A medium-sized long-legged hound, the Segugio Italiano comes in two coat varieties, Smooth and Rough. Square in outline, and light in structure the Segugio has a long muzzle and lean build like a sighthound, but the large dropped ears and nose of a scent hound.
| Lifespan: | 10 – 14 years |
| Weight: | 20 – 28kg |
| Height: | 50-60cm tall for males, 48-58cm for females |
| Colours: | All shades of fawn from deep fox red to very pale, and black and tan, some white markings may be seen on the face and chest |
| Size: | Medium |
| Kennel Club Group: | Hound (De-classified since 2020) |
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 5/5 |
| Easy to train: | 3/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 3/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 5/5 |
| Energy level: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 3/5 |
Gregarious and affectionate with those they know, the Segugio Italiano loves company, following a scent and being out all day. Despite being quite lightweight, they are formidable in a group against a larger potentially aggressive game. As a pet they will prefer company and are unlikely to tolerate being left for long by themselves. Expect hound style singing and howling at moments of excitement or frustration.
Country of Origin: Italy
The Segugio Italiano is an ancient Italian breed dating back thousands of years. Bred to hunt game including hare, rabbits and wild boar, they are tough dogs despite their small size and light build in comparison to other hounds.
It is thought their ancestry lies in Phoenician sighthounds and the scent hounds of the Celts, but there is very little written history on this breed. Their appearance certainly suggests this could be true. They are much lighter in build, much racier and longer in the leg than any other scent hound, but their working style ‘nose down, tail up and covering ground rapidly’ is all scent hound!
