The Segugio Italiano Community

The Segugio Italiano is one of Italy's most ancient and distinctive hunting dog breeds, a medium-sized scenthound of considerable elegance and athletic capability developed over many centuries across the Italian peninsula to hunt hare and other game, following scent with determination and stamina across the varied terrain of Italy's agricultural, woodland and upland environments. Images resembling the modern Segugio appear in Italian Renaissance art, and the breed's type - a lean, elegant, deep-chested hound with a fine head and a long, slightly arched muzzle suited to carrying scent - has been remarkably consistent over centuries of selective breeding for function. The breed comes in two coat varieties: the shorthaired (pelo raso), which has a short, close-lying coat, and the wirehaired (pelo forte), which has a dense, somewhat rough and bristly coat providing additional protection in rough terrain. The Segugio Italiano is registered by the Kennel Club in the Hound Group and is rarely seen in the United Kingdom. The Segugio Italiano is a medium-sized, lean and well-proportioned dog of considerable elegance. The long, narrow head with hanging ears, the deep chest, the tucked-up abdomen and the long, slightly curved tail carried upright when working are all characteristic of the scenthound type. The shorthaired variety has a fine, close coat in black and tan, or in various fawn shades; the wirehaired variety has a denser, slightly rough coat in the same colours. Adults typically stand 48 to 59 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh 18 to 28 kilograms. The character is affectionate and sociable with its own family and with other dogs - the pack hunting background produces a dog accustomed to working with others of its kind in a cooperative way. It can be reserved with strangers but is not typically aggressive. The scent drive is the defining behavioural characteristic: a Segugio on a scent trail is entirely absorbed in the task and effectively deaf to instructions, which makes secure containment and reliable recall essential management considerations. The breed is vocal - the Italian hound voice is considerable and owners should be aware that this is a normal and deeply ingrained breed characteristic, not a training failure. Health is generally good, reflecting the long history of natural selection under working conditions. Hip Dysplasia testing of parents is recommended. Purchase prices from breeders range from £600 to £1,200. Monthly running costs average £75 to £130. Italian breed clubs are the primary resource for breed information and responsible breeder contacts.