The Bracco Italiano is a mild mannered, regal looking dog whose pure breed goes back more than 4,000 years. They were introduced into the United Kingdom about 12 years ago and theBracco Italiano Society was formed to document their history. The Bracco Italiano is not only good to look at with their heads held high, they are also reliable working dogs who can go out on the field to work and be ready to perform at a show a few hours later.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5jkIGeTmRs

The Bracco Italiano is also referred to as the Italian Pointer and they are very strong, sturdy animals with a natural athletic ability that has made them the ideal hunting dog. Their short, glossy coat is ideal for dog shows because of the shine and sparkle the lights bring to their already striking appearance. The trademark light or tan color with the orangeish, brown spots make they are easily recognizable when they parade out onto the floor. With a strong evenly proportioned body, the Bracco Italiano has a solid, almost square front that make them an excellent choice as a show dog. The Bracco Italiano is a rare breed and, even though they are well loved all over Europe, there are still less than 300 dogs registered with the Bracco Italiano Society.http://www.bracco-italiano.co.uk/

During the Renaissance period members of this noble breed, because of their fine appearance and their usefulness in the field, were given as gifts from the Italian government to the leaders in France and Spain. The Bracco has remained a popular breed throughout the last two centuries, but during the 17th century, their numbers began to dwindle. By the late 1800s, they were headed for extinction and at the beginning of the early 1990s, the Societa Amitiro Bracco Italiano (SABI) along with Ferdinando Delo de Ferrabouc, stepped in to save the Bracco from doom. Even though these are mild mannered, calm dogs who are well loved by their owners, the number of known dogs remains low.http://www.braccoitaliano.org/history.html

When the Bracco Italiano was fist discovered, it was originally used in the field for hunting birds as their strong legs and agility keep them ready for any activity. These dogs love swimming, pointing, hunting, running and retrieving, these are the best attributes of this great show dog and their unwavering determination is evident whenever they engage in any sport.http://www.bracco-italiano.co.uk/ When you see the Bracco trotting around the showroom, you will see a graceful trot with strong sure legs that lend a determined step to their dignified appearance.http://www.thebraccoclub.org/

The Bracco Italiano is a strong breed of dog but, there are a few health issues to report that can become serious. The Bracco Italiano Society has proof of only two cases of glaucoma on their books since they opened in September, 1998.http://www.bracco-italiano.co.uk/ The most common health concern that this breed usually face is of the hips and elbows. This is a degenerative problem and as the dog gets older, the sockets and joints in these areas may become weaker.http://braccousa.com/braccohealth.html In dogs over two years old, twisted stomach can become a life threatening problem if left unchecked by a veterinarian and even then, only about 75% will make it through the ordeal.http://braccousa.com/articles/bloat.html

A lot of dogs will suffer from umbilical hernia, this condition causes an opening to remain where the walls of the stomach did not close after birth. The problem may require surgery if the hole ges too large and remains open for too long. This is not the only problem they face, the formation of the Bracci ear can be a breeding ground for infection if the ears are not cleaned on a regular basis. Skin problems that seem to exist in some dogs were cleared up when the food the Bracco was given was replaced with a diet that does not irritate the skin and digestive system.http://braccousa.com/braccohealth.html