The Spinone is an
ancient Italian hunting breed, a member of the HPR (Hunt Point
Retrieve) sub group of Gundogs.
He has a unique
fast trotting action, capable of covering a large area whilst
hunting.
His scenting ability
is excellent and his thick skin and tough wiry coat enable him
to enter any cover. It is amazing to watch a large Spinone negotiate
a thick wall of brambles. To see a Spinone pointing game is
always a highlight during a shoot.
This breed will
willingly enter water or cover to retrieve shot game.
All in all this
makes him a very good all round gundog.
Shaun and I have
always been involved in the working side, taking a team of up
to three dogs out on a shoot, picking up and beating.
I started out on
the Brocket Hall estate with Lucca; my first Spinone and then
Shaun and I joined other local shoots, with Tarka, Nina and
Ccesca. Nando has now taken over as our main working dog. All
our Spinoni, with their excellent ability to locate birds in
thick cover have been the ideal dogs for our local shoots.
One day we would
like to progress to working tests.
