Segugio Maremmano Dog Breed - Facts and Information

History
The history, ancestry and origin of Segugio Maremmano is rather unknown. It is believed, that the breed was developed in 1800s by Italian hunters in the southern part of Tuscany region, also known as Maremma region. They were not developed for their apperance or for the show ring but for pure performance as hunters.
These hunters kept breeding Segugio Maremmano, because it was just the perfect wild boar hunting companion, perfectly adapted to the environment of the southarn area of Tuscany.
We do not know anything about the breeds ancestry and it was most likely developed from unregistered hunting dogs and possibly even street dogs, which was one of the reasons, why this breed was not officially registered for decades by Italian Kennel Club. This changed in 2009 when the breed was finally recognized.

Appearance
The Segugio Maremmano is a medium sized dog breed with very elegant and athletic build. The body has rectangular shape and the Segugio Maremmano has pretty large head, relative to the body.
The average height of Segugio Maremmano is between 46-54 cm (18-21 in) and weight between 13-23 kg (29-51 lbs). Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.
Interesting fact is, that the breed can have two coat types, either smooth or rough. The smooth haired variety has short coat, that is dense and shiny, while the rough coat is slightly longer, dense and shaggy. It is important to say, that the short haired smooth coated type is far more popular and approximately 90% of the dogs have smooth coat.
The Segugio Maremmano comes in various colors, such as brindle, black and tan and in various shades of fawn, from pale to dark tan. There may also be white spots on the legs, neck, chest, forehead, and tip of the tail.
The Segugio Maremmano has oval shaped, dark colored eyes, triangular hanging ears, strong neck, well developed chest, tail that is set high and quite muscular limbs.

Temperament
The Segugio Maremmano is still used for hunting in Italy, but it is also becoming companion dog and they have great temperamental characteristics for both purposes.
As a hunter, they are specialized to hunt wild boar and their main weapons on the hunt are their high prey drive, confidence, bravery, great stamina, sense of smell and hearing. They also use their pleasing voice well differentiated in accordance to hunting phases.
The Segugio Maremmano can work on its own or in a pack of hounds and they are greatly adapted to Tuscany environment and they are able to go through dense forests and ponds to bring its master some prey.
When choosing Segugio Maremmano as a companion pet, you should be prepared for free spirited and highly energetic dog with high prey drive. They definitely need daily longer walks, jogs, hikes, fun training session or vigorous playtime to stay happy and healthy. You should also be prepared for pretty independent dog, that will not always obey your commands, but they are intelligent dogs capable of learning all the basic obedience commands fairly quickly.
But the Segugio Maremmano is also known for its kind and gentle character and they create strong bond with the family. Most of these dogs adore children and they will love to play with them, but it is always a must to supervise any actions between any dog breed and young child.
And of course, they are not the best for families with other household pets, as Segugio Maremmano is natural born hunter with strong prey drive. But they can happily live with other dogs, especially if socialized together from puppyhood.

Health and grooming
Great news is, that the Segugio Maremmano has minimal grooming needs. Whether its smooth or rough coat, they stay in relatively good condition by itself even without any grooming. Of course, it is better if you can brush the coat from time to time to keep it in best possible condition and to redistribute natural oils all over the coat. Regular brushing will also remove any loose and dead hair and minimize the shedding. No other grooming is needed.
There are no known health issues, which would be very common in this breed and they should typically not suffer from any serious genetic health issues. The average lifespan is somewhere around 13 years.