Dog Breed
Volpino Italiano
Rare
- Full Name
- Volpino Italiano
- Alternate Names
- Italian Volpino
- Your PupScore
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- Life Span
- 14 - 16 years
- Weight
- 9 - 14 pounds
- Description
Affectionate, Lively, Playful, Gay, Active, Watchful
- Origin
- Italy
- Attachments
- FCI Breed Standard
- Family Considerations
- Overall Ease of Breed
- Personality
- Home and Environment Considerations
- Physical Characteristics
Child Friendly
4/5
Is the Volpino Italiano good with children?
Yes, the Volpino Italiano is very friendly with children. We still recommend introductions to children while they are young so they get used to them, but the Volpino Italiano naturally loves children.
Stranger Friendly
4/5
Is the Volpino Italiano friendly with strangers?
Yes, the Volpino Italiano is very friendly with strangers. We still recommend early socialization while the Volpino Italiano is a puppy to introduce them to various new people, but in general they are friendly with everyone.
Dog Friendly
4/5
Is the Volpino Italiano friendly with other dogs?
Yes, the Volpino Italiano is very friendly with other dogs. We still recommend early socialization while the Volpino Italiano is a puppy to introduce them to various new dogs, but in general they are friendly with dogs as soon as they meet them.
Likes to Cuddle
3/5
Does the Volpino Italiano like to cuddle?
The Volpino Italiano likes to cuddle up every once in a while. They appreciate physical affection, but probably won't stay in your lap for extended amounts of time.
Playfulness
5/5
Does the Volpino Italiano like to play?
The Volpino Italiano is always ready for play! It's important to keep in mind, as they need to be stimulated with games and affection throughout the day.
Service Dog Ability
3/5
Does the Volpino Italiano make a good service dog?
The Volpino Italiano is not typically used as a service dog. There are always exceptions to the rule, but a service dog has to have many natural traits in addition to the proper training- smart, patient, and obsessed with pleasing their owner.
Ease for Novice
3/5
Is the Volpino Italiano good for first-time owners?
The Volpino Italiano is not the easiest breed for first-time owners, but can certainly still work out if the owner is willing to put the time into training and exercise.
Training Potential
4/5
How well can the Volpino Italiano be trained?
The Volpino Italiano can be trained very well. With discipline and a routine training program the Volpino Italiano can be incredibly well-trained.
Amount of Shedding
4/5
Does the Volpino Italiano shed a lot?
The Volpino Italiano sheds a lot! They may still shed less than a few other breeds, but be prepared for dog hair throughout the home and on your clothes.
Ease of Grooming
4/5
Is the Volpino Italiano easy to groom?
The Volpino Italiano requires some grooming, but less than the average dog breed. Typically you will not need to take the Volpino Italiano to the pet salon, and occasional combing at home should be enough.
Exercise Need
5/5
Does the Volpino Italiano need a lot of exercise?
The Volpino Italiano needs a daily exercise partner! The Volpino Italiano is best suited for a family where it will get plenty of daily exercise; it has so much energy that exercise is mandatory to avoid destructive behaviors.
Intelligence
4/5
How smart is the Volpino Italiano?
The Volpino Italiano is very smart. Above-average intelligence means they can pick up on cues and signals quickly when it comes to training. But it also means that they need to be challenged mentally, in addition to their standard exercise needs.
Amount of Barking
4/5
How much does the Volpino Italiano bark? Does the Volpino Italiano bark too much?
The Volpino Italiano barks a lot. This is important to consider with your living situation- will it be ok when you leave them at home alone or will they disrupt the neighbors? The Volpino Italiano will oftentimes bark just to express their thoughts... even just to be heard!
Guard Dog Ability
2/5
Is the Volpino Italiano a good guard dog?
The Volpino Italiano would not make a good guard dog. They can be alert, but typically do not have the desire or instinct to take on "guarding" as their job.
Tolerates Being Alone
1/5
Is the Volpino Italiano good at staying alone? Is the Volpino Italiano independent?
The Volpino Italiano considers their owner part of the "pack" and hates being left behind. This can be a good thing for someone looking for an emotional support dog who is loyal and always by their side, but bad if the dog will need to be left at home alone for extended periods.
Good for Apartment Living
2/5
Is the Volpino Italiano a good apartment dog?
The Volpino Italiano is not a good dog for apartment living for several reasons. It is still possible to make it work if the owner is dedicated to plenty of training and daily exercise, but it may be challenging.
Size
3/5
How big is the Volpino Italiano?
The Volpino Italiano is a medium sized dog breed. They can range in size depending on genetics, and males are larger on average than females.
Tolerates Heat
2/5
How much does the Volpino Italiano tolerate hot weather? When is it too hot for a Volpino Italiano?
The Volpino Italiano does not tolerate hot weather very well, and we would not recommend having a Volpino Italiano if you live in a very hot weather climate. At the minimum, they would need a home with air conditioning.
Tolerates Cold
5/5
How much does the Volpino Italiano tolerate cold weather? When is it too cold for a Volpino Italiano?
The Volpino Italiano does very well in cold weather, and loves the snow. They were built for it!
Potential to Run Away
5/5
Does the Volpino Italiano try to run away?
The Volpino Italiano has huge wanderlust, meaning that it's natural for them to want to run away. They are known as escape artists. It's important to test your yard and have a tall fence that cannot be jumped or climbed over. Sometimes the Volpino Italiano is not well suited for being off-leash, even if they are well trained.
General Health
4/5
Is the Volpino Italiano a healthy dog? The health of a Volpino Italiano should be measured not just by how many years they live, but also by how many health issues they've had. It is important to know which health conditions your breed is prone to- hip problems, eye problems, bloating, and arthritis are all common dog health problems.
The Volpino Italiano is very healthy, but it is still important to feed the Volpino Italiano high-quality food and to live a healthy lifestyle.
Energy Level
5/5
How energetic is the Volpino Italiano?
It seems like the Volpino Italiano never runs out of energy. If you are looking for a 5 AM run partner, the Volpino Italiano is your dog! A dog's energy level is one of the most important considerations when getting a new dog, and we would only recommend the Volpino Italiano for a family where it will get plenty of exercise.
Amount of Drooling
2/5
How much does the Volpino Italiano drool?
The Volpino Italiano drools very little, typically to where it's never a concern.
Prey Drive
4/5
Does the Volpino Italiano have a large prey drive? Does the Volpino Italiano like to chase birds, cats, and other small animals?
The Volpino Italiano has a high prey drive and has a natural tendency to chase after any small animal. Every case is unique, but the Volpino Italiano may not be the best dog for living with other cats or small animals.
Athleticism
4/5
Is the Volpino Italiano atheltic?
The Volpino Italiano is very athletic and would be well suited for a family that frequently works out or goes on adventures.
- Dog
- Non-Sporting
- Spitz
- Volpino Italiano
The Volpino Italiano is a purebred dog that belongs to the Spitz sub group, which falls under the larger Non-Sporting dog breed group.
Non-Sporting group: The Non-Sporting group of dogs is probably the most diverse in the sense that it has a variety of dogs, and they were not all bred for one specific purpose. Each breed in the non-sporting group is unique!
They have been primarily bred as house pets, and because of that make excellent additions to the family. Exercise is still important for them, but the typical non-sporting dog does not have the energy of of a sporting or working group dog.
Spitz sub-group: Spitz breeds are some of the dog world's most ancient dogs. They have a distinct wolf-like appearance with pointy ears, and a heavy double coat, and a big bushy tail that curls over the back. The majority of them are perfect for cold climates, as they originate from the Nordics, Russia, and Canada.
There are many spitz type of breeds, and sometimes it is debated which dogs are "true spitz" breeds. Spitz dogs love the outdoors and love adventure.
Volpino Italianos for adoption
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