Remember!! A Bracco is for life, not just a test drive....... This page is designed to paint the worst picture of the Bracco, or well the downsides of the wonderful upsides, but to make those of you who have no knowledge of the breed think about what it is you think you want to add to your life. I want and intend all puppies to be in permanent homes, not to be rehomed after 6 months because people can't cope. Other problems arise that require dogs to be rehomed that cannot be helped and this I accept but dogs being returned for being themselves I don't. So you think you want a Bracco? Don't blame you, they are amazing but take a step back from the looks and just for a minute or two forget the breed. Firstly ask yourself what it is your looking for in the next addition to your family? An energetice dog with a passion for the out door life that will compliment your out and about life style, maybe a dog that you want to do something with either competitively or just for enjoyment, these dogs are fairly versitile and training them to work with dummies etc can be very rewarding but they will excel at obedience, showing, have been used for tracking and agility although the latter would worry me a little as they arn't what I concider to be a bendy dog and would worry for injury but am sure that it would be ideal for the smaller Bracco. Or are you looking for a low maintainance breed for young children to grow with and have a little fun but without the high energy needs? I can highly recommend the Spanish Water Dog, a smaller breed of longer coat but very versitile. They still require plenty of exercise but not to the extent of the Bracco. Were you looking for a gundog? There are many gundog breeds that come in all shapes and sizes, breeds such as the cocker, springer, labrador and Golden retriever have both show bred and working bred dogs generally differing in appearance. The show bred making a less demanding family pet. The Bracco fortunately still retains it strong working instinct and the aim is to keep it this way. Do you have the time to satisfy the energy requirements of the breed? As adults they require plenty of off lead free running to hunt, a 20 min walk around the block won't do and a bored Bracco is a nightmare to live with. They are highly energetic. The aim of this isn't to put you off but simply to make you sit back at think, look at the bigger picture. These are a working breed through and through, they make fabulous family pets but need to be given regular opportunity to run free and do what they do best, Hunt..... Point......Retrieve (but obviously nothing with a pulse!!!) So here comes an overview of the Bracco:# Size - Medium to Large Coat - Short but two good moults a year They are not hypoallergenic Exercise - High requirement. Off lead running essential away from roads. Training - Good if firm but gentle, must be started from an early age. Diet - I can only recommend a natural diet too many have died of bloat on a dried diet. Children - Good but with children over 5, as from April 07 there is a docking ban so the tail will be a lethal wagging weapon at head height. Destructive - Only if you fail them in mental stimulation. They are carriers and will pick up anything to carry around but rarely damage. Good with other dogs - I'm not going to lie, bitches can be quite hormonal after seasons and get very dominant other dogs in the house Before I even consider selling a puppy to anyone I insist that they come and meet the dogs, spend time with them out walking to see just how they work and experience the amount of energy they have and just what they are taking on. This is a Hunt Point Retrieve Gundog of ancient origin, they have been bred to work full days out in Italy covering many miles during a shoot. Unlike many of our gundog breeds the Bracco has not been in the UK long enough to loose it's strong working instinct and I will do all I can to make sure that never happens. It would be a crime for this breed to end up another brain dead gundog with little idea of what it was bred for. They are not a breed for the faint hearted or lazy, you need to have a real passion for the breed, the looks are secondary to the mind and personality of these dogs. I would be very cautious to sell a puppy to aanyone who hasn't takent the time and effort to meet the breed, it can be an eye opener. I would take alot of convincing that you as a new owner can offer this puppy the best life, the time, exercise, love and do the best possible. Also that anyone buying a puppy for a pet understands that all puppies are endorsed with the Kennel Club so that they will at no time ever be able to breed from that dog. I always think that seeing a picture of a dog and wanting one is not the right way to start but if you are interested in the breed then before attempting to book a puppy, try to go and see some breeders, not just one, attend a few dog shows and speak to owners, it's very important. Also for those that meet the dogs at either Earls Court or Crufts at Discover Dogs be aware these dogs are in small pens, it's hot, incredibly crowded and basically, drop dead boring. Most people see a beautiful dog but showing little life and just wishing to be somewhere else. This gives such a false impression of the breed so once again take time to talk to breeders and spend time with the dogs in their natural environment. It can be a real eye opener. OK, So you still think the breed is something you want to persue further so what can you offer the breed? Do you work all day? Not the end of the world but during the first year of the dogs life someone will need to come in several times a day to feed and let the dog out. Prefereably another dog will be there for company. Do you have young children? The Bracco is a highly energetic breed often likened to a springbok gazelle, turn of speed, alot of time on two legs and being a retrieving breed will take your childs toys etc. I would not recommend this breed for people with children under the age of about 6, especially with my breeding where they are undocked and have a lethal weapon in the tail which falls at the height of a small child and so would without intention hit them round the head. So the breed around the home: Do they slobber? ... All to some degree, after a drink all will have dribble, some dribble continually, this tends to be the more highly strung which are in constant work mode but yes they do and if they shake, well.... Do they moult? ... Yes, despite being a short coated breed twice a year they have a good moult and for the rest of the year they loose small amounts. Do they bark? ... some will tell you no, but I beg to differ, I have three bitches, one barks to alert to strangers around, one barks through sheer frustration if you close the back door preventing her from hunting in the garden and the third barks for her toys to be thrown but the latter two bark at nothing else so it is the individual dog. Are they easy to train? ... Again it's down to the individual dog, sometimes the desire to be working, even walking down a road makes it hard to gain their attention. They can be a stubbon breed but perserverance will pay off and they MUST be trained from day 1 to return to a whistle. They work huge areas often out of site and you need to get them back to you. You may not be able to see them but they know exactly where they left you. If you think this breed is still for you after all the negatives then please contact me!! I leave you with two pictures which demonstrate of true 2nd passion of the Bracco, not all but some.........   Bog of eternal stench and brings a whole new meaning to a PAT Dog! |
