Helping travelers to Italy since 2008

Italian Spinone puppies

People often ask us whether Italian Spinone puppies are a good dog breed for children.

Children adore this story, which is a lovely example of how well the Italian Spinone dog fits into family life  - and the need for flexibility and a sense of humour!

We reproduce it here courtesy of Spinone Rescue U.K.

Hector’s Chicken Surprise

Simply take :

 1 whole chicken cooked in a casserole dish
 1 large cast iron casserole dish (with chicken casserole)
 1 deep set range cooker
 1 brown roan Spinone pup called Hector (although any Spin is welcome to give this a shot)
 1 small baby boy needing a bath
 2 curious neighbors

Method :

• Cook organic, free range chicken casserole in large cast iron casserole dish. Add veg, stock, all sorts of good things into this wonderful one pot meal.
• Cook for ages, preferably watched by the adoring "cupboard love" eyes of one of our Italian Spinone puppies - Hector - and "assisted" by vigorous stirring / mashing / mixing by said small boy.
• Feed small boy a small(ish) portion of casserole then place lid on cast iron dish containing rest of casserole and push it to the very back of the range cooker (about four foot back and about adult waist height)
• Take now very full small boy upstairs to bath and bed time.
• Return about ninety minutes later.
  

At this point you should have :

• Hector asleep on sofa downstairs;
• 1 tired Mum in need of a glass of wine and portion of chicken casserole.
  

but (here comes the good bit)  ...

…  WHERE OH WHERE IS THE CHICKEN?!!

Who, me?

On the floor will be one cast iron casserole dish and lid which are both completely clean, so clean they look like they looked the day they came home from the shops and have never looked since they were first used to reduce a tomato sauce.

There is also one dent on the wooden kitchen floor but - no chicken of any sort – not a scrap.

Not even a carrot from the casserole.

There are, however, two neighbors standing outside peering into the (basement) kitchen.  They then come in and explain how they have watched* Hector wriggle and wiggle and shimmy and slither himself up and across the range cooker.

And, with infinite and never to be under-estimated Spinone patience, determination and finesse, Hector hooked the casserole dish with his paw, pulling it bit by bit and ever closer to the edge of the cooker until  ...

WHAM – whole thing down, eaten, licked, chewed and relished.

Mum is grateful that there is still some wine, and that she has the phone number for takeaway.

Of course, Hector sleeps peacefully for about six hours, shows absolutely no ill effects from eating the entire casserole and is ready to go, go, go again when he next wakes up.

* In the neighbors' defence, they did also ring door bell, but bath time was clearly too noisy!

Photos of the Italian Spinone puppies on this page are by kind permission of Ben Burkland and Carolyn Cook on Flickr.

Thinking of getting a Spinone Italiano? The Guide Book below has excellent information.

Click here for further details and to purchase.

Remember to visit our page all about Italian dog breeds for more information!