Spinone Italiano vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison

Spinone Italiano vs Fox Terrier - Breed ComparisonSpinone Italiano is originated from Italy but Fox Terrier is originated from United Kingdom. Spinone Italiano may grow 31 cm / 13 inches higher than Fox Terrier. Spinone Italiano may weigh 30 kg / 67 pounds more than Fox Terrier. Spinone Italiano may live 6 years less than Fox Terrier. Spinone Italiano may have more litter size than Fox Terrier. Spinone Italiano requires Moderate maintenance. But Fox Terrier requires Low maintenance

History

spinone italiano - historyThis Italian breed has an ancient blood line tracing all the back to 500 BC. Originally bred to hunt, he is today a friendly, alert and loyal companion. He is intelligent enough to do any job you give him. The Spinone is thought to be one of the oldest gun dogs ever, but it is not entirely clear that he came from Italy. There are some who think he may have come from somewhere in these European countries – Italy, Greece, France, Celtic Ireland, Spain or Russia. However, most believe the breed came from Italy in the Piedmont area.

The most common thinking is that he is a descendent of the Spanish Pointer and/or the Russian Setter. One other theory is that setters from Greece were brought to the Roman Empire and crossed with a variety of Italian dog to make the coarse haired Spinone we see today. Then the French put in their claim that the breed is a cross of many French pointers.

The theory that counts might just belong to the Italians who believe the ancestor to the Spinone includes the German Wirehaired Pointer, the Pudelpointer and the Wirehaired Pointer. It was not until the 19th century that the name Spinone was officially given to the breed.

Before that it might have been known as a Spinoso and named after a thorn bus in Italy called the Spino. This bush was so thick and sharp that small prey animals learned to hide under it because the predators could not get through it. The Spinone however was able to fight through the briars with its thick, coarse hair and tough skin.

The breed almost became extinct during the second world war as before and after the hunters in Italy had started to use other breeds for hunting. Breeders also began to cross the Spinone with wire hairs like German Wirehaired Pointer, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and the Boulet.

The most popular hunting dog in Italy today is the Bracco Italiano while the Spinone is still used for hunting.

fox terrier - historyThe Wirehaired Fox Terrier and the Smooth Fox Terrier were for over 100 years the same breed of dog. Now it is believed that they are two separate breeds with two separate ancestry. It is an English creation with Dachshunds, Fox Hound, English Hounds, and Beagle in their background. It is also believed that the Wales, Durham and Derbyshire extinct rough-coated black and tan working terrier. The white terrier breeds that exist today are related to the Fox Terrier. In addition, it is recognized that terrier breeds of today such as the Jack Russel, the Rat Terrier, and the Miniature Fox Terrier are descendants of the Fox Terrier.

They are one of the oldest of the terrier breeds dating back to the 17tth century in the British Isles. They were primarily farm dogs guarding against the fox and vermin. Like any terrier they go to ground – digging, growling, barking and lunging at the den until the animal comes out and the farmer killed it. The breed was made popular in England through their living with royalty. The Nots Kennel had a lot to do with this as well. King Edward VII’ Wire Fox Terrier came from the Notts Kennel. The Best Champion of Crufts in 1911 was a Wire Fox Terrier, and Queen Victoria had one as well. The Wire Fox Terrier finally became a family dog in the 1930’s. During this time there were feature movies and comic strips that feature a Wire Fox Terrier, such as The Thin Man and The Adventures of Tintin.

The late 1900’s saw the population moving off the farms, out of the country and into the cities. This caused a decline in the popularity of the breed. Keeping terriers born to hunt in the city proved a challenge in the beginning. Their popularity is influenced as well by the breeds success in the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York – second only to the Crufts Dog Show in England. Adding to their early success at Crufts, the Wirehaired Fox Terrier breed has won more Westminster Best in Show than any other with 14. Only five dogs have won at Westminster more than once and one of those is a Wirehaired Fox Terrier. A Smooth Fox Terrier won it three times.

Description

spinone italiano puppy - descriptionThe breed is made up of strong, solid and muscled dogs that have an almost square build. His legs are made to travel any terrain and his head is long with an occipital that is pronounced and unique to the Spinone. They are said to have “human appearing eyes”, with a docked tail in countries allowing it and webbed paws.

Shorter hair covers their feet, head, legs, muzzle and ears. They have longer hair on their eyebrows and it is stiff, with soft hair on the muzzle and cheeks with a beard and mustache. It is a single coated dog though the coat is rough. They should have skin, lips, nose, and pads in colors that coordinate with their coats. For white dog it is a red-orange color, brown in dogs that are roan colored and dark red-orange in the orange and white colored dog.

fox terrier puppy - descriptionThe Wirehaired Fox terrier is a sturdy dog with features quite similar to the Smooth Fox Terrier. It is symmetrical with a short back, round, dark eyes, a body that is shorter and ears that are v-shaped. He is medium sized with a flat skull that narrows as it approaches the nose. The nose is black, and the muzzle also tapers to it. The breed has a high, docked tail outside the United Kingdom. The tail is natural in the United Kingdom. They don’t have a broad or narrow chest, but it is deep. Laid back shoulders and a short back are signs of good breeding. Their legs are strong, and their feet have tough, cushioned pads.

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness – yes they live kids.

2.Special talents – Digging and running.

spinone italiano dog - characteristics3.Adaptability – Young dogs need a lot of attention but they don’t need a lot of space. The young dogs are energetic while the adult dogs are laid-back. They need exercise every day and at least a small back yard.

4.Learning ability – good/stubborn/intelligent.

Children friendliness

fox terrier dog - characteristicsThe Wirehaired Fox Terrier is good with children but if teased and frustrated he could bite. Children should know how to play with them and not to tease them.

Special talents

He is great at performing tricks, tracking, agility, watch dog, competitive hunting or field trials.

Adaptability

The Wirehaired Fox Terrier is quite adaptable and can live anywhere. He is not a big dog but remember he is very high energy.

Learning ability

The breed is very smart but being independent thinkers, they can be difficult to train at times. Consistency and patience are needed when training the Wirehaired Fox Terrier. They get bored easily and if training sessions are not fun you will lose them. This is a breed that loves people but need constant supervision and companionship.

Health Problems

spinone italiano puppies - health problemsThis is an ancient breed with not a lot of documented genetic issues, but it does have one deadly condition.

• Cerebellar ataxia (CA) is inherited and hits the puppies. Because it is a recessive gene both the mother and father must carry it for the puppy to inherit it. This makes it less likely than it would be otherwise. Puppies with the condition do not live more than a year. Since it is a genetic problem there is now a test for it that identifies carriers at a 95% accuracy rate.

• Like many other large breed dogs, they are susceptible to hip dysplasia. This can cause arthritis and/or lameness. There are now hip replacement surgeries available for this condition.

• Bloat is again common in large dogs and you need to watch for it with the Spinone. It can be deadly if not treated immediately. Let your dog rest quietly after eating. Do not let her exercise or play energetically after eating.

fox terrier puppies - health problemsThis is basically a healthy breed, but there are some potential issues that could arise:

  1. Cataracts
  2. Causes a cloudiness and can cause blindness
  3. Luxating Patellas
  4. “Floating Kneecaps” – dislocated kneecaps. Causes lameness and arthritis
  5. Legg-Calve-Perthes Syndrome
  6. Causes a very serious muscle loss in the dog’s legs
  7. Elbow and Hip Dysplasia
  8. Causes lameness and arthritis
  9. Epilepsy
  10. Causes seizures
  11. Shoulder Dislocation
  12. Causes pain and arthritis
  13. Mast Cell Tumors
  14. Cancer – could be fatal
  15. Post Nasal Drip
  16. Just annoying
  17. Deafness

This is possible in white terriers

Caring The Pet

spinone italiano dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – feed a high quality dog food for puppies of large breeds. Feed 3-4x day but don’t overfeed or let him exercise after eating even as a puppy.

2.Feeding the adult - feed a high quality dog food for large breeds. Feed 1-2X day but don’t overfeed or let him exercise after eating.

3.Points for Good Health – Active and strong

4. Games and Exercises – The Spinone is an active breed, but not a fast dog. In fact, they like to travel at a trot so it becomes a great dog for jogging or running with. They love to jump, track, hunt, hike. They do well with agility, retrieving, flyball, carting, being a therapy dog, a rescue dog and a watchdog.

Feeding the puppy

fox terrier dogs - caringGive them two meals maybe three per day. Total food per day divided into the number of meals is 1/8-1/4 cup day.

Feeding the adult

Once again feed one-two meals per day and don’t overfeed. Total of ½ cup day

Games and Exercises

Being a terrier, the Wirehaired Fox Terrier needs a lot of exercise. He is energetic and playful. He loves to play ball, take interesting walks, and play in fenced areas. He needs to be in either a fenced area or on a leash as he will chase any small animal that he sees moving. But if you leave him unsupervised in a fenced area, don’t forget he is a terrier. He is likely to dig under or climb over a fence that isn’t entirely secure.

He loves earth dog trials, agility, tracking, hunting, flyball, and running. He hardly ever walks. He can play ball chasing for hours if you let him. Exercise is bonding for you and your Wirehaired Fox Terrier.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Terrier dog
Origin:
Italy
United Kingdom
Height Male:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
35 - 39 cm
13 - 16 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
32 - 36 cm
12 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
34 - 39 kg
74 - 86 pounds
8 - 9 kg
17 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 37 kg
70 - 82 pounds
7 - 8 kg
15 - 18 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 9 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 11
4 - 6
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Spinone Italian Spinone Italian Griffon Italian Wire-haired Pointer Italian Coarsehaired Pointer
Wire hair fox terrier Wirehaired terrier Fox terrier Wire
Colors Available:
white with orange markings, white with brown markings, and brown roan with or without brown markings , orange roan with or without orange markings, solid white
predominant white base with brown markings of the face and ears, and usually a black saddle or large splotch of color; there may be other black or brown markings on the body.
Coat:
tough, slightly wiry, and close fitting. rough
rough, Broken
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Alert, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Playful, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Schnauzer vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Fox Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Fox Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  4. Fox Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  5. Fox Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Fox Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Fox Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  8. Fox Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Fox Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  10. Fox Terrier vs Brazilian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Irish Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  12. Fox Terrier (Smooth) vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Lakeland Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Jagdterrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Indian Bull Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Irish Bull Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Japanese Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Old English Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Scoland Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Skye Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Welsh Terrier vs Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Spinone Italiano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  27. Spinone Italiano vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  28. Spinone Italiano vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  29. Spinone Italiano vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  30. Spinone Italiano vs Portuguese Pointer - Breed Comparison
  31. Spinone Italiano vs Perdiguero de Burgos - Breed Comparison
  32. Spinone Italiano vs Irish Red and White Setter - Breed Comparison
  33. Spinone Italiano vs Pachon Navarro - Breed Comparison
  34. Spinone Italiano vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  35. Spinone Italiano vs Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  36. Spinone Italiano vs Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac - Breed Comparison
  37. Spinone Italiano vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  38. Spinone Italiano vs Spanish Pointer - Breed Comparison
  39. Spinone Italiano vs Longhaired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  40. Spinone Italiano vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  41. Talbot vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  42. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  43. Weimaraner vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  44. Spinone Italiano vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  45. Spinone Italiano vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  46. Spinone Italiano vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  47. Spinone Italiano vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  48. Spinone Italiano vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  49. Spinone Italiano vs Akita - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds