Shame you missed the Shooting Times article Alan !

ANYway, the bracco is a smooth coated Italian hunting/pointing dog with a houndy appearance. Originally developed to drive game into the hunters nets, but with the invention of the gun, their role changed to that of a HPR (Hunter, Pointer, Retriever). They are an ancient breed and records show examples as far back as the 4th-5th Century. Their conformation is virtually unchanged since those times. They are quite rare in the UK (less than 80) but are very popular in Europe now, having recovered after nearly becoming extinct as a breed a few years back.

They are still very much a working gundog, and have not had their hunting instinct bred out of them yet! One of the main characteristic's of the breed (apart from their ears) is their unique movement. It is best described as an extended trot and can be very fast! The bracchi is not a short coated spinone, although he is roughly the same size and has the same wonderful temperament.

I'm in the process of putting together a web page on this site, but in the mean time if you want to see what they look like have a look at the
Bracco Society site. If you look at the pictures page, you will see Bear on point on a pheasy at 13 weeks old !! That is also him with The Ears lol

HTH.

Leigh