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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Spinone italinao help

11 replies

LifeIsChaos · 02/04/2016 19:30

Has anyone got any experience of this breed?

I adore the look of the dog and researching the temperament it sounds like an ideal family pet. But are they easy to train? Will a pup destroy my house?

OP posts:

TheoriginalLEM · 02/04/2016 19:54

I don't have any direct experience but the ones i have met have all been really calm, lovely dogs. Most puppies are weapons of mass destruction though :)

tinymeteor · 02/04/2016 20:35

Watching with interest as I'm quite keen on this breed too, and everything I read sounds great, but the only one I've ever met had zero recall and jumped all over people. Obviously good training is a must, but I've no idea how much inherent nuttiness is to be expected of the breed.

Original poster

LifeIsChaos · 02/04/2016 21:32

The breeder says they can be very naughty and don't like to be left alone if that helps. They mature and settle down at around 2 years old.

I just need to know if the house and my sanity cam withstand that. Used to have a collie and she was nutty and nervous but from all accounts this breed is calm, docile etc when mature and trained.

Plus they look gorgeous!

OP posts:

cheerfulmary · 02/04/2016 22:07

Puppies are bouncy, cheerful and crazy. Ours was a chewer so we had to keep things out of his way (As they are tall this can be an issue) They do need careful socialisation as some can be a bit wary but same as many pupppies.

They love to swim in all weathers so you need to love the smell of wet dogs and have loads of towels in the car at all times!

They will need a lot of exercise did I mention they like to swim.

Our spinny loved to dig but so do many dogs, they are happy and enjoy training. They have loads and loads of energy so you will need to have time to give them lots of exercise.

Oh they like to swim!

Their coats tend to cling on to every bit of bracken or branch they walk past so they will need regular grooming and care. Grooming is too big a word, regular destripping of undergrowth!

They are excellent retrievers so often will carry things in their mouths a lot. Ours always greeted us with a shoe in his mouth.

Did I mention they love to swim.

They love people I agree and cannot happily be left alone for long also the high exercise requirement they are not a dog for the faint hearted but they are fantastic dogs

cheerfulmary · 02/04/2016 22:11

I am also a collie owner and the difference in Spinnys and Collies is huge - you may at first find training a Spinny frustrating after a collie. Spinnys are willing to learn but do need repetition - they are more child like and would love to make you laugh even if jumping all over you is not what you want. They do not have the deep work ethic of a collie they are a gundog after all (joking!)

Scuttlebutter · 02/04/2016 23:47

There are two in our Rally class. They have lovely temperaments but my goodness, they are clowns! They adore being the centre of attention and are very playful. Suffice to say this often results in all sorts of escapades. Be prepared to be patient, have lots of treats and for everyone to love them. They are gorgeous but bonkers in a nice way.

Veterinari · 02/04/2016 23:50

Big, hairy, wet, prone to serious ear and joint problems

Veterinarynurse · 03/04/2016 10:27

They slobber a lot!

Original poster

LifeIsChaos · 03/04/2016 11:26

Hmm that's something to think about.

Are there any other breeds suitable for a family pet?

OP posts:

Noitsnotteatimeyet · 03/04/2016 11:53

If you like the idea of an unusual gundog then what about a Toller? Beautiful dogs with a lovely playful nature - ours adores children. He's bright as a button so picks things up very quickly. He's chilled in the house but busy, busy, busy out on walks. He loves going to training class - is about to do his gold KCGC - and we do fun agility and a bit of gundog training with him. He loves swimming and retrieving - would do it for ever if we didn't stop him. Moults twice a year but otherwise doesn't shed too badly, oh and no drool!

We know a couple of spinones and they are lovely dogs but big, hairy, messy and slobbery - a pp described them as clowns - they are, but very loveable if you can put up with the downsides

mrslaughan · 03/04/2016 19:40

The only one I know went to a dog sitter I know really well.... It was lovely , but chewed half her laundry door (she used to shut the dogs in the laundry with access to the back garden if she wanted to vacuum or mop- so wasn't all day every day . Also it did drool a lot.

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