Italian Volpino
Other names: Volpino, Italian Spitz, Volpino Italiano, Spitz de Florence, Chien du Quirinal, Cane de Guirinale
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The Volpino is a small dog, very cheerful and lively, always on the lookout. Very affectionate towards family members and children, they are a companion dog that also make very good guardians: very vigilant, they bark a great deal. In return, they are extremely friendly and have a great “sense of humour”: they enjoy playing and joking around. This Italian breed is rather rare, not widespread around the world.
Key facts about the Italian Volpino
Origins and history
This dog’s very ancient origins are the same as those of the German Spitz. For centuries, the Volpino has been widespread throughout Italy, particularly in Tuscany (where it was called the Volpino of Florence), both in large aristocratic families and among the people. Recently, the German Spitz “stole” their place and the Volpino almost disappeared. It was saved only thanks to the passion of certain breeders. Today, the Volpino is no longer endangered, but is far from being as well-known as they deserve.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 5 - Spitz and primitive types
Section
Section 4 : European Spitz
Physical characteristics of the Italian Volpino
Adult size
Female : Between 10 and 11 in
Male : Between 11 and 12 in
Weight
Female : Between 9 and 11 lb
Male : Between 9 and 11 lb
Coat colour
The coat is always one colour and can be white, red or champagne.
Type of coat
The hair is long.
The hair is dense, rough to the touch and sits well on the body. Thick and standing on end, the coat should never be flattened.
Eye colour
The eyes are dark brown (ochre).
Description
The Volpino is a small, mesomorphic dog, whose torso is square-shaped. The skull is egg-shaped, the stop quite marked, with a straight nose. The eyes are round and of a normal size. The ears have a triangular shape: they are rather short, pricked up and set high on the head and very close together. The torso is the same length as the dog’s height at the withers (ridge between the shoulder blades). The legs are well-aligned and have a fine structure. The tail is in line with the hindquarters and permanently curled.
Good to know
The Volpino is one of the rarest breeds in the world and deserves greater recognition in our country. The fact that they bark a lot can indeed annoy some, but on the contrary, they are very useful dogs for those who live in an isolated area and who need to be warned when anyone approaches their home.