Segugio Italiano

Coat and looks how to spot one

smooth (pelo raso) or rough (pelo forte)

A lean, athletic hound with a long oval head, a soft expression, large dark eyes and very long triangular ears. The smooth variety has a short, dense, glossy coat, while the rough variety wears a coarse coat up to about 5 cm long.34

Personality what they are like

Steady and gentle at home, with a soft look, yet full of drive once on a scent. It is described as calm, responsive and smart, and it happily works alone or with a pack.36

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. Bred to hunt across varied terrain for many hours, so it thrives on long daily walks, running and nose work.35

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low. The smooth coat needs a quick weekly brush; the rough coat benefits from regular brushing. The long hanging ears should be checked and kept clean.34

Home where they are happiest

Suits an active home with a secure garden and plenty of outdoor time; more and more are now kept as family companions.5

Company who they like around

Used to working in packs and alongside people, so it enjoys company of both dogs and its family.3

The story where it all began

Italy's classic scent hound is thought to be very old, and dogs like it appear in Roman statues and Renaissance hunting scenes. Dogs of this type were shown in Milan in 1886, a breed club formed in 1920, and after nearly vanishing by 1945 a new breed society restarted it in 1947.543

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Smooth-haired variety: Standard No. 337, Group 6, Section 1.2 (medium-sized scent hounds); accepted 11 May 1993; current standard 13 Nov 2015; working trial1

FCI

Rough-haired variety: Standard No. 198, Group 6, Section 1.2; definitive acceptance 9 Mar 1956; current standard 13 Nov 2015; working trial2

AKC

Listed as a breed on the AKC website6