Dog
Volpino Italiano Champions
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Pronunciation:
vawl-pyi-nuh ih-tal-yuhn-noh
Breed Description:
The Volpino Italiano is a toy sized breed that should be delicately built with a compact body that is neither fragile or cumbersome. the breed should have a square build, which is the same length as it is height and they should be robust with strong bones and a sturdy appearance. The head of the Volpino Italiano should be wedge shaped and the top line of the dog should be level. The ears should be small and erect and the tail should curl over the back. The Volpino Italiano should have a fox like appearance.
The coat of the Volpino Italiano should be a double coat that is thick and abundant. The undercoat should be short and dense and it should be soft in texture. The top coat should be medium in length and just as dense as the undercoat. There should be a rough texture to the hair and there should be a fringe on the chest and neck. In addition, the tail should be a plume that fans across the dog's back. They can be found in several colors including white, and red, however, the most common coat color is white.
Temperament:
The Volpino Italiano breed of dog is an intelligent breed of dog and while they enjoy being with their owners, they are not a companion breed that needs to be with them. In fact, the breed can be rather aloof at times and tend to come for attention when they want it. However, this isn't to say that they are not affectionate. The breed is very playful and warm and loves to be on the go with their owners. They can be fairly active and they often get into trouble since they have an almost inexhaustible curiosity. The breed can do well with children but are better suited to homes with older children. They do well with other dogs nad pets but the breed is naturally suspicious of strangers, which makes them an ideal watchdog.
Height:
The average height for a Volpino Italiano is between 9 to 10 inches for a female and 11 to 12 inches for a male.
Weight:
The average weight for a Volpino Italiano is between 9 to 16 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Volpino Italiano breed of dog is considered to be a very healthy breed, however, they can suffer from some health problems including heart disease, primary lens luxation and cataracts.
Living Conditions:
The Volpino Italiano breed of dog is versatile when it comes to living conditions and they can live in both apartments and homes with yards.
Exercise:
The Volpino Italiano breed of dog is an active breed that requires between 20 to 30 minutes of exercise each day. Generally, two good walks will meet their needs but it is also important to give them an opportunity for off leash exercise as well.
Life Expectancy:
14 to 16 years
Grooming:
The Volpino Italiano breed of dog has a luxurious coat but they are actually very easy to breed since they tend to be light shedders. Generally, brushing the coat should be done about twice a week and every other day when they are shedding. Some trimming may need to be done around the ears and anus to prevent matting but the rest of the upkeep is minimal. The Volpino Italiano only needs to be bathed about once a month and their ears should be cleaned on a weekly basis. Nails should be trimmed once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Volpino Italiano breed of dog is an old breed of dog that is not well known. In fact, they are a rare breed in much of the world, including their own country of Italy. The breed was originally developed in Italy from Spitz-type breeds and the modern Volpino Italiano is closely related to the Pomeranian. The breed is believed to be the American Eskimo and is also believed to be the breed which contributed to the white coated Pomeranian. While they are small in size, the breed was not developed as a companion breed and instead was used as a watch dog alongside larger dogs. The Volpino Italiano was used to alert the other dogs of intruders, including wolves and they were quite fearless, something that the breed has maintained throughout their history. While it is unclear when the breed was developed, evidence has placed the Volipino Italiano back several centuries and the dog was even owned by Michelangelo. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
