Characteristics
Average
from 25 to 30 cm
4–5 kg
14–16 years old
Spitz and breeds of primitive type
Brief information
Character
The Volpino is often mistaken for a German Spitz or miniature American Eskimo dog. The similarity with the first is not surprising, since both breeds descended from the same ancestor. For this reason, the Volpino Italiano is also called the Italian Spitz. This is a rare breed, there are only about 3 thousand dogs in the world.
Volpino Italiano were popular not only among the aristocracy, but also among farmers due to their small size and protective qualities. For court ladies, Volpino were beautiful decorative dogs, pleasing to the eye. The workers appreciated the guarding abilities of this breed, not to mention the fact that, unlike large guard dogs, the small Volpino Italiano requires much less food.
This is an active and playful dog who loves his family. The Italian Spitz is always alert, he is very attentive and will definitely let the owner know if someone else is nearby. Volpino gets along well with children, other dogs and cats, especially if he grew up with them.
The Italian Spitz is a very energetic breed. It is perfect for agility, dog frisbee and other active sports. This is a smart dog that lends itself well to training, but the Volpino likes to do things his own way and can often be very stubborn. In such a situation, treats can help the owner when training. Training should start at an early age. Since Volpino Italiano likes to make noise, first of all it is worth weaning him from barking without a reason.
Care
In general, the Volpino is a healthy breed, however, there are a number of genetic diseases to which the Italian Spitz is predisposed. These include a genetic eye disease called primary lens luxation, in which the lens is displaced; and a common predisposition among small breed dogs to dislocate the knee.
In order to be sure of the health of your pet, when purchasing it is worth getting documents from the breeder confirming the absence of genetic diseases in the puppy’s parents.
Caring for a Volpino Italiano also includes caring for its coat. Dogs of this breed shed, so they need to be brushed at least twice a week. Excess hair on paw pads can be trimmed.
The frequency of washing depends on the preferences of the owner. Washing weekly will help get rid of dead hair, but in this case, you need to use a special mild shampoo for frequent washing. If the pet’s coat does not bother you, you can wash it less often, as it gets dirty.
Conditions of detention
Due to the small size of the Volpino Italiano, it can be assumed that this breed is perfect for life in a city apartment, but this is only true if the dog gets enough exercise. Otherwise, the pet can find a way out of energy in continuous barking and damage to furniture.
