---
title: "Italian Hound - temperament, price, health, breeders | Pedibase"
description: "Everything to know about the Italian Hound (Italy): temperament, size, health, lifespan of 12-14 years, feeding, price, and verified breeders."
canonical_url: "https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound"
meta:
"og:description": "Everything to know about the Italian Hound (Italy): temperament, size, health, lifespan of 12-14 years, feeding, price, and verified breeders."
"og:image": "https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/8811/chien-courant-italien-4.jpg"
"og:image:alt": "Dog and cat breeders near you"
"og:image:height": "630"
"og:image:width": "1200"
"og:title": "Italian Hound - temperament, price, health, breeders"
"twitter:description": "Everything to know about the Italian Hound (Italy): temperament, size, health, lifespan of 12-14 years, feeding, price, and verified breeders."
"twitter:image": "https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/8811/chien-courant-italien-4.jpg"
"twitter:title": "Italian Hound - temperament, price, health, breeders"
---
> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+5
Dogs
# The Italian Hound: temperament, price, health, and breeders
Italy
A robust, hardy Italian scenthound, passionate about hunting.
Size MediumLife expectancy 12–14 yearsBudget ≈ €107/monthPuppy €800 – €1,500
[Find a breeder 1](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-italian-hound) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=italian-hound)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Good
Daily exercise needs High
Apartment living Limited
First-time owners Fair
Other pets Good
Tolerance of being alone Good
Guarding instinct Good
Strengths and weaknesses
- Robust and enduring: Its solid build and energy allow it to work on varied terrain.
- Versatile hunter: It notably pursues hare and wild boar, alone as well as in a pack.
- Attached to its owner: It develops a close bond with its owner.
- Low-maintenance care: Its two varieties require regular but simple care.
- Strong hunting instinct: Chasing game makes recall and keeping outings safe essential.
- High activity needs: Long daily walks and space are necessary for its balance.
- Apartment living is difficult: Its need for freedom and exercise does not fit well with cramped housing.
- Demanding training: Its sensitivity and independence require firmness, gentleness, and consistency.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Active owner: It is suitable for a person able to offer it long daily outings.
- House with a large fenced garden: This environment meets its need for space while securing its movements.
- Hunting enthusiast or sports activities enthusiast: Its endurance and its sense of smell find a suitable outlet in sustained activities.
Not recommended for
- Mainly apartment living: The lack of space does not meet its needs for movement and freedom well.
- Not very active person: Its energy level requires long and regular walks.
- Owner seeking immediate obedience: Its training and recall require patience, consistency and perseverance.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
53 cmItalian Hound
- Height at the withers
- 48–58 cm
- Weight
- 18–28 kg
- Coat
- Short to medium-long, smooth or harsh
- FCI group
- 6
- Origin
- Italy
- Grooming
- Easy to care for
## Photos and videos
See the Italian Hound in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The distant ancestors of the Italian Scenthound would be the scenthounds of ancient Egypt, probably brought to the Italian peninsula by Phoenician merchants. Dogs showing similar physical characteristics appear in several works of art, notably the statues of Diana the Huntress kept at the Naples Museum and of Diana drawing a bow at the Vatican Museum.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The Italian Scenthound is a medium-sized hunting dog, robust, harmonious and lean, endowed with clear musculature, without fat, and with a well-developed bone structure. Its body is almost inscribable in a square, with a straight back, a slightly convex and muscular croup, a well-rounded chest without being barrel-shaped and a straight underline. Its oblong head has an almost oval skull, a little marked stop, a large black nose, a muzzle representing about half the length of the head and jaws articulated in scissors, the pincer bite also being accepted. Its large almond-shaped eyes, dark ochre, express gentleness. Its rectangular ears, wide, flat, drooping and twisted are projected forward. The tail, set on high, remains fine up to its tip. Two varieties exist: the short-haired one, with a very short, dense, close-lying and smooth coat, and the wire-haired one, with rough hair of about 5 cm, softer on certain regions. The coat can be solid fawn in all its shades or black and tan.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
The Italian Scenthound combines the qualities of a dog specialized in pursuing game, with a preference for hare and wild boar. Fast and robust, it can work alone or in a pack on varied terrain and readily gives voice. Within its family, it is very attached to its owner and gets along rather well with children. Its temperament is balanced, moderately independent and sensitive.
Playful
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
Active and athletic, the Italian Hound needs space, freedom and long daily walks. A house with a large, well-fenced garden meets its needs better than an apartment. Its very strong hunting instinct requires particular vigilance during outings and learning a reliable recall.
Training
## Training and socialization
Learning recall is essential in the Italian Scenthound, as in most hunting dogs. Its training must combine firmness and gentleness in order to obtain balanced behavior without hurting its sensitivity. Its cooperation requires consistency and a coherent method.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Italian Hound
The estimated annual maintenance budget covers the routine expenses related to the feeding, care and upkeep of the Italian Hound, excluding the purchase price.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The Italian Hound enjoys overall robust health. No particular predisposition to a disease is reported for this breed. A litter generally includes 4 to 6 puppies.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Italian Hound needs a balanced, rich and high-quality diet, adapted to its age, its size and its level of physical activity.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
The breed includes two varieties, the Italian Short-haired Hound and the Italian Rough-haired Hound. It is also known under the names Segugio Italiano a pelo raso and Segugio Italiano a pelo forte. It belongs to FCI Group 6, bears standard number 337 and has been recognized by the FCI since 1956 as well as by the AKC.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Italian Hound
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Can the Italian Hound live in an apartment?
Apartment living suits it poorly, because this hunting dog needs space, freedom and long daily walks. A house with a large fenced garden is preferable.
### Is the Italian Hound easy to maintain?
Its upkeep remains fairly undemanding. The short-haired variety requires weekly brushing, while the wire-haired variety benefits from being brushed two to three times a week. An inspection after outings is recommended.
### Is the Italian Hound suitable as a first dog?
It is rather not well suited to novice owners. Its hunting instinct, its need for activity and the importance of recall require consistent, firm and gentle training.
## Find a Italian Hound breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Italian Hound breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
### Italian Hound breeders by country
[48 breeders of Italian Hound in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-italian-hound/italy) [2 breeders of Italian Hound in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-italian-hound/germany) [1 breeder of Italian Hound in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-italian-hound)
[All breeders of Italian Hound in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-italian-hound)
## Ready to welcome a Italian Hound?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-italian-hound)
## Discover other breeds
[Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/bosnian-coarse-haired-hound)
[Halden Hound
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/halden-hound)
[Hamiltonstövare
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/hamiltonstovare)
[Hygen Hound
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/hygen-hound)
[Posavac Hound
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/posavac-hound)
```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#website","@type":"WebSite","description":"Find dog and cat breeders near you. France's leading breeder directory, with an interactive map, breed information, and verified reviews.","inLanguage":"en","name":"Pedibase","url":"https://www.pedibase.com","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/search?q={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#identity"},"translationOfWork":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#website"}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound#webpage","description":"Everything to know about the Italian Hound (Italy): temperament, size, health, lifespan of 12-14 years, feeding, price, and verified breeders.","name":"Italian Hound - temperament, price, health, breeders","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound","@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound#breadcrumb"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en#website"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound#/schema/question/1"},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound#/schema/question/2"},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound#/schema/question/3"}],"potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound"]}],"primaryImageOfPage":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/8811/chien-courant-italien-4.jpg","width":1200,"height":630,"inLanguage":"en","contentUrl":"https://www.pedibase.com/_img/rs:fill:1200:630/el:1/q:80/f:jpg/plain/s3://media-pedibase/public/8811/chien-courant-italien-4.jpg"}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#identity","@type":"Organization","description":"Pedibase is a free directory of dog and cat breeders that helps prospective owners find a registered breeder near them.","email":"contact@pedibase.com","name":"Pedibase","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/","contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","email":"contact@pedibase.com"},"logo":{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#logo"},"parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Aurion","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1 rue Pasteur","postalCode":"72000","addressLocality":"Le Mans","addressCountry":"FR"}},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/pedibase","https://www.instagram.com/pedibase_app"]},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound#breadcrumb","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Home","item":"https://www.pedibase.com/en","position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Dogs","item":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breeds","position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Italian Hound","position":3}]},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound#/schema/question/1","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en","name":"Can the Italian Hound live in an apartment?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Apartment living suits it poorly, because this hunting dog needs space, freedom and long daily walks. A house with a large fenced garden is preferable."}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound#/schema/question/2","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en","name":"Is the Italian Hound easy to maintain?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Its upkeep remains fairly undemanding. The short-haired variety requires weekly brushing, while the wire-haired variety benefits from being brushed two to three times a week. An inspection after outings is recommended."}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/italian-hound#/schema/question/3","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en","name":"Is the Italian Hound suitable as a first dog?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It is rather not well suited to novice owners. Its hunting instinct, its need for activity and the importance of recall require consistent, firm and gentle training."}},{"@id":"https://www.pedibase.com/#logo","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Pedibase","contentUrl":"https://www.pedibase.com/logo.svg","inLanguage":"en","url":"https://www.pedibase.com/logo.svg"}]}
```