Italian Hound (smooth-haired)

This Italian hound comes from the Apennine peninsula and is considered one of Europe's oldest scenthound types, used to track boar as far back as Roman times. A male weighs around 28 kilograms on a lean, long-legged frame, and the short, dense coat needs little maintenance. It differs from its wirehaired relative only in coat type, and both work in the same hunting packs. In Italy it's still seen more often in rural hunting than in the city. The voice runs deep and carrying, built for trailing scent over long distances, so a dog kept alone at home can be loud without an obvious cause. It tends to be friendly and calm with family but needs a substantial amount of daily exercise. Life expectancy runs 11 to 14 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Italian Hound (smooth-haired): how old in human years?

48–58 cmHeight
18–28 kgWeight
11–14 yrsLife expectancy

Italian Hound (wire-haired)

FCI group: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
FCI section: Section 1.2: Scenthounds, Medium sized
FCI: 337
Country of origin: Italy

Energy level

5/5
Trainability

3/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

1/5

At a glance

Height

Males 52–58 cm

Females 48–56 cm

Weight

Males 18–28 kg

Females 18–26 kg

Life expectancy

11–14 yrs

Coat

short, dense (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Italian Hound (smooth-haired)'s average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 4/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 3/5
Trainability 3/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Italian Hound (smooth-haired)'s energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 5/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Italian Hound (smooth-haired)'s guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 1/5
Watchfulness 2/5
Barking level 4/5

Grooming & Care

Italian Hound (smooth-haired)'s grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 2/5
Grooming need 1/5

Living with the Italian Hound (smooth-haired)

You will hear it first: a high, ringing bay carrying through the forest once the dog has picked up a fresh hare trail and has no intention of letting go. The Italian Hound (smooth-haired) is an old Italian scenthound, made to work with its nose, follow game long and stubbornly and tell the hunter by voice where the action is. Its hunting instinct and prey drive are about as strong as they come, so off-lead time belongs only in a completely safe, fenced area.

It has a great deal of energy, and it doesn't run out after half an hour. Every day it needs long walks, running, tracking or some other job for its nose; without that it will soon find something to do on its own, and it will probably be loud. Training goes at a moderate pace: it catches on quickly enough, but scent is always competing with your voice, so patience, treats and short sessions are a must.

At home, once properly tired, it is gentle and friendly, good with children and, as a true pack hound, generally with other dogs too. It is not aggressive towards strangers and won't make a guard. All that voice and need for movement mean a flat is no place for it, and neighbours behind thin walls won't love it; it is happiest in the countryside or a house with a fence, with a hunter or with people who love long walks in the forest themselves.

Grooming and coat

The Italian Hound (smooth-haired) has a short, dense, glossy coat that fits like a second skin, so it needs very little upkeep. A weekly once-over with a rubber brush or grooming mitt clears out loose hair and dust. It sheds lightly and only needs a bath when a trip to the woods has sent it home smelling of something truly memorable.

Put your effort into what the woods and fields leave behind. Those long, hanging ears are the first place to look: lift them and check inside every week; redness, discharge or a bad smell is a reason to see a vet. After a run through the undergrowth, check the paws and skin for scrapes, ticks or lodged thorns, and trim the nails if they don't wear down on their own.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (28 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 305 g of dry food a day, from €16,70 a month For a neutered, normally active 22,5 kg dog. Calculate for your dog