Volpino Italiano

Overview

The Volpino Italiano is an ancient small spitz from Italy, kept as a companion and farm alarm. It is usually pure white, sometimes red, with a thick stand-off coat, pricked ears and a tail carried over the back. The breed nearly vanished in the twentieth century and is still uncommon outside Italy.

For a walker it is an easy dog physically and an entertaining one otherwise. It is sharp, quick to notice change and quick to bark about it, and it tends to prefer its own family to strangers.

Exercise and walking needs

Forty-five minutes a day is plenty, split across two outings. The dog is agile and likes a trot, but it is not a distance animal.

A short training session or a game at the halfway point adds interest without adding tiredness, which suits this breed well.

On the walk

• Barking: The Volpino announces cyclists, dogs, pigeons and anything else novel. Reward quiet, keep moving, and do not stop to let it rehearse.
• Recall: Usually reasonable, since the dog likes to be near its people. Prove it in a fenced area before trusting it in the open.
• Lead: Light and easy. A harness avoids pressure on a small neck, and a two-metre lead gives room to sniff.
• Other dogs: Friendly in most cases and happy in small groups of similar size. Watch for the dog being flattened by larger playmates.

Tips for professional walkers

1. Keep off-lead time to enclosed areas; a small white dog in long grass is easy to lose sight of.
2. Brush out the coat after wet walks to stop mats behind the ears and in the trousers.
3. Carry a small towel; mud shows on white fur and owners notice.

What to ask the owner

• Is the dog reactive to strangers or other dogs when on the lead, and how does the owner handle it?
• Does the owner want you to manage barking in a particular way, or just keep walking?
• Any eye or heart conditions the owner is monitoring that should limit exertion?

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