At a glance the quick version
FCI smooth-haired standard gives 18-28 kg for the breed; Wikipedia gives 20-28 kg (males) and 18-26 kg (females) for the rough-haired variety.
Coat and looks how to spot one
smooth (pelo raso) or rough (pelo forte)
A lean, athletic hound with a long oval head, a soft expression, large dark eyes and very long triangular ears. The smooth variety has a short, dense, glossy coat, while the rough variety wears a coarse coat up to about 5 cm long.34
Personality what they are like
Steady and gentle at home, with a soft look, yet full of drive once on a scent. It is described as calm, responsive and smart, and it happily works alone or with a pack.36
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High. Bred to hunt across varied terrain for many hours, so it thrives on long daily walks, running and nose work.35
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Low. The smooth coat needs a quick weekly brush; the rough coat benefits from regular brushing. The long hanging ears should be checked and kept clean.34
Home where they are happiest
Suits an active home with a secure garden and plenty of outdoor time; more and more are now kept as family companions.5
Company who they like around
Used to working in packs and alongside people, so it enjoys company of both dogs and its family.3
The story where it all began
Italy's classic scent hound is thought to be very old, and dogs like it appear in Roman statues and Renaissance hunting scenes. Dogs of this type were shown in Milan in 1886, a breed club formed in 1920, and after nearly vanishing by 1945 a new breed society restarted it in 1947.543
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Statues of Diana the Huntress from Roman times show hounds that look much like the Segugio.5
- 2
It can keep hunting for up to about twelve hours at a stretch.5
- 3
The breed standard singles out its resonant, very pleasant voice.3
- 4
The smooth and rough coat varieties each have their own FCI standard.1
- 5
When the breed society reformed in 1947, only 69 dogs were registered that year.5
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Smooth-haired variety: Standard No. 337, Group 6, Section 1.2 (medium-sized scent hounds); accepted 11 May 1993; current standard 13 Nov 2015; working trial1
- FCI
- Rough-haired variety: Standard No. 198, Group 6, Section 1.2; definitive acceptance 9 Mar 1956; current standard 13 Nov 2015; working trial2
- AKC
- Listed as a breed on the AKC website6
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Segugio Italiano. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI - Segugio Italiano a Pelo Raso (337) fci.beused for recognition
- FCI - Segugio Italiano a Pelo Forte (198) fci.beused for recognition
- FCI Standard 337 (English) fci.beused for size, weight, coat, colours, temperament, history
- Segugio Italiano a Pelo Forte - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for rough coat, size, weight
- Segugio Italiano a Pelo Raso - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for history, facts, size
- AKC - Segugio Italiano akc.orgused for temperament
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.