Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison

Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Spinone Italiano - Breed ComparisonSpinone Italiano is originated from Italy but Wire Haired Fox Terrier is originated from United Kingdom. Spinone Italiano may grow 32 cm / 13 inches higher than Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Spinone Italiano may weigh 30 kg / 67 pounds more than Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Spinone Italiano may live 5 years less than Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Spinone Italiano may have more litter size than Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Both Spinone Italiano and Wire Haired Fox Terrier requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Terrier dog
undefined
Italy
United Kingdom
Height Male:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
34 - 39 kg
74 - 86 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 37 kg
70 - 82 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 9 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 11
4 - 6
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Spinone Italian Spinone Italian Griffon Italian Wire-haired Pointer Italian Coarsehaired Pointer
Wire Fox Terrier
Colors Available:
white with orange markings, white with brown markings, and brown roan with or without brown markings , orange roan with or without orange markings, solid white
White, tan and black
Coat:
tough, slightly wiry, and close fitting. rough
Medium length, wiry
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

spinone italianoThis 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.

wire haired fox terrierThe Wire Haired Fox Terrier originates in England, and it is thought that the dog developed from the white English Terrier being crossed with the Bull Terrier and maybe even the Beagle.

The hunting crowd wanted a dog that was small enough to disappear down a hole to flush out a fox.

Even though the Wire Haired Fox Terrier used to be a pet of Queen Victoria as well as King Edward VII, it only became popular as a family pet in the 1930s.

Description

spinone italiano puppy - descriptionThe 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.

wire haired fox terrier puppy - descriptionThe Wirehaired Fox Terrier is a medium-sized dog, standing at between 33 and 38cm in height and weighing between 6 and 9 kg.

The face is fairly long and he has semi-erect, semi-floppy ears and the high set tail is usually docked. The double coat is wiry, curly and coarse and is essentially white with tan or black markings. White is always the predominant color of the Wire Haired Fox Terrier.

Temperament:

This little dog is cheerful, cheeky, playful, feisty, lovable and full of the joys of life. He is also strong-willed and independent.

He makes a great playmate for kids and loves being in the company of his human family. He will get on well with other pets in the family too.

He is intelligent which means you can have him easily trained and socialized and the kids will love to teach him some tricks too. He is a high energy dog and will require a good dose of exercise.

He’ll become stressed and frustrated if he doesn't get the exercise he needs.

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness – yes they live kids.

2.Special talents – Digging and running.

spinone italiano dog - characteristics3.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.

wire haired fox terrier dog - characteristicsOne thing is for sure – when you bring a Wire Haired Fox Terrier into your home, you’re going to have a dog with endless energy. It is why they make such good pets when you’ve got kids in the house.

They like to please their owners and they respond well to training and socialization. They’re also brave and protective, making good watchdogs.

They’re loving, loyal and companionable, and there are plenty of stories about the loyalty of these dogs. Anyone who has had one of them as a pet will tell you what splendid dogs they are.

Health Problems

spinone italiano puppies - health problemsThis 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.

wire haired fox terrier puppies - health problemsThese robust little dogs can succumb to any one of the many common dog illnesses there are -

Epilepsy:

The Wirehaired Foxy is a healthy dog, but it is thought that Epilepsy could be a problem with this breed. Your spunky dog may seem a little bit confused before he falls to the floor lying on his side and twitching like he’s having a bad dream.

This is brought on by uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the dog’s brain. The seizure can last for a minute or so but even so, whether it is a twitch or violent shuddering, it can leave you shocked and disturbed.

He can sometimes even urinate during the seizure. It is imperative to get your pet to the vet who will know precisely how it can be controlled.

Dental Problems:

Dental disease is also a common problem with dogs and unfortunately, your Wire Haired Fox Terrier also battles with this. The problem starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and then it can cause infection of the gums and roots of the teeth.

Left unattended to, your pet could lose his teeth, and it jeopardizes your pet’s health as well.

Caring The Pet

spinone italiano dogs - caring1Feeding 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.

wire haired fox terrier dogs - caringGroom your pet. Brush twice weekly. Wire Haired Fox Terrier owners like to hand their pets in at professional groomers to have their hair cut short and made more manageable. The hair is kept quite long around the muzzle.

Check inside the ears that there are no signs of infection.

Trim the nails.

Exercise your pet every day.

Provide your pet with the best food there is. Always buy high quality food that can contribute to your pet’s health and which is suitable for his size, age and activity levels. The Wire Haired Fox Terrier is inclined to be a greedy dog and with a dog like this weight gain can slowly increase and can become a health problem.

Spay or Neuter. This is an excellent idea for your pet if you don’t want puppies. Not only that, spaying or neutering actually decreases the likelihood of your pet getting some types of cancer.

Provide your pet with his own dry, warm, quiet sleep area.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Spinone Italiano vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Spinone Italiano vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Spinone Italiano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Spinone Italiano vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Spinone Italiano vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Spinone Italiano vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Spinone Italiano vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Spinone Italiano vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Spinone Italiano vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Spinone Italiano vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Spinone Italiano vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Spinone Italiano vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Spinone Italiano vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Spinone Italiano vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Spinone Italiano vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Spinone Italiano vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Spinone Italiano vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Spinone Italiano vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Spinone Italiano vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Spinone Italiano vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Spinone Italiano vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Spinone Italiano vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Spinone Italiano vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Spinone Italiano vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Spinone Italiano vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison