The Spinone Italiano is a native of Italy. His use as a hunting dog in that country has been noted at least 2000 years ago. He was not admitted into the British Kennel Club until 1994 and immediately became a hit, the following year there were 80 of the Spinones entered in the Championship competition at Crufts. He also became an almost instant success in the United States upon his entry in to the American Kennel club where he is a member of the Sporting Group. He has a large following amongst both the hunting crowd and the Dog Show crowd. For many breeders this is a cause for concern since they believe that it is important to preserve the fine hunting abilities of the dog and not go "overboard" on the conformation competition which often overlooks important functional characteristics of a breed while concentrating on looks rather than inherited genetic ability and utility. At the present time many "sporting" breeders are making a sincere effort to produce a true "gun dog" in the Spinone and frown on the use of dogs for breeding who do not carry the inherent natural abilities of the dog nor the correct structure of body or coat.

The Spinone Italiano is essentially a gun dog of great skill and utility in the field. He has a unique leathery skin which is thick and a short, stiff coat which is resistant to burrs and thorns, making him an easy care dog if he has the correct coat. Some of the Spinoni do have a coat which is too soft and this can lead to difficulties with matting if they are not kept brushed. The coat should not be more than 2 inches in length on the body. There is little feathering on the legs which also is a help when going through underbrush. The color of the Spinone Italiano is solid white, white with orange speckles, (orange roan) white with brown markings, white with brown speckles (brown roan), or brown roan with brown markings. The nose and lips should be darker than the color of the dog but not black. His face has a bearded look with a longer eyebrow fringe over the eyes. Because of this facial appearance, the Spinone presents a distinguished, rather "grandfatherly" expression which endears him to his followers. He is a good sized gun dog with a height at the withers of 23-27 inches and should possess stamina and a free flowing movement when out in the field. His appearance should be that of a squarely built, solid dog, as long as he is tall. The tail is usually docked. He should have a ground covering stride at the trot and is a rangy dog with great speed and flexibility in the field. He is most notable amongst gun dogs for his super soft mouth and retrieving instincts which are quite strong.

The Spinone is a rambunctious puppy and a noble but not so dignified adult. He is generally affectionate and has a tendency to be a bit rowdy. There are few health problems associated with the breed except for the usual cautions about hip dysplasia which are always important in the larger breeds. Because of his hunting nature, he is a dog that needs exercise and activity. This is not a dog that should have nothing to do, for he will quickly become bored and destructive.