Segugio Italiano

Segugio Italiano

The Segugio Italiano is either of two Italian breeds of dog of scenthound type. They are traditionally used for hunting hare, but may also be used in boar hunts. The origins of the breed are unknown but are believed to be ancient.

About Segugio Italiano in brief

Summary Segugio ItalianoThe Segugio Italiano is either of two Italian breeds of dog of scenthound type. They are traditionally used for hunting hare, but may also be used in boar hunts. In 2009 registrations in the stud-book were 1740 of the wire-haired breed and 4500 of the short-haired. The origins of the breed are unknown but are believed to be ancient. In some Ancient Roman statues, including two in the Vatican Museums in Rome and one in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Diana the Huntress is portrayed accompanied by a hunting dog.

Two closely similar skeletons of dogs of greyhound or scenthounds type from a seventh-century Lombard necropolis at Povegliano in the province of Verona were described in 1995. They show some morphological similarity to the modernSegugio, except that they are taller, with a height at the withers estimated at 64 cm. Genetic comparisons have found the two to be almost indistinguishable, and also to be genetically close to the other two Italian sc tenthound breeds.