Do Bracco Italianos Shed?

The Bracco Italiano (or Italian Pointing Dog) originates from Italy and is one of the oldest pointing dogs on record. They are known as intelligent, enthusiastic and versatile gun dogs in the field, and affectionate companions around the home.

They’re not heavy shedders either. However, like most dogs, they do molt, so you will notice some hair around the home. They are fairly easy to brush though, which is good news since this is one of the most effective ways to manage the shedding.

Read on to learn more.

Bracco Italiano Shedding

Bracco Italianos are a moderate shedding breed.

When it comes to shedding, they’re similar to most Pointers we’ve written about on this site over the years, such as the German Shorthaired Pointer and English Pointer. As in, somewhere between low and moderate molting.

To help put this into perspective, they tend to molt more than a low shedder (like the Poodle), but nowhere near as much as a heavy shedder (like the Newfoundland).

In any case, most dogs with hair shed, so it’s normally nothing to be concerned about, nor is it something you can stop from happening. Healthy dogs shed hair due to the natural process of replenishing old hairs with new ones.

Related: Why Do Dogs Shed Hair?

How much a dog sheds mostly depends on the individual breed, among other factors like their diet and time of year. For example, most dogs shed more during spring and fall for about two-to-four weeks during “shedding season.” This is less noticeable with a dog that has short hair, like Braccos, but you may notice an increase in hair around the home during these times.

Sometimes shedding can be caused by health problems though, so if you are noticing a heavier than normal amount of fur falling out, it might be worth contacting your vet.

But in most cases, molting is to be expected. And, while you can’t completely stop it, it can be managed through proper grooming. Which we will look into more closely in the following section.

Grooming Your Bracco Italiano

Bracco Italianos are fairly low maintenance dogs.

They have a short, dense coat that is typically quite glossy or shiny in appearance, and it comes in white or white with chestnut or orange markings.

For the most part, maintaining their coat and keeping the molting to a minimum is a matter of brushing with a bristle brush once or twice a week. But you could also use a deshedding tool during shedding season if you want to remove the dead fur more efficiently.

Either way, brushing isn’t difficult or time consuming, so keeping the shedding under control isn’t either, since this is really your best defence. The key is to be consistent, because the more often you brush the less time you’ll need to spend vacuuming.

That said, you shouldn’t over brush him either.

Especially not with a harsh steel comb (or shedding tool). As this can cause irritation in the skin which in turn can increase shedding. Bristle brushes are a lot gentler though, so if you brush more regularly with one of these it generally shouldn’t be an issue. Some people even use a rubber hand mitt as this is all that is needed for such a short haired dog.

Not only does this remove the dead fur, but it also massages his skin and helps spread his skin oils, which is good for his coat.

Bathing can also help remove the old fur, but as with brushing, you don’t want to overdo it either. And always use a good quality dog shampoo that doesn’t dry out his skin and fur.

You can learn about other ways to reduce shedding here.

Bottom Line

Bracco Italianos or Italian Pointers as they’re sometimes called, were bred to hunt as with most pointing breeds. They’re tough, smart and make capable hunting companions. But they’re also gentle and affectionate, so make excellent family companions.

As a plus, they don’t shed much and are very easy to groom. However, they’re probably not the best match for allergy sufferers, so if that’s what you’re looking for, you might find a dog like the Schnauzer to be more suitable.