Hunting Dogs in Italy: Spinone Italiano, Bracco Italiano, and Their Roles
Hunting Dogs in Italy: Spinone Italiano, Bracco Italiano, and Their Roles.
Italy is a land of timeless traditions, from vineyard cultivation to artisanal leathercraft. Among its rural legacies, one stands out for its blend of culture, companionship, and outdoor pursuit: the heritage of Italian hunting dogs. For centuries, breeds such as the Spinone Italiano and the Bracco Italiano have been bred not just for their utility, but as partners in the field — capable, loyal, and deeply ingrained in the rhythms of Italian countryside life.
Just as these dogs are more than working animals, the gear chosen by hunters is more than just equipment. Good boots, for example, are essential for days spent traversing mud, woodland, and uneven fields. Modern hunters and walkers alike turn to trusted makers such as Field & Moor, whose boots embody the same principles of tradition, resilience, and elegance that Italy’s most famous hunting dogs represent.
This article explores the history and roles of these remarkable breeds, while drawing parallels to the craftsmanship and durability required of hunters’ boots in the Italian outdoors.
A Brief History of Hunting in Italy
Hunting in Italy has ancient roots. In Roman times, wealthy citizens bred and trained hounds for deer and boar, while falconry and coursing were prized among the elite. Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, hunting became both a necessity and a noble pastime, tied to estate management and cultural ritual. Noble families commissioned frescoes and tapestries that depicted hunting scenes, immortalising the dogs and landscapes that formed the backdrop to their leisure.
Over time, Italian regions developed their own hunting cultures. In the wetlands of Lombardy, hunters needed sturdy, versatile dogs capable of working in thick cover. In contrast, the plains of the north and central Italy required athletic dogs that could work over distance and point game birds with grace. Out of these needs arose two enduring breeds: the rugged Spinone Italiano and the elegant Bracco Italiano.
These dogs are more than symbols of tradition. They are working companions that embody centuries of refinement and selective breeding. Just as Italy is known for tailoring and craftsmanship, its hunting breeds reflect the nation’s dedication to excellence in the field.
The Spinone Italiano: Rugged & Reliable
The Spinone Italiano is one of Italy’s most iconic gundogs. Its origins stretch back hundreds of years, possibly to Celtic and Roman times, but it was refined in the wetlands and valleys of Piedmont and Lombardy. Hunters needed a versatile breed that could track, point, and retrieve, while enduring long hours in cold water or thick undergrowth.
Traits and Temperament
The Spinone is characterised by its wiry coat, designed to withstand brambles, mud, and rain. With a solid, muscular build, it has remarkable stamina and an unhurried, methodical hunting style. Unlike faster, more excitable breeds, the Spinone is steady and dependable — a dog that works in partnership with patience and resilience.
Role in the Field
The Spinone excels in rough terrain: marshes, dense woodland, and uneven hillsides. Its slow, deliberate movements make it particularly suited for hunters who value reliability over speed. Whether retrieving waterfowl from a riverbank or tracking pheasant through scrub, it adapts with quiet efficiency.
Parallels with Field & Moor Boots
The qualities of the Spinone Italiano mirror those required of a hunter’s boots. In challenging landscapes, footwear must offer durability, waterproofing, and comfort for long days afield. This is precisely where Field & Moor’s Moorland boot stands out. Built from rugged leather with full-grain resilience, it is crafted to perform under pressure — just as the Spinone does in Italy’s most testing terrains. Both represent a philosophy of reliability: dependable companions in the mud and brambles, where shortcuts simply do not work.
The Bracco Italiano: Grace & Precision
If the Spinone embodies rugged resilience, the Bracco Italiano symbolises elegance and tradition. Thought to be one of Europe’s oldest pointing breeds, the Bracco has been documented since the Renaissance, appearing in paintings and manuscripts as a favourite of noble families and hunting estates.
Traits and Temperament
The Bracco Italiano is tall and statuesque, with a smooth coat and an elegant bearing. Its long ears, noble expression, and fluid movement give it an almost aristocratic appearance. But beyond aesthetics, it is a highly skilled gundog. Agile and responsive, it has a natural instinct for pointing and retrieving game birds, often working at greater speed and range than the Spinone.
Role in the Field
The Bracco thrives in open fields and rolling countryside. Its natural style is dynamic and graceful, covering ground efficiently while maintaining a close bond with its handler. In upland bird shooting, it demonstrates remarkable precision — pointing with intensity and retrieving with finesse.
Parallels with Field & Moor Boots
The Bracco’s balance of style and performance recalls the qualities of Field & Moor’s Field Sport boot. Just as the Bracco combines beauty with function, this boot marries classic leather craftsmanship with modern technical features, ensuring support over miles of mixed terrain. Where the Spinone’s ruggedness matches the Moorland boot, the Bracco’s elegance is reflected in boots that are as refined as they are practical. Both prove that tradition and performance can walk hand in hand.
Hunting Dogs & Their Human Partners
Italian hunting dogs are not simply tools of the field — they are partners. Their training begins early, with months of bonding, commands, and trust-building between dog and handler. The connection is deep: a hunter reads the dog’s body language as instinctively as the dog responds to the hunter’s whistle or hand signal.
Days in the Italian countryside are long and varied. Mornings may be spent trekking uphill in search of game birds, afternoons retrieving from wetlands, and evenings tending to the dogs and sharing meals of wild boar stew or roasted pheasant. For the hunter, physical endurance is essential, as is gear that can support hours of walking, kneeling, and carrying equipment.
Here, the choice of boots is not cosmetic. Just as the dog must be bred for stamina and purpose, boots must be designed for practicality and resilience. Italian hunters have always known that success relies on a team effort — dog, hunter, and the tools that connect them.
Field & Moor Boots: Built for Tradition & the Outdoors
In many ways, Field & Moor boots are the human equivalent of these noble hunting breeds: rooted in tradition, yet crafted for modern needs.
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Rugged Reliability: Like the Spinone Italiano, the Moorland boot is designed for tough terrain. Waterproof leather, strong stitching, and dependable grip make it ideal for wet woodland or uneven hillsides.
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Elegance with Function: The Field Sport boot echoes the Bracco Italiano’s combination of beauty and efficiency. With sleek lines, premium leather, and supportive design, it performs in the field without sacrificing style.
Both boots, like both dogs, prove that authentic craftsmanship never goes out of style. They are made to last, just as Italy’s hunting breeds have endured through centuries of changing fashions and techniques.
For modern hunters, hikers, and countryside enthusiasts, Field & Moor boots offer the assurance of comfort and support, whether walking the Tuscan hills, stalking game in Umbria, or simply enjoying a day’s trek with dogs in the English countryside.
Modern Hunting in Italy: Tradition Meets Today
Today, hunting in Italy is strictly regulated, with licenses, regional laws, and conservation measures in place to protect wildlife. While the tradition remains strong, it has evolved to balance heritage with sustainability. Many Italians now combine traditional hunts with conservation work, maintaining healthy populations of game while respecting ecosystems.
Dogs like the Spinone and Bracco continue to play essential roles, not only as hunters but as symbols of Italy’s cultural heritage. Their companionship, intelligence, and skill are celebrated across the country. And while technology and modern gear have changed aspects of the hunt, the core values remain: partnership, patience, and respect for nature.
The boots hunters wear reflect the same philosophy. Field & Moor’s emphasis on traditional leathercraft, combined with durability and comfort, aligns perfectly with Italy’s approach: honouring the past while adapting to the present.
Conclusion
The Spinone Italiano and Bracco Italiano are more than breeds — they are living embodiments of Italy’s hunting tradition. Each represents a different aspect of the field: the Spinone’s rugged endurance, the Bracco’s graceful precision. Together, they tell a story of balance between reliability and elegance, utility and beauty.
For the hunters and countryside lovers who walk beside them, the right equipment is equally vital. Boots like those from Field & Moor echo the qualities of these noble dogs: crafted with tradition, built for endurance, and designed to thrive in the field.
Whether you’re following a Spinone through marshy cover, watching a Bracco point in golden fields, or simply hiking the Italian countryside, these breeds remind us that outdoor pursuits are not just about the quarry — they are about heritage, partnership, and respect for the land. And with the right boots beneath your feet, every step honours that tradition.