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AKC Standard
General Appearance
Muscular dog with powerful bone. Vigorous and robust, his purpose as hardworking gun dog is evident. Naturally sociable, the docile and patient Spinone is resistant to fatigue and is an experienced hunter on any terrain. His hard textured coat is weather resistant. His wiry, dense coat and thick skin enable the Spinone to negotiate underbrush and endure cold water that would severely punish any dog not so naturally armored. He has a remarkable tendency for an extended and fast trotting gait. The Spinone is an excellent retriever by nature.
Size, Proportion, Substance:
Height: The height at the withers is 23 to 27 inches for males and 22 to 25 inches for females. Weight: In direct proportion to size and structure of dog. Proportion: His build tends to fit into a square. The length of the body, measured from sternum to point of buttocks, is approximately equal to the height at the withers with tolerance of no more than 1 inch in length compared to height. Substance: The Spinone is a solidly built dog, robust with powerful bone.
Head:
Long. The profile of the Spinone is unique to this breed. Expression is of paramount importance to the breed. It should denote intelligence and gentleness. Skull of oval shape, with sides gently sloping. With occipital protuberance well developed, medial-frontal furrow is very pronounced. Muzzle: Square when viewed from the front. Muzzle length is equal to that of backskull. The planes of the skull and muzzle are diverging, downfaced. Its width measured at its midpoint is a third of its length. Stop is barely perceptible. Bridge of the muzzle is preferably slightly Roman, however, straight is not to be faulted. Lips: fitting tightly to the jawline. Convergence of planes of the skull and muzzle or a dish-faced muzzle is to be faulted so severely as to eliminate from further competition. Eyes: Must have a soft sweet expression. Ochre (yellowish brown) in color, darker eyes with darker colored dogs, lighter eyes with lighter colored dogs. Large, well opened, set well apart, the eye is almost round, the lids closely fitting the eye, to protect the eye from gathering debris while the dog is hunting, loose eye lids must be faulted. Which is neither protruding nor deep set. Eye rim clearly visible, color will vary with coat color from flesh colored to brown.Disqualification: Walleye. Nose: Bulbous and spongy in appearance with upper edge rounded. Nostrils are large and well opened. In profile, the nose protrudes past the forward line of the lips. (Pigment is flesh colored in white dogs, darker in white and orange dogs, brown in brown or brown roan dogs.) Disqualification: Any pigment other than described or incomplete pigment of the nose is to be disqualified. Teeth: Jaw is powerful. Teeth are positioned in a scissors or level bite. Disqualification: Overshot or undershot bite. Ears: Practically triangular shape. Set on a level just below the eye, carried low, with little erectile power. The leather is fine, covered with short, thick hair mixed with a longer sparser hair, which becomes thicker along edges. Length, if measured along the head would extend to tip of nose and no more than 1 inch beyond the tip. The forward edge is adherent to the cheek, not folded, but turned outward; the tip of the ear is slightly rounded.
Neck, Topline, Body:
Neck: Strong, thick, and muscular. Clearly defined from the nape, blending in to the shoulders in a harmonious line. The throat is moderate in skin with a double dewlap. Chest: Broad, deep, well muscled and well rounded; extending at least to the elbow. The ribs are well sprung. The distance from ground to the elbow is equal to 1/2 the height at the withers. Back: The topline consists of two segments. The first slopes slightly downward in a nearly straight line from the withers to the 11th thoracic vertebrae, approximately 6 inches behind the withers. The second rises gradually and continues into a solid and well-arched loin. The underline is solid and should have minimal tuck up. Croup: Well muscled, long. The hipbones fall away from the spinal column at an angle of about 30 degrees, producing a lightly rounded, well filled-out croup. Tail: Follows the line of the croup, thick at the base, carried horizontally or down; flicking from side to side while moving is preferred. The tail should lack fringes. It is docked to a length of 5 1/2 to 8 inches. Tail habitually carried above the level of the back or straight up when working is to be penalized.
Forequarters:
Shoulders: Powerful and long, withers not too prominent; forming an angle with the upper arm of approximately angle 105. With well-developed muscles, the points of the shoulder blades are not close together. The ideal distance between the shoulder blades is approximately two inches or more. Angulation of shoulder is in balance with angulation in the rear. Forelegs: The forelegs are straight when viewed from the front angle with strong bone and well-developed muscles; elbows set under the withers and close to the body. Pasterns are long, lean and flexible following the vertical line of the forearm. In profile, they are slightly slanted. Feet: Large compact, rounded with well-arched toes, which are close together, covered with short, dense hair, including between the toes. Pads are lean and hard with strong nails curving toward the ground, well pigmented, but never black. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters:
Thighs are strong and well muscled, stifles show good function angulation, lower thigh to be well developed and muscled with good breadth. The hock, with proportion of 1/3 the distance from the hip joint to foot being ideal, is strong, lean and perpendicular to the ground. Fault: Cowhocks. Feet: Slightly more oval than the forefoot with the same characteristics. Dewclaws may be removed.
Skin:
The skin must be very thick, closely fitting the body. The skin is thinner on the head, throat, groin, under the legs and in the folds of the elbows is soft to the touch. Pigmentation is dependent upon the color or markings of the coat. Disqualification: Any black pigmentation.
Coat:
A Spinone must have a correct coat to be of correct type. The ideal coat length is 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches on the body, with a tolerance of 1/2 inch over or under the ideal length. Head, ears, muzzle a nd front sides of legs and feet are covered by shorter hair. The hair on the backsides of the legs forms a rough brush, but there are never any fringes. The eyes and lips are framed by stiff hair forming eyebrows, mustache and tufted beard, which combine to save fore face from laceration by briar and bush. The coat is dense, stiff and flat or slightly crimped, but not curly, with an absence of undercoat. The Spinone is exhibited in a natural state. The appearance of the Spinone may not be altered. The dog must present the natural appearance of a functional field dog. Dogs with a long, soft or silky coat, the presence of undercoat, or any deviation of the coat is defined in this as well as excessive grooming, i.e., scissoring, clipping, or setting of pattern shall be severely penalized as to eliminate them from further competition.
Color:
The accepted colors are: Solid white, white and orange; orange roan with or without orange markings; white with brown markings, brown roan with or without brown markings. The most desired color of brown is chestnut brown, "monks habit", however, varying colors of brown are acceptable. Disqualification: Any black in the coat, tan, tri-color, in any combination, or any color other than accepted colors.
Gait:
The Spinone is first and foremost a functional working gun dog. Its purpose as a versatile hunting dog must be given the utmost consideration. Easy and loose trot geared for endurance. Maximum ground is covered with least amount of effort, which his purpose as a versatile working gun dog demands. Profile of the topline kept throughout the trotting gait, light body roll in mature bitches is characteristic of the breed. While hunting, an extended fast trot with intermittent paces of a gallop allows the Spinone to cover ground quickly and thoroughly. Any characteristics that interfere with the accomplishment of the function of the Spinone shall be considered as a serious fault.
Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points constitutes a fault which when judging must be penalized according to its seriousness and extension.
Disqualification:
Wall Eye
Any pigment other than described or incomplete pigment of the nose.
Overshot or undershot bite.
Any black pigmentation.
Any black in the coat; tan, tri-color markings in any combination, or any color other than accepted colors.
Approved: February 11, 2000
Effective: September 28, 2000
ENCI Description
This breed is a typical griffon, rustic, strong, with a powerful skeleton, very muscular and larger than medium size. Suited for hunting in all climates and on all terrains. Its fur in fact protects it from the water and freezing temperatures of the swamp. It goes nonchalantly into cold, deep water, being an excellent swimmer and a model retriever. Like all Italian breeds it is ancient. In the Renaissance in Italy a pointer with wiry hair was already present and reached us, with much difficulty, due to extraneous crossbreedings performed heedlessly. After 1950 the breed was reconstructed by a few great breeders. Its sense of smell, setting, retrieving, recovering, the close ties it has with the hunter are its innate merits. Its grumpy character contrasts with its gentle and affectionate disposition. It has a great capacity for learning and the desire of satisfy its master most completely. Very sociable, courageous, loyal and an excellent companion. Today the breed is popular not only in Italy; it is also raised in England and Scandinavia. The Griffon has a marked tendency to trot broadly and swiftly.
ENCI Standard
Brief 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.
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 colour, 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.
Body
Fits almost into a square.
Back: Withers not too raised. Points of shoulder-blades well apart. Upper profile of the back is made up of two segments: the first, nearly straight, slopes from the withers to the 11th dorsal vertebra, and the other, slightly convex, joins with the solid and well arched lumbar region. The rump, wide, long, well muscled and oblique, forms below the horizontal an angle of 30° to 35° which is measured on the obliqueness of the hip bone. The chest, which descends to at least the level of the elbows, is broad, deep and well rounded at mid height, where its trasversal diameter reaches its maximum and decreases perceptibly in direction of the sternum, but without the chest forming a keel at the junction of the sternum. The ribs are well sprung and slanting with wide spaces between the ribs. The back ribs (false ribs) are long, oblique and well opened. The loin, slightly convex, has well developed muscles in width. It measures in length a little less than a fifth of the height at the withers and its width is almost equal to its length. The lower profile is almost horizontal in the sternal region, then ascends slightly towards the belly. The tail is thick, particularly at its base; is carried either horizontally, or down; there are no fringes. It should be docked leaving a stump of 15 to 25 cm.
Quarters
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: 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 colour of the coat. Nails strong, curved towards the ground and well pigmented but never black.
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.
Thigh: Its length 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 length 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 length 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 and Movement
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 colour of the markings of the coat. The colour of the external mucous membranes must correspond with the colour 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.
Colour: 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 colour "Capuchin frier's frock". Not permitted colours are: tricolour, 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 to 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.