The Italian Hound (AKA Segugio Italiano) is a scenthound with a clever mind and a love for hunting. He is gentle, easygoing and sociable even with strangers, making a great companion for people both young and old. He is fairly calm in the house, although will not hesitate to take chase if he catches an enticing scent! The breed’s affectionate and loyal nature has earned him many fans around the world, although he is rare in most places except his home country of Italy. The breed comes in two coat types: wire haired and smooth. Both are easy to take care of and low-shed, just requiring a quick brushing a couple times a week and occasional baths. Wire haired dogs have been noted to be slightly more aloof than their smooth coated brethren.
Italian Hounds do need daily exercise and enjoy long walks, although this should also be combined with plenty of free-running time. They need to stretch their legs and run on a very regular basis – these fast dogs are capable of racing for miles before getting tired. They also greatly benefit from obedience and other dog activities to keep their minds and bodies sharp. Many do well in multi-dog situations, either in the home or in public, although they are less trustworthy around smaller animals whom they might see as prey. This means they love to exercise during doggy play dates but are not the best choice to let off leash in a place filled with wild animals.
Because of their generally mild nature, Italian Hounds can live in apartments as long as they get taken out frequently. Those who don’t get enough exercise can become destructive, and this goes doubly so for apartment-dwellers. Don’t mistake their calmness for being low-energy, they are in fact a fairly high-energy breed that will be easygoing in the home only as long as they are given regular outlets! 
When it comes to training, Italian Hounds tend to learn quickly and are very eager to please! Outside under heavy distraction, however, they become more difficult to train. Running animals or strong scents can quickly turn their “learning brain” off and their “hunting brain” on! The breed does best with a trainer who has a calm and confident demeanor and who helps build up the hound’s confidence as they train. Make sure to stay consistent!
Italian Hounds aren’t big on barking… instead they make unusual, high-pitched sounds when they want to talk. They’ll make these sounds to alert when people come to the door, making them good watchdogs (even if they aren’t guard dogs by any means). Many love to hear the sound of their own voices, which means the breed can be a bit vocal. Between the frequency with which they bark and the high-pitched tone that they do it… this may be a deal-breaker for some owners (and neighbors).
The Italian Hound is a very healthy dog for the most part, with chronic ear infections the only problem that can occur frequently – and this normally has more to do with a lack of ear hygiene on the part of the owner! Long-eared dogs are more prone to getting dirt and debris trapped in the ear, which can lead to an infection if not cleaned weekly. Otherwise this medium-sized hound tends to live 12-13 years with no health issues.
