Meet the New Breed

The Westminster Kennel Club welcomes the Bracco Italiano to its 147th dog show. Although we refer to this as a new breed, it is actually an ancient breed that has recently become AKC-recognized, making it eligible to compete at Westminster. History will be made on Tuesday night, May 9, 2023, when the Best of Breed winner will appear on the green carpet in the Sporting Group competition. 

THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE SPORTING GROUP

The Bracco Italiano is an ancient pointing breed native to northern Italy. Their origins can be traced as far back as the 4th and 5th centuries BCE. The breed was well established by the Middle Ages and flourished during the Renaissance. They were used for hunting birds with nets (and were called cane de rete) and alongside falconers.

This breed was exported across the Old World and used as foundation stock for other breeds. Originally known in two varieties (the orange and white Piedmontese Pointer and the brown and white Lombard Pointer), the Bracco Italiano was unified to maintain genetic diversity in the early 1900s. They were introduced to the United States in the early 1990s and the Bracco Italiano Club of America was formed in 2007.

They are a large and powerful pointing dog with aristocratic bearing. They weigh between 55 and 90 pounds. Their most notable features are a sculpted head with divergent facial planes, long ears, and a fast, extended trot. The Bracco Italiano is a versatile sporting dog that will hunt, point, and retrieve game. These are true hunting dogs and do best in families with an active, outdoor lifestyle.

To learn more visit the Bracco Italiano Club of America website.