Volpino Italiano — breed standard (FCI: size, coat, temperament, type)

Volpino Italiano — breed standard (FCI: size, coat, temperament, type)

Claims

• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* An Italian Spitz, FCI Group 5 (Spitz and primitive type), Section 4 European Spitz, kept as a guard and companion dog without a working trial.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* A small, compact and harmonious Spitz with a long stand-off coat; the body is square, with length matching the withers height.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Height at the withers is 27–30 cm for males and 25–28 cm for females.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The coat is dense, very long, straight and harsh, standing off the body and forming a collar around the neck rather than a mane.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Colour is self white, red or black; other shades are accepted. White should be clear like milk, red an intense deer-red, and solid red or black may show a little white on the feet, while red may carry a mask or sable overlay.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Temperament is very attached to home and family, with an exuberant, lively, happy and playful nature.
• *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Disqualifying faults include aggression or extreme shyness, physical or behavioural abnormality, an untypical dog, a convex nose bridge, an overshot bite, total loss of nose or eye-rim pigment, a wall eye, fully drooping ears, and a missing or very short tail.