Country/Date of Origin: Italy/1200s
A versatile gundog that is the Italian equivalent of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. The ancestry of the Spinone goes back many centuries and it is thought to be a cross between the Barbet and the Griffon, with a bit of Bracco hound blood thrown in. The Spinone, with its rough coat is useful in bramble, ground or marshes.
The breed has been given full recognition by the English Kennel Club and the limited acceptance of the Miscellaneous class in the American Kennel Club.