Volpino Italiano

September 7, 2022

Volpino Italian is small and quite attractive due to its white color. Most breeders prefer him to other dogs because they are very clean and hygienic. Originally, he was called American Spitz but currently it is known as the Eski.

They resemble small balls made of pure cotton. He has three distinct sizes the small, miniature and the standard. Because of the color of most his coat it requires regular brushing to make it clean. The dog does shed all year round.

Contents

History & Health

History

He is known to have descended from several European countries. During the 19th century, this dog was common in American country. Some historians believed that the German and immigrants brought them.

Generally, the dog is called American Spitz. Without no apparent reason the dog was again renamed as American Eskimo in 1927. The reason the public loves him, is his spackling white coat.

Health

The normal life of this dog spans between 12 to 15 years. Although they are not prone to many diseases, just like other dogs they fall sick once in awhile. Therefore, it is very important to understand the diseases they regularly suffer from.

The most common diseases are cataracts, legg perthes, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia and many more. Skin diseases are also common in these breed due to their skin color.

Temperament & Personality

Personality

Volpino is always happy and attractive. He loves to run, play, learn, and solve problems. He just loves fun in general. Since they love playing in the snow, they can be a perfect companion when you go for skiing. They are very keen hence, they can be used to take care of homes. These dogs are fun to be with and they love the children very much hence they are good for first time dog owners.

Activity Requirements

Because the dog is energetic, it needs plenty of exercise and playtime. They are also problem solvers, so without sufficient activity, they can become quite destructive. They should always be kept engaged.

They are best suited for homes with large, fenced yards where they have plenty of space to run. Keeping the dog in an apartment can lead to boredom and stress, so they thrive in households with ample outdoor space.

Trainability

The Volpino Italiano is easy to train. Due to their high energy, they quickly pick up new tricks. However, they shouldn't be given too much leeway, as they will take advantage if they sense they can control you.

A downside to their intelligence is that they can become manipulative and difficult to control later on. When training them, using plenty of positive reinforcement is key to success. They shouldn't be trained as watchdogs, as they naturally inherit this trait, but unlike other breeds, they don’t display any aggression in their behavior.

Behavioral Traits

He often barks excessively, particularly when he's left by himself. Some neighbors may find the loud, high-pitched barking of these dog breeds irritating and hard to tolerate. Training can teach them to stop barking on command, but it won't eliminate their natural inclination to bark. They enjoy companionship, so being alone can significantly distress them.

Appearance and grooming

Appearance

These dogs come in three sizes the small, miniature and the standard. All the three perfectly resemble each other having wedge shaped heads and triangular shape ear. They have brown eyes and white eyelashes besides. Additionally, they have snow-white toenails.

Size & Weight

Averagely, the dog is 9 to 12 inches in size, miniature is 10 to 12 inches, and the standard breed is 2 to 15 inches with most weighing 20 to 30 pounds. Looking at this dog, you will realize that he is a very small.

Coat & Color

Some breeds are white while others are white with biscuit brow. Their undercoat is dense and the overcoats very fluffy giving the dog a very fluffy look. Since the hair is straight, it does not curl or tangle easily, this makes grooming to be very easy.

Grooming

Because of their coat color, they require to be cleaned regularly. Because of too much shedding brushing is required regularly to shed extra useless far left around after shedding. Do not bathe it too many time in one year, they only require some bathing only a few times in year. If you bathe them regularly, natural oils from their body will be stripped off.

Body Types

The body is small and squarely built with deep chest. The top tends to be a little bit straight and only becomes convex at the loins.