Most important facts
- Group
- Gundog
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 25–40 kg
- Lifespan
- 10–14 years
- Coat
- Short, smooth
- Energy
- High
- Height
- 55–67 cm
- Colours
- White, or white with orange or chestnut
- Shedding
- Moderate
- Est. feeding cost
- ~£49/mo
- Gear to consider
- Slow-feeder or anti-gulp bowl, sturdy long-line for scent work, deep-chested harness with secure fit
Typical dry food, adult
About the Bracco Italiano
The Bracco Italiano is among the oldest of the pointing breeds, hunting the estates of the Italian aristocracy since at least the Renaissance, where dogs of its unmistakable profile appear in period frescoes. It declined almost to extinction before Italian enthusiasts rebuilt the breed in the twentieth century. The mournful expression is misleading, and the dog behind it thinks life is wonderful.
Braccos are gentle, sensitive and deeply loyal, thriving on close contact with their family. Despite the size, many are notably soft-natured and answer far better to patient, positive training than to any firmness, so new experiences and routines stay calm and consistent, especially in puppyhood.
The hunting heritage brings a strong nose, a drive to follow scent and stamina that needs somewhere constructive to go, because an under-worked Bracco turns vocal or destructive. Well matched with an active home, they are friendly with familiar people and sociable with other dogs, helped by early socialisation and steady mealtime manners.
Common health conditions
Things Bracco Italiano owners commonly watch for. Guidance, not veterinary advice.
Hip and elbow dysplasia
This is a recognised concern in the breed. Hip and elbow scoring picks it up. Keep puppies lean on a large-breed food that paces the growth.
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat)
A large, deep-chested breed at real risk of this emergency. Split the meals and slow a fast eater down.
Entropion and ectropion
Eyelid conformation issues occur in the breed and irritate the eye, so raise tear-staining, rubbing or redness with a vet early.
Ear infections
The long, heavy ears trap moisture and warmth, so check and dry them after swimming and wet walks.
Kidney disease (renal amyloidosis)
Reported in the breed, so keep up routine vet checks and involve your vet before changing the diet of a dog with known kidney concerns.
Feeding a Bracco Italiano
A large, athletic gundog needs feeding to real working output rather than size on paper. Puppies belong on a large-breed formula with controlled calcium and a steady, unhurried growth rate, because rushing growth with extra calories or supplements harms joints already prone to dysplasia.
In adulthood the deep chest brings genuine bloat risk, so how meals happen matters as much as the recipe. Two or three smaller meals work better here, with the eating slowed down and rest either side of exercise. Portion to their waistline, with ribs easily felt beneath that short, glossy coat.
Every dog is different — weight, age and activity all shift what a Bracco Italiano needs. The turns these breed tendencies into a shortlist matched to your dog’s age, size, budget and needs.
Typical adult weight
25–40 kg
Est. daily calories
940–2,000 kcal
A broad guide for an average-activity adult in good body condition — not veterinary advice. Real needs vary with age, neutering, activity, health and body condition, so no two Bracco Italianos eat exactly the same. Get a personalised estimate or estimate feeding costs.
- Per day
- ~£1.60
- Per month
- ~£49
- Per year
- ~£585
A broad typical monthly budget guide, not a live price quote. Food format, calorie density, pack size and retailer pricing all change the real cost.
Find the right food for your Bracco Italiano
Foods ranked to your dog
Answer a few quick questions and the Food Finder ranks foods to your Bracco Italiano by score, price, life stage and fit.
Breed at a glance
- Exercise needs9/10
- Appetite7/10
- Trainability6/10
- Good with children7/10
- Shedding5/10
- Tolerates being alone3/10
The good & the worth-knowing
The good
- Gentle, affectionate and eager to please
- A low-maintenance, glossy short coat
- A capable working gundog with real stamina
Worth knowing
- Needs well over two hours of daily exercise
- Size, drool and drive suit experienced owners
- The deep chest makes feeding routine matter
Best matched accessories
All accessories →The collections that suit the breed, judged by the same independent standard.
Common owner questions
How much exercise does a Bracco Italiano actually need?
More than most expect, comfortably over two hours a day, varied between walking, scent work, retrieving and free running. Bred to hunt all day, they get bored and destructive without a real outlet.
Is the Bracco Italiano prone to bloat, and does feeding style help?
Yes, the deep chest brings real risk. Two or three smaller meals, a slower feeding bowl and no hard exercise straight after eating all help, and every owner should know the signs and treat them as an emergency.
How do I keep a Bracco Italiano at a healthy weight?
Big, energetic dogs invite over-guessed portions, so feed to their waistline instead, checking the tuck behind the ribs and the ribs themselves, and adjust the daily amount as the workload changes through the year.
Are Braccos easy to feed and groom day to day?
Grooming is genuinely light, with a weekly once-over of the short coat, though they shed and drool. Feeding takes more thought than grooming, given the size, energy needs and bloat risk. A beard wipe after dinner saves the furniture.