Volpino Italiano

Also known as: Italian Volpino

The Volpino Italiano is an old Italian spitz breed, its name taken from volpe, the Italian word for fox, after its sharp, fox-like muzzle. In Italian Renaissance courts this small dog was popular among noblewomen and prized for its loud, alert bark, which made it a valued watchdog even alongside much larger guard dogs. The long, harsh outer coat with a dense undercoat forms a lion-like ruff around the neck, and adult weight sits at only about 5.5 kilograms. The breed nearly disappeared in Italy during the 20th century and was rebuilt from a small surviving population in the 1970s. In temperament it is lively, loyal, and often wary of strangers. Life expectancy runs 14 to 16 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Volpino Italiano: how old in human years?

25–30 cmHeight
4–5.5 kgWeight
14–16 yrsLife expectancy

Norwegian Buhund

FCI group: Spitz and Nordic/Ancient-type Dogs
FCI section: Section 4: European Spitz
FCI: 195
Country of origin: Italy

Energy level

3/5
Trainability

3/5
Family friendly

5/5
Grooming need

4/5

At a glance

Height

Males 27–30 cm

Females 25–28 cm

Weight

Males 4–5.5 kg

Females 4–5.5 kg

Life expectancy

14–16 yrs

Coat

double coat, long harsh outer coat (long)

Temperament & Family Life

Volpino Italiano's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 5/5
Good with children 3/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 3/5
Trainability 3/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Volpino Italiano's energy and exercise needs are moderate.

Energy level 3/5
Exercise need 3/5
Apartment friendly 5/5
Prey drive 1/5
Hunting instinct 1/5

Guarding & Alertness

Volpino Italiano's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

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

Grooming & Care

Volpino Italiano's grooming needs are moderate.

Shedding 3/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 4/5

Living with the Volpino Italiano

The doorbell hasn't even finished ringing and your Volpino Italiano is already in the hall, announcing the news to the entire building. This little spitz is a born watchdog: alert, hearing everything and reporting all of it. That is its greatest strength and also its biggest challenge, especially in a flat with thin walls.

Otherwise it is easy to live with. It is small and settles well in a flat, and a couple of moderate walks a day plus some play indoors are enough. With its family it is cheerful, affectionate and wants to be included; with strangers it is suspicious at first. It gets on with children who handle it gently: a dog this small can be hurt by a clumsy hug or a jump from someone's arms.

It is a moderately willing pupil, so short, upbeat sessions with treats work best. The most valuable thing to teach from puppyhood is "enough": thank it for announcing the visitor, then calmly quieten it. Do that and you have a small, lively, utterly devoted companion that will never let a courier go unannounced.

Grooming and coat

A Volpino Italiano's coat looks like a cloud of fluff, but it is more practical than it seems: a long, rather harsh outer coat stands off the body over a dense undercoat. A coat like this tangles less than a soft one, but it still needs regular care: comb it right down to the skin two or three times a week, especially behind the ears, under the legs and on the "trousers", where mats form fastest. Don't clip it short; it only needs the hair between the paw pads tidied.

When the undercoat changes, a surprising amount of hair can come out of such a small dog, so comb daily for those weeks. Bathe it only now and then and always dry it thoroughly, because a damp undercoat tangles easily. Small dogs' nails don't wear down on their own, so trim them regularly, and brush and check the teeth; if you notice bad breath or red gums, have a vet take a look.

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 small breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (6 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.

≈ 96 g of dry food a day, from €5,24 a month For a neutered, normally active 4,8 kg dog. Calculate for your dog