Segugio Italiano (Wirehaired)
🧠 Temperament & character
The wirehaired Segugio Italiano is passionate, tough and enduring in the hunt, but gentle, affectionate and even-tempered at home. He bonds closely with his people and shows a friendly, sensitive nature. His hunting and scenting drive is strongly pronounced and needs a meaningful outlet. Thanks to his robust constitution he works tirelessly even in rough terrain.
📜 Origin & history
The wirehaired variety of the Segugio Italiano shares the ancient Mediterranean roots of the short-haired one; his wiry coat probably developed for better adaptation to rough, thorny hunting terrain. For a long time both varieties were bred and judged together; today the FCI lists the wirehaired variety under No. 198. In Italy the Segugio in both coat varieties is a dog deeply rooted in hunting culture. Outside Italy he remains rare.
✂️ Grooming, care & training
The wirehaired Segugio Italiano's rough, dense coat needs a little more attention than a short coat: regular brushing and occasional stripping keep it functional and weather-repellent. As an enduring hunter he needs plenty of exercise and lots of scent work to keep him occupied. He is intelligent and easy to handle with gentle consistency, but on the trail he follows his strong instinct. Recall training and secure terrain are therefore important.
🩺 Health
The wirehaired Segugio Italiano is a robust, athletic breed with a life expectancy of about twelve to fourteen years and few pronounced hereditary diseases. His weather-hardy coat makes him insensitive to cold, wet and thorns. As with all scenthounds, the pendulous ears should be checked regularly and, after the hunt, injuries and ticks watched for. Responsible breeders pay attention to the health, hunting performance and temperamental soundness of their breeding animals.
🏡 Who is this breed right for?
Like his short-haired sister, the wirehaired Segugio Italiano is above all a hunting dog for active, hunting- or sport-oriented people. In an active, rural home with plenty of exercise he can also be a good family dog thanks to his gentle nature. He is not suited to a purely urban apartment without activity. In Switzerland he is rare and kept almost exclusively in a hunting setting.