How much does a Bracco Italiano cost?

A Bracco Italiano typically costs between $1,500-$2,500 from a reputable breeder. Annual costs average $1,500/year including food, vet care, and supplies.

How long do Bracco Italianos live?

Bracco Italianos have an average lifespan of 10-14 years.

How big do Bracco Italianos get?

Adult Bracco Italianos typically weigh 55-90 lbs and stand 21-27" tall at the shoulder.

Are Bracco Italianos good with kids?

Bracco Italianos are excellent with children, known for being patient and gentle.

Do Bracco Italianos shed a lot?

Bracco Italianos have moderate shedding and benefit from regular grooming.

Bracco Italiano: Temperament, Size, Lifespan & Cost (2026 Guide)

About the Bracco Italiano

Loose-skinned, long-eared and deliberate in movement, the Bracco Italiano works with a distinctive extended trot rather than a gallop, and the temperament matches that measured style. This is a gentle, sociable, sensitive gundog, affectionate with family, usually easy with children and with other dogs, and inclined toward a slightly mournful expression that disguises genuine enthusiasm for work. Sensitivity is the key training consideration: Bracchi shut down or sulk under harsh correction and blossom under patient encouragement, and they mature slowly, remaining goofy adolescents for a considerable time. Energy needs are substantial. Bred for long days hunting birds across varied terrain, the breed requires an hour or more of real exercise daily plus scent work or fieldwork, and an under-worked Bracco becomes restless and destructive rather than difficult. Grooming looks simple, weekly work on a short dense jacket, yet the long pendulous ears, facial folds and loose lips need regular cleaning, and drool is a genuine feature visitors notice. Barking is moderate. These dogs attach closely and cope poorly with long absences. Active homes with space, ideally rural or hunting households, suit best. Distinctively, this is one of the oldest documented pointing breeds in Europe, appearing in Italian art and writing centuries before modern gundog types took shape.

Temperament

Affectionate Great with Kids Dog-Friendly Playful Easy to Train

Affection Level ★★★★★

Good with Children ★★★★★

Good with Other Dogs ★★★★★

Playfulness ★★★★★

Protectiveness ★★★★★

Trainability ★★★★★

Energy Level ★★★★★

Barking Level ★★★★★

Intelligence ★★★★★

Adaptability ★★★★★

Physical Characteristics

Size Category	Large (50-100 lbs)
Height	21-27"
Weight	55-90 lbs
Coat Type	Smooth
Coat Length	Short
Colors
Hypoallergenic	No

Care Requirements

Exercise Needs

High (60-90 min/day)

60 minutes per day recommended

Grooming

Moderate - Weekly

Shedding: ★★★★★

Mental Stimulation

★★★★★

Needs plenty of mental challenges

Drooling

★★★★★

Living Conditions

Apartment Friendly ★★★★★

Good for First-Time Owners ★★★★★

Tolerates Being Alone ★★★★★

Cold Weather Tolerance ★★★★★

Hot Weather Tolerance ★★★★★

Cost of Ownership

Purchase Price	$1,500-$2,500
Annual Cost	$1,500/year

Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.

Health Considerations

Like all breeds, Bracco Italianos may be prone to certain health conditions:

Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.

Best For

Families with Children
Active Owners

May Not Be Ideal For

Apartment Living
Long Work Hours Away
Sedentary Lifestyles

Guides for your Bracco Italiano

The story behind the Bracco Italiano

Pointing dogs of Bracco type have been recorded in Italy since at least the Renaissance, appearing in paintings and hunting treatises, and they were used with nets and falcons before firearms changed the work. Two regional strains developed, a heavier white-and-orange type from Piedmont and a chestnut roan variety from Lombardy, both bred to quarter ground, find birds and hold a point at a steady trot. The breed declined sharply during the twentieth century as faster continental pointers gained favour, and by the mid-1900s numbers were very low. Italian enthusiasts led a revival, a club formed and the standard was consolidated. Recognition spread internationally, with AKC acceptance arriving in the 2020s. The Bracco Italiano remains uncommon outside Italy, kept as a gundog and companion.

Originally bred for: Pointing, Hunting, Retrieving. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.

Feeding a Bracco Italiano

A large deep-chested gundog does best raised on a large-breed puppy formula for measured growth, then maintained on a quality adult food scaled to hunting workload. Divided meals with calm rest either side suit this frame, and staying lean protects the joints.

Watch for: Deep-chested breeds are routinely advised toward smaller servings eaten slowly, with rest before and after. Long pendulous ears and loose facial skin also make irritation common for reasons unrelated to diet. No ingredient pattern is documented, so involve a veterinarian in any dietary investigation.

Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.

Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.

Living with a Bracco Italiano

Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.

For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.

Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.

Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.

Compare Bracco Italiano with Other Breeds

Compare Breeds

vs