How does the Bracco Italiano work in the field?
The Bracco Italiano is an ancient Italian HPR that hunts at a fast, high-headed trot and holds a firm point. It suits walked-up and rough shooting.
The Bracco Italiano is an ancient Italian HPR with a hound-like look: long ears, loose lips and a noble head. Like the Italian Spinone, it often hunts at a fast, extended trot with its head held high, catching scent from the air, and it holds a firm point before flushing on command and retrieving. Its style is easy to follow on foot and suits walked-up and rough shooting. Most Bracchi in Britain are companions or show dogs, and the working population is small, so look for parents with working test or HPR field trial experience and ask the breeder how they are used. Seeing a Bracco work is the best way to judge whether its style suits you.
What is the Bracco Italiano like to live and work with?
Gentle, affectionate and sensitive, with a calm manner at home. It responds well to soft, patient handling.
Bracchi are gentle, affectionate and sensitive, with a calm and easy-going manner at home. They are devoted to their family and usually friendly with people and other dogs. They respond well to soft, patient handling and can shut down if trained harshly. They are also working dogs with real stamina, and they need daily exercise and something to do. Expect drool, and some independence when they catch an interesting scent. Look for parents that are confident and relaxed rather than nervous, keen on game and responsive to their handler.
Which health tests matter for the Bracco Italiano?
Both parents should have hip and elbow scores and a current eye certificate, and their eyelids are worth checking. Follow the breed clubs' list of recommended screening.
Ask for both parents' hip scores and elbow grades under the BVA/KC schemes, and a current eye certificate under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme; the breed's loose eyelids can lead to entropion or ectropion, so look at the parents' eyes. The breed clubs keep an up-to-date list of recommended tests and screening, so check it before you visit, ask which tests have been done and see the certificates. Bracchi are deep-chested and can be prone to bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus), which has no test, so learn the warning signs. Results for Kennel Club registered dogs can be checked on the Kennel Club's Health Test Results Finder. Our buying checklist covers what else to check before you pay.
How much training and exercise does the Bracco Italiano need?
The full HPR syllabus with plenty of praise, and a reliable recall built early. An adult needs at least an hour of exercise a day.
Training covers the full HPR syllabus: obedience and the stop whistle first, then quartering, pointing, steadiness and retrieving. Bracchi learn best through short, positive sessions with plenty of praise, and many mature slowly, so patience over steadiness pays off. Their nose can make them single-minded, so a reliable recall should be built early. An adult needs at least an hour of exercise a day, ideally with free running, and hard exercise straight after meals should be avoided. The short coat is easy to care for, but the long ears need regular checks for infection.
How long does it take to train the Bracco Italiano?
For the Bracco Italiano, readiness for the intended role matters more than a birthday. Check demonstrated foundations, physical suitability and the support needed for the next stage.
Early learning includes socialisation, recall and building confidence, with short walks while the puppy grows. After comfortable everyday foundations, it learns to quarter at its trot, its point is encouraged, and retrieving is built gently with dummies. With reliable foundations, it is steadied on point and to flush, and meets real game on quiet days. The working population is small, so it pays to watch the Bracco Italiano puppies for sale and to speak to breeders early. Use the training progression guide to discuss readiness with a reward-based trainer. Ask your vet about physical demands, and plan game, water and gunfire introductions with competent help.