Volpino

Quick, excitable, eager, the lesser-known breed the Volpino is ideal for both indoors and outdoors.They are attentive, and enjoy rapid-pace play. The overwhelming majority of owners for this breed report high satisfaction, with their temperament, learning curve, and the amount of effort it takes to train them and groom them. They are a pleasure to be with, giving off the feeling of freedom and gaiety, so having one of these as a pet would be ideal for someone who is looking for a pick-me-up.

Behavior

They make excellent lap dogs and are extremely affectionate. They also are strong guarders, as it is in their nature to ensure the safety of their master and their property. They have been known to even be bird-dogs, if the right amount of training is applied to them.

Gentle in nature, they are lively, happy, and do very well with families.

Appearance

Given that their name literally translates to “Italian Foxy Dog,” they do give the impression of a constantly piqued, happy canine. Their eyes are wide, black, and glossy, with a small pink tongue that often dangles out of their mouth when they are excited (which is frequent.)

They can grow to about nine to ten pounds on average, with a height of about eleven inches. They should not exceed more than nine pounds.

A known fact is that they share the same ancestry as the Pomeranian. While it may be true that they share a common ancestry, it has actually been proven that the Volpino stretches back further than the Pomeranian in terms of their broad history. They have thick, poofy, white fur that stands out, pointed ears, and a curled tail.

Very rarely, they are born with red fur.

Grooming

Because of their fur, they require brushing at least two times a week, with bathing on the side. Unlike other small breeds of dogs, they require minimal amounts of exercise.

The majority of other purebred dogs suffer from commonalities such as hip dysplasia and trouble with cataracts. Surprisingly, the Volpino does not have as many negative health attributes as initially thought.

They have a fairly low shedding rate, in spite of their long fur.

History

The Volpino is a type of Spitz dog, meaning that they have long white fur, pointed ears, and long muzzles.

Remains of ancestors of the Volpino have been found in European peat bogs, dating back to over five thousand years. Similarly, they have been found in engravings found in ancient Greece, featured with various types of jewelry.

The Volpino is also rumoured to be the dog of the famous artist Michelangelo, adding to the prestige of their heritage.

Most well-known, they were a particular favorite for Italian royalty, for their fox-like features and tendency to be a good guard dog.

There are only about 2,000 of this breed today, since their rate dropped around in the 1980’s. There has been much effort to revive them, but in the meantime, they are being kept both as every day pets, and guard dogs on farms.