Segugio Italiano: The Complete Italian Hound Guide

The Segugio Italiano might be one of the oldest hound breeds you’ve never heard of. This Italian hunting dog possibly traces back to Ancient Egypt, shows up in Renaissance paintings, and has been chasing wild boar and hare across Italy for centuries — quietly, without much fame outside its home country.

In This Article

Quick Facts

Height: 20–23 in (males), 19–23 in (females)
Weight: 44–62 lbs
Lifespan: 10 to 14 years
Coat: smooth-coated or wire-coated, fawn through deep red, or black and tan
Group: Scent hound
Best suited for: active owners with some hound experience

A Breed That Almost Disappeared

Here’s the thing — the Segugio Italiano is genuinely popular in Italy, but it’s so rare outside its homeland that the UK Kennel Club delisted it from recognition in 2020, simply because no litters had been registered there since 2007. That’s a striking fact for a dog with this much history behind it.

The breed likely descends from hunting dogs of Ancient Egypt, brought to Italy and refined over centuries into a boar and hare specialist. It appears in Renaissance-era Italian artwork, which tells you how deeply this dog is woven into the country’s hunting tradition.

Temperament and Hunting Instinct

This is a calm, affectionate dog at home, genuinely good-natured with the people it knows. Trust me on this one, though: the moment a Segugio Italiano picks up a scent, that calm switches off completely. It gets noisy, intensely focused, and hard to redirect until the trail runs cold.

That selective deafness while tracking is a real, well-documented trait in the breed, not a training failure on your part. Building a rock-solid recall from puppyhood matters enormously here, more than it does with most companion breeds.

Exercise and Training

Budget a minimum of two hours of real activity daily. This is a dog with genuine stamina built for hours of tracking, and a short walk around the block won’t come close to meeting that need.

Positive reinforcement training works well with this breed’s intelligence, but consistency matters more than intensity. Short, frequent sessions that build recall around distractions will serve you far better than occasional long ones.

Grooming and Health

This is the easy part of Segugio ownership. Both coat types — smooth or wire — need just a weekly brush to stay in good shape, and the breed is considered notably robust, without many breed-specific health issues on record.

Like most active, deep-chested breeds, it can be prone to bloat, so smaller and more frequent meals are a smart default. This article offers general, informed guidance rather than a diagnosis — talk to a licensed veterinarian about any health concerns specific to your dog.

Mistakes to Avoid

Underestimating the exercise requirement because the dog seems calm indoors
Skipping recall training and assuming a well-behaved puppy will stay that way once a scent trail shows up
Confusing this breed with the Italian Greyhound — they share a nationality and nothing else
Choosing this breed for apartment life without a serious daily exercise plan in place

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the Segugio Italiano the same as an Italian Greyhound?

No, and this mix-up happens constantly online. The Italian Greyhound is a small, sleek companion breed, while the Segugio Italiano is a medium-sized scent hound built for hours of boar and hare tracking. Beyond sharing “Italian” in the name, they’re unrelated.

Are Segugio Italianos good family dogs?

Yes, for active families. They’re affectionate and good-natured at home, though their tracking instinct means secure fencing and reliable recall are non-negotiable.

How much exercise does a Segugio Italiano need?

At least two hours daily. This breed has genuine stamina built for long tracking sessions, and under-exercising it tends to show up as excessive barking or restlessness.

Is the Segugio Italiano rare?

Very, outside Italy. It’s popular in its home country but uncommon enough elsewhere that finding a breeder abroad can take real searching and patience.

If you can offer this breed genuine daily exercise and commit to early recall training, you’ll get a devoted, good-natured companion with centuries of hunting heritage behind it — and a genuinely rare dog most people have never heard of.