Spino degli Iblei

		Spino degli Iblei
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Italy
Translation			Francis Vandersteen
Group			Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle dogs)
Section			Section 1 Sheepdogs
Working			Without working trial

Usage

Guardian dog used by Sicilian shepherds in the Hyblaean area to protect their flocks.

Brief historical summary

The Spino degli Iblei dog has been bred since ancient times in southeastern Sicily, precisely in the region around the high plateau of the Hyblaean mountains. The main criterion for its selection has always been, and still is, the use of this dog for guarding and defending flocks, so today's dogs have kept their character intact.

General appearance

Spino degli Iblei are mesomorphic, harmoniously built, tall and vigorous, with a strong, remarkable structure that, at first glance, should give the idea of strength and hardiness. The dog should never appear stocky. The trunk is inscribed in the rectangle. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced.

Important proportions

The total length of the head is about 4/10 the height at the withers.
The skull is slightly longer than the muzzle.
Skull: muzzle ratio approx. 11:9.
Skull width is almost equivalent to length.
Body length is always greater than height at withers.
Chest height is about 49% of height at withers.

Behaviour / temperament

Always used to protect flocks from attacks by wolves, foxes and wild dogs, the Spino Hyblaean is accustomed to living painlessly in extreme environments, despite the very poor power shepherds use to administer their dogs. This natural selection has given it great hardiness and frugality, which translate into excellent hardiness and resistance to disease. He is an intrepid and tireless guardian, a firm and incorruptible defender of the sheep entrusted to him, but in the presence of the shepherd/owner, to whom he nourishes unconditional devotion, he is led to socialize with strangers. He is a perfect playmate for children, to whom he naturally assumes a submissive and compliant attitude, but at the same time protective with lambs. Demonstrates a strong ability to adapt to any new environment.

Head
Cranial region
Head		The head is broad and massive, in harmony with the overall appearance. Viewed from above, it has the shape of a truncated cone with a broad base.
Skull		The skull is almost as wide as it is long. The lateral and frontal profiles are slightly convex, so that the skull should never appear square or excessively round. The forehead is only slightly rounded. The eyebrows are obvious, but never protrude. The metopic suture is marked but not deep. The axes of the facial skull are parallel.
Stop		The fronto-nasal depression is perceptible, never elusive or marked.

Facial region
Nose		Large, with open nostrils, black on all capes.
Muzzle		Slightly shorter than the skull, broad and deep at the root, tapering slightly towards the nose. Its lateral faces are therefore only slightly convergent, but the front of the muzzle is kept wide. Full in the suborbital region.
Lips		Moderately thick, black-pigmented. When the mouth is closed, the upper lips overlap the lower lips without crossing them. Lip margin slightly accentuated and always closed. Looking at the side of the head, the lower profile of the muzzle is given for the first half of the lower edge of the upper lip, and the remaining half, in the aboral direction, is defined by the mandible.
Jaws and teeth		Broad, robust jaw. Large, white, healthy teeth. Scissor or pincer bite.
Cheeks		Moderately full, with strong muscles, but never prominent.
Eyes		Oval in a subfrontal position. Well-spaced, not large in relation to the size of the head, neither protruding nor buried. The eyelids are pigmented black in all capes and tightly adherent. The iris varies from ochre to dark brown. The look is typical of a loyal but wary dog.
Ears		Not large relative to the size of the head. Set above the zygomatic arch, they are V-shaped with a slightly rounded tip. Hanging, but mobile and not strictly adherent to the cheeks.

Neck

Medium length, strong and muscular, without dewlap. Its upper profile is slightly arched.

Body
Body		The length of the body slightly exceeds the height at the withers.
Withers		Raised in relation to the topline, long, broad for the distance between the ends of the shoulder blades.
Back		Broad, muscular and solid, straight in profile.
Loin		Round, broad and muscular.
Croup		Broad and muscular, of moderate length, slightly sloping.
Chest		High, reaching to the elbows. Ribs are encircled and oblique, never barrel-shaped, with well-extended intercostal spaces.
Underline and belly		The sterno-ventral profile rises slightly toward the abdomen.

Tail

Inserted on the extension of the croup, in the station is saber low. When excited or on the move, it is carried in a crest even beyond the dorsal line, but never supported or curled over the back. Well furnished with thick hair.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality		The forelegs are well muscled and strongly boned. Viewed from the front, they are straight, parallel and set wide apart from the chest.
Shoulders		The shoulder is long, moderately sloping and muscular.
Upper arm		Long, well fused to the trunk and well muscled.
Elbows		Adherent to the trunk, even in movement.
Forearm		Straight, with strong bone and round cross-section.
Carpal		Strong, dry and of good thickness. Never shows signs of weakness.
Pastern		Relatively long, only slightly oblique in profile.
Forefeet		Large, round, with toes fairly close together. Nails strong, preferably black-pigmented.

Hindquarters
Generality		Seen from behind, the hindquarters are straight and parallel. Seen from the side, they are well sloped.
Upper thigh		Long, broad and muscular, with a slightly convex rear margin.
Lower thigh		The anatomical base (tibia) is moderately long. With strong bone structure and lean musculature. Clear leg groove.
Stifle		Must be in perfect position, like all hindquarters, i.e. neither in nor out.
Metatarsus		Strong, dry and broad. Spurs may be present.
Hock		Strong and of good thickness. Firm.
Hind feet		Like forefeet, but more oval.

Gait and movement

Loose ground with firm rear line. A longer, more resistant trot is preferred.

Skin

Moderately thick, adhering to the body in all areas. Thinner on the face. No folds or wrinkles. Pigment of mucous membranes, sclera and foot pads is black.

Coat
Hair		Very abundant, at least 10 cm long and diverse. All along the trunk, the covering hairs are semi-visual, long and with a mediocre undercoat. On the contrary, from the middle of the thorax to the whole rear of the body, including the hind legs, the undercoat is thick, tending towards the roots in relation to the age of the subject. Hair length is uniform on the limbs. On the entire head, the hair is softer, forming thick eyebrows that cover the eyes, with a beard and mustache covering the lips.
Colour		White and black : white with larger or smaller black patches, but also black with white patches on feet, chest, head and tip of tail. White may have black spots. In adulthood, the black color is also present in various shades of gray. Fawn : white with more or less extensive fawn markings, but also fawn with white markings on feet, chest, head and tip of tail. White may have tawny implants. White : single-colored white.

Size and weight
Height at withers		Males : 60 to 70 cm, with a tolerance of 2 cm above the maximum limit. Females : 55 to 65 cm, with a tolerance of 2 cm above the maximum limit.

Faults

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

General faults

Overweight or weak dog.

Curled or ring tail.

Lack of teeth, except PM1.

Not too loose.

Serious faults

Iris gazzuola.

Total or partial depigmentation.

Straight ears.

Short hair.

Cow hocks.

Disqualifying faults

Aggressive or overly shy dog.

Enognatism or prognathism.

Albinism.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

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Spino degli Iblei