Bracco Italiano
Italy's Renaissance pointer — all ears, jowls and unhurried elegance.
On these lists: Dogs for hunting
Vital stats
| Size | Large · 55–67 cm |
| Weight | 25–40 kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–14 years |
| Energy | High — 1–2 hours/day |
| Shedding | Low–moderate |
| Coat | Short dense coat · white-orange, white-chestnut, roan |
| Group | Sporting · FCI №202 / AKC |
| Origin | Italy |
| FCI group | 7 — Pointing Dogs · FCI 202 |
Breed traits
Friendliness
Care
Mind
The Bracco Italiano by the numbers
The Bracco Italiano facts owners search for most — price, lifespan, weight, shedding and colours, in one place.
Less common, so expect a waitlist and some travel to a reputable breeder — which pushes the price up. Ongoing costs run high — more food, bigger doses at the vet, and pricier insurance.
We don't quote a single figure: the real price swings with breeder, region, bloodline and health testing — and a rescue costs a fraction of a breeder's litter. Adopting is almost always the cheapest route.
Temperament
Painted into Italian frescoes and bred at Renaissance courts, the Bracco has pointed birds for centuries — at a floating, ground-eating trot rather than a gallop. It works with its handler, not for itself, and that shows at home: an affectionate, gentle companion that craves inclusion and sulks theatrically when scolded.
Habits & quirks
The mournful look
Droopy ears, loose jowls and heavy brows produce operatic sadness over minor injustices.
Lean-in greetings
It says hello with its whole body, ideally ending up between your knees.
Nose-led detours
Walks proceed scent to scent; the straight line is a foreign concept.
The jowl shake
One head-shake after drinking can redecorate a kitchen.
Health
The Bracco Italiano is a generally sound breed with two things worth staying ahead of. It's deep-chested, which brings a real risk of bloat (gastric torsion) — feed two calm meals a day and don't exercise straight after eating. And the long, low-set ears need weekly checking and cleaning, because that shape traps moisture and gets infected if it's left. Buy from a breeder who health-tests, learn the signs of bloat, and keep this big gundog lean and properly exercised.
Nutrition
| Exercise | This is a working gundog: one to two hours daily, with free running and scent games. |
| Ears | Long, low-set ears need weekly checks and cleaning to prevent infection. |
| Feeding | Deep-chested and bloat-prone — feed two calm meals a day and avoid exercise straight afterwards. |
| Training | Soft-natured despite the size; reward-based methods only, started early. |
The Bracco is deep-chested and bloat-prone, so how you feed it matters as much as what: split the day into two calm meals rather than one big one, and keep hard exercise well clear of mealtimes. It's a large working gundog, so match the food to the workload and keep it lean — extra weight does a hunting dog no favours. Measure the meals and count treats into the total.
Puppy guide
A Bracco Italiano puppy is a soft, sensitive soul in a large, fast-growing body, so the first year is equal parts gentleness and structure. Keep exercise moderate while the big frame and joints are forming, start reward-based training early, and get the puppy used to having its ears handled and cleaned from the beginning. Socialise widely and kindly — this breed takes correction to heart, and a confident, well-met puppy becomes an easy adult.
Training
Despite the size, the Bracco is soft-natured and genuinely sensitive: it works with you rather than for itself, and it sulks theatrically when it's scolded. Reward-based methods are the only ones that work — harsh handling shuts this dog down. Start early, keep sessions kind and varied, and give the gundog nose real scent work to do. Get it right and you have a gentle, biddable partner; get heavy-handed and you get a worried one.
Life expectancy
Bracco Italianos live 10–14 years. Keep a Bracco lean, exercised and health-tested and it lives its full span. The two things to stay ahead of are the bloat risk — two calm meals a day, no hard exercise around them — and the ears, checked weekly. Buy from tested lines, keep the weight sensible, and this big, gentle gundog does well.
Similar breeds
Breeds with a similar build and background — worth a look if this one isn't quite the fit.
Breeds that look like this
Common questions
Are Bracco Italianos good family dogs?
Very — they're gentle, patient and deeply attached to their people. They do need real daily exercise and dislike being left alone for long.
Do Bracco Italianos drool?
Yes, moderately — the loose lips guarantee some slobber, especially after drinking. It's part of the package with that magnificent head.
Are Bracco Italianos rare?
Outside Italy, yes. The AKC only fully recognised the breed in 2022, and finding a litter usually means a wait and some travelling.
Does the Bracco Italiano shed a lot?
Moderately. The Bracco Italiano sheds a fair amount, steadily through the year with heavier seasonal patches. A weekly brush keeps most of the loose hair off your floors and clothes.
Is the Bracco Italiano hypoallergenic?
Not really. No dog is truly hypoallergenic, and the Bracco Italiano's shedding coat releases plenty of the dander that sets off allergies. If someone at home is allergic, this isn't the easiest breed to live with — spend time around one first.
Is the Bracco Italiano easy to train?
Reasonably. The Bracco Italiano is trainable with consistency and rewards, though it isn't the quickest study. Keep sessions short and positive, and be patient with the basics like recall.
