Spinone Italiano vs Podenco Canario - Breed Comparison

The Podenco Canario comes from the Canary Islands (Spain) and is still used for hunting purposes to this day, although it is also becoming more of a companion dog.

It is believed that the dog descended from ancient dogs which were brought to the islands from Egypt and North Africa by early human settlers.

This Italian breed has an ancient blood line tracing all the back to 500 BC. Originally bred to hunt, he is today a friendly, alert and loyal companion. He is intelligent enough to do any job you give him. The Spinone is thought to be one of the oldest gun dogs ever, but it is not entirely clear that he came from Italy. There are some who think he may have come from somewhere in these European countries – Italy, Greece, France, Celtic Ireland, Spain or Russia. However, most believe the breed came from Italy in the Piedmont area.

The most common thinking is that he is a descendent of the Spanish Pointer and/or the Russian Setter. One other theory is that setters from Greece were brought to the Roman Empire and crossed with a variety of Italian dog to make the coarse haired Spinone we see today. Then the French put in their claim that the breed is a cross of many French pointers.

The theory that counts might just belong to the Italians who believe the ancestor to the Spinone includes the German Wirehaired Pointer, the Pudelpointer and the Wirehaired Pointer. It was not until the 19th century that the name Spinone was officially given to the breed.

Before that it might have been known as a Spinoso and named after a thorn bus in Italy called the Spino. This bush was so thick and sharp that small prey animals learned to hide under it because the predators could not get through it. The Spinone however was able to fight through the briars with its thick, coarse hair and tough skin.

The breed almost became extinct during the second world war as before and after the hunters in Italy had started to use other breeds for hunting. Breeders also began to cross the Spinone with wire hairs like German Wirehaired Pointer, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and the Boulet.

The most popular hunting dog in Italy today is the Bracco Italiano while the Spinone is still used for hunting.

The Podenco Canario is a medium sized dog and stands at between 55 and 64cm and weighs between 20 and 25kg. This is a slender, muscular dog but still robust and sturdy. There are in fact 2 sizes of Podenco Canarios – one is the medium sized dog of up to 64cm and the other is a smaller size.

The coat of the dog is short and smooth and is a rich red color or even chocolate brown. There are dogs which can have some white markings. The dog's nose and skin should be a shade of red and these dogs are known to blush when they become animated. The neck of the dog is long with the head being long and slender too, with the large bat-like ears being erect.

Temperament:

This dog can become very attached to his human family and is somewhat reserved around strangers. He is smart and will be able to learn easily. Training and socialization will be necessary to him as it makes him balanced and obedient.

He will appreciate a firm, consistent, kind owner as he is a dog that is strong willed and stubborn. He is a gentle dog too and can play well with children who have been taught to treat dogs with respect. He is active and will require a good deal of daily exercise.

The breed is made up of strong, solid and muscled dogs that have an almost square build. His legs are made to travel any terrain and his head is long with an occipital that is pronounced and unique to the Spinone. They are said to have “human appearing eyes”, with a docked tail in countries allowing it and webbed paws.

Shorter hair covers their feet, head, legs, muzzle and ears. They have longer hair on their eyebrows and it is stiff, with soft hair on the muzzle and cheeks with a beard and mustache. It is a single coated dog though the coat is rough. They should have skin, lips, nose, and pads in colors that coordinate with their coats. For white dog it is a red-orange color, brown in dogs that are roan colored and dark red-orange in the orange and white colored dog.

The Podenco Canario is a quiet breed that isn’t going to cause you trouble as he just slots into your way of life.

He is easy going, gentle and smart and wants to please. He is also a low maintenance dog, easy to please if he benefits from a good dose of exercise and human interaction.

Early socialization and training is important, as with any other dog breed, and then he becomes an excellent pet and friend of the family.

1.Children friendliness – yes they live kids.

2.Special talents – Digging and running.

3.Adaptability – Young dogs need a lot of attention but they don’t need a lot of space. The young dogs are energetic while the adult dogs are laid-back. They need exercise every day and at least a small back yard.

4.Learning ability – good/stubborn/intelligent.

Your Podenco can live to be 10, 11 or 12 years of age if looked after well. Because he is a primitive breed, he is able to throw off some diseases that other dogs might battle with. Just like with other dogs however, he can battle with some health problems. One of two of the common dog illnesses to watch out for include -

Skin Problems:

Skin problems can create havoc for your dog. They can be frustrating, painful and itchy. Skin problems can come from parasites, allergies and skin infections. Common parasites that involve the skin include ticks and fleas and mites. Dogs themselves can also cause irritation of the skin by licking one area over and over again from sheer boredom and stress.

Gastric Torsion (Bloat:

To prevent this life threatening disease, try and feed your dog 2 meals a day instead of one so that he doesn't gobble his food up. This can contribute to bloat. The stomach fills with gas and the stomach can twist and bring death to the dog. Get your dog to the vet immediately if you see he is restless,drooling and has a swollen stomach.

Heartworm:

This is particularly worrisome if you live in an area where there are lots of mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be deadly for your dog. Speak to your vet about preventative treatment if you are traveling to an area known for its mosquito problems..

This is an ancient breed with not a lot of documented genetic issues, but it does have one deadly condition.

• Cerebellar ataxia (CA) is inherited and hits the puppies. Because it is a recessive gene both the mother and father must carry it for the puppy to inherit it. This makes it less likely than it would be otherwise. Puppies with the condition do not live more than a year. Since it is a genetic problem there is now a test for it that identifies carriers at a 95% accuracy rate.

• Like many other large breed dogs, they are susceptible to hip dysplasia. This can cause arthritis and/or lameness. There are now hip replacement surgeries available for this condition.

• Bloat is again common in large dogs and you need to watch for it with the Spinone. It can be deadly if not treated immediately. Let your dog rest quietly after eating. Do not let her exercise or play energetically after eating.

Exercise:

Provide your dog with a daily dose of exercise. He will love to have a walk with you every day but ball games will also be important for him.

Diet:

Your Podenco Canario is a medium-breed dog, with a slim, muscular build To keep him that way, ensure he has a high quality commercially manufactured dog food that is high in the vitamins and minerals he needs.

Dry kibble needs to be enhanced with some home-made food. Boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach are excellent when chopped up and added occasionally to the dry kibble. You can also include some raw meat into his food from time to time. Such nutritious food which is simple, can help your dog live a long, healthy, happy life.

Grooming:

Your dog has a short coat and a brush twice a week will keep it in tip top condition. Make use of these brushing sessions to check your dog’s coat for fleas and ticks. Also check him over for any new lumps. Cancer is an ever present threat with dogs.

Look inside his ears for any signs of redness, and try and look inside his mouth too for signs of bad teeth. His nails should also be kept short and trimmed. If they get too long they can hook onto things and rip the flesh open.

1Feeding the puppy – feed a high quality dog food for puppies of large breeds. Feed 3-4x day but don’t overfeed or let him exercise after eating even as a puppy.

2.Feeding the adult - feed a high quality dog food for large breeds. Feed 1-2X day but don’t overfeed or let him exercise after eating.

3.Points for Good Health – Active and strong

4. Games and Exercises – The Spinone is an active breed, but not a fast dog. In fact, they like to travel at a trot so it becomes a great dog for jogging or running with. They love to jump, track, hunt, hike. They do well with agility, retrieving, flyball, carting, being a therapy dog, a rescue dog and a watchdog.