSATILE POINTING DOG
the front foot. Each of these small details in the breed standard correlates to the breed’s function as a versatile Sporting dog. Understanding the history and function of the Bracco Italiano is vital to appreciating its conformation. This is a hunting breed. Every decision in the show ring should take the breed’s function into consideration. The magnificence of the Bracco Italiano is a culmination of their unique conformation, thoughtfulness and calm demeanor, hunt- ing ability, and fast trot. If any one of these vital attributes is lost, the breed will be lost. Breeders, owners, and judges will have to work together to ensure that the “pieces of the puzzle” do not become divided and can remain harmonious together as they have for over a thousand years.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Amanda Inman discovered the Bracco Italiano in a dog book when she was twelve years old. Shortly thereafter, she had the lucky chance to meet one of these rare dogs and absolutely fell in love with the breed. In 2005, her family got their first Bracco Italiano. Over the summer of 2007, with a small group of dedicated fanciers, Dr. Inman co-found- ed the Bracco Italiano Club of America and served as the club’s first president. Dr. Inman has held multiple positions within the club since that time. Her personal goals are to preserve the health, versatility, and duality of the breed. She currently serves as president of the BICA and has provided judges education on the Bracco Italiano since 2011. Dr. Inman works as faculty at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medi- cine with a research focus on the kidney health of the Bracco Italiano breed.
life. These dogs are happiest when they can hunt. The breed club encourages all breed- ing dogs to be worked in the field. The breed is unique in its hunting style. They have a fast, extended trot in the field and hold their head high above the topline. They are described as being very thoughtful in the field and consider the hunt a mental process. While a hard, fast point is valued in some breeds, the Bracco Italiano should establish a point more gently. This is called the filata . The dog should detect a scent and gradually slow his steps, with the head held high. The final steps of the filata are often very slow. Only then will the dog become completely motionless and establish point, with the tail held near the horizontal. This is quite different from the English and Ger- man pointers, which work at a fast gallop and stop hard and fast on point.
The appearance of this breed—with its powerful bone, soft wrinkles around the face, and long ears—is rather unique in the Sporting Group. The conformation of the Bracco is directly tied to its history and function. They are a large and strong dog, reaching 21 to 27 inches at the with- ers. The breed should have a well-angled (105-degree) shoulder that is freely mov- ing to allow for adequate reach in the trot. The long pelvis rests at 30 degrees from the horizontal to permit the most functional drive from the hindquarters. To not create wasted movement, the stifle is moderately angulated at 135 degrees. The topline con- sists of two lines (one from the withers to mid-back and the second slightly arched to the rump), which allows flexibility in move- ment. They often over-reach when trotting so that the hind foot will move in front of
258 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JULY 2023
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