Sporting Group

Spinoni, a very old breed, are among the many field dogs of Continental Europe famed for versatility. Their strengths as hunter’s companions include intelligence, a great nose, the ability to retrieve on land or lake, and the stamina to work all day and eagerly ask for more. The name Spinone refers to “pino,” the thorny undergrowth found in Italy’s Piedmont region. It was there that all-weather, all-purpose Spinoni were first bred to work alongside human huntsmen on the hilly terrain of Alpine Italy. The Spinone is estimated to be a cross of coarsehaired Italian Setters, bred with those left by Greek traders and others from the Adriatic coast, in addition to crosses with the White Mastiff and perhaps French Griffons.

Health

Responsible breeders will screen their stock for health conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia and eye anomalies. As with all breeds, the Spinone’s ears should be checked regularly for signs of infection, and the teeth should be brushed often, ideally every day, using a toothpaste formulated for dogs.

The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is a very old breed, appearing in paintings by the Dutch masters back into the late Middle Ages.  The breed was used in the “Eendenkooi” the manmade duck-trapping pond systems, beginning prior to the invention of gunpowder.  These “Duck Decoys” – as they were called in English – are not to be confused with carved wooden faux ducks, but were instead hand-dug ponds ranging from 3 to 10 acres in size.  The breed was also associated with the founder of the Dutch Monarchy, Prince William of Oranje, whose “Kooiker” Kuntz was credited with saving the Prince’s life when assassins sought to kill him.

The breed began to diminish after the First World War as better fowling guns meant hunters could shoot ducks more readily.  The Duck Decoys were not as profitable, the effort to maintain them less desirable, and with their disappearance so too came the decline of the little orange-red and white dog used to lure the ducks.

In late 1939, as part of her silent resistance to the occupation of the Netherlands, the Baronesse von Hardenbroek van Ammerstol set out to preserve the breed.  She sent peddlers who stopped at her estate off with a black and white photograph of the breed and a snippet of fur.  When the peddler spotted a dog that seemed to match Baronesse’s requirements, she then took to her own bicycle to visit the dog.  In this way, she found Tommy, a bitch from the farthest north province in the Netherlands who became the foundation.  The Baronesse bred 52 litters under the name Walhalla from 1942 to 1976.  The Dutch parent club was organized in 1967, and the breed was officially recognized by the Raad van Beheer (the Dutch equivalent of AKC) in 1971.

Health

The Kooikerhondje is a relatively healthy breed living a long life. Originating from a very limited founding population, the Kooikerhondje is susceptible to various hereditary conditions. Utilization of proper breeding practices to reduce the coefficients of inbreeding is recommended to promote genetic diversity within the limited gene pool. Knowledge of genetic lines of disease within the breed combined with good breeding practices reduces serious illnesses within the Kooikerhondje. Even with applicants of good breeding practices, the Kooikerhondje can suffer from a variety of canine diseases. Current health concerns in regards to the breed include the following: 1. Polymyositis (PMN) 2. Renal disorders 3. Epilepsy