Welcome to Alfoliz
Italian Volpino UK

"Little Fox" or "Foxy" in Italian

CLICK HERE to read my research into the history of the Italian Volpino in the UK © Sarah Claydon

 

Other names include Italian Pomeranian, Italian Spitz, Florentine Spitz, Cane de Quirinale, Lupino & Volpino Italiano. 

In Victorian times authors referred to them as "lupetties" meaning small wolf.

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The Italian Volpino is a small, Spitz-type breed which is evident in its fox-like face, pointed ears, a tightly curled tip to the tail and thick double coat. They can be pure white or full red (although champagne & black volpinos also exist).  They should not have any broken patterns in their coat and their noses and eye surrounds must be black.   Albinism is not allowed. They are often mistaken for a Pomeranian or a miniature American Eskimo Dog, this breed is native to Italy and rarely seen in the Western hemisphere. The breed’s origins date back to the 15th century where they were well loved by Italian royalty and frequently kept by court ladies.

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THE RECOVERY STORY FROM 1968 TO 1985 - kindly contributed by Cinzia Mazza, Italy

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"From 1968 began the recovery of white first with the so-called larger and elongated model (so to speak, similar to that of the print in the image gallery below, more or less). Then other white progenitors of the second smaller model (no more than 30 cm males) and more compact with more hair were found.

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Then Dr. Franceschetti mated them together to broaden the meagre genetic base.  A famous Italian Spinone dog breeder, now in his nineties, found the smaller stock of the second chronological model one day while hunting near a country cottage.  He saw them and asked the owner if he could give them to him in exchange for his Spinone dog.  The farmer accepted the exchange and this famous breeder brought the dogs to his friend Dr. Franceschetti, knowing to make him happy as he knew the latter's project to bring the Volpino Italiano back to life, like the Phoenix.

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The second model was found in Romagna (north Italy region), while the first was found by Dr. Franceschetti going around Italy, especially in the south. The whites at the end of the 60s and the early 70s were very few but they were found such very few founders that they were still rustic, in any case rural or rural. The first crossbreeding with the German spitz was made in the mid 80's by a spitz breeder who obtained the LIR as an Italian volpino with one of his white klein spitz females who then mated with an Italian volpino bred by Dr. Franceschetti of the first model."

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Sadly Dr Franceschetti passed away in October 2021, the photo below shows him with the Italian Volpinos in 1984.

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The Italian Volpino was largely unknown outside of Italy until the late 1800s and, though still rare, the breed is starting to make a comeback. Though recognized by the UKC in the Northern Breed group and the FCI in the Spitz and Primitive Dog group, the Volpino Italiano is not accepted by the AKC.   Until very recently the organization declined the breed in 2006 due to its similarity with the American Eskimo Dog.  However due to the continued efforts of the North American Volpino Club (Terralea Collins) they have now been accepted onto the AKC Rare Breed, Founding Service Stock.  The UK Kennel Club does not recognise the breed.  However, we are able to, and encourage anyone in the UK with an Italian Volpino to register with the Dog World Kennel Club in the UK.  This will give us records and an official presence in the UK.  We do have Italian Volpinos on the UK Kennel Club Agility Register.    

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Today, there are still less than 4,000 Italian Volpinos in the world.

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As a Spitz, the Italian Volpino is related to modern breeds such as the Pomeranian but has been in existence for thousands of years before.  The breeds are interrelated and share similarities but have evolved into distinct breeds.

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THE RED VOLPINO - kindly contributed by Menta Coclix, USA

They (the Red Volpino) were pretty much in extinction in Italy, except for a few called "rustico", here and there in the countryside.  This is where Menta found her first red couple that she imported into the USA in 2007.  From that line she still has Alloro di Montesasso, the father of her latest litter of red volpino puppies.  Meanwhile back in Italy, a couple of serious breeders brought the red back officially in Italy.  Fabrizio Bonanno (Allevamenti di Roccascura).  Menta purchased four reds from him in 2020, two females half-sisters and two boys from different bloodlines.  One of the girls, Ginestra di Roccascura is the mother of Menta's latest three puppies.  There are now officially red volpinos from three different lines in the USA.

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With special thanks to Faith Whiteley, Junior President UMAVI (Volpino Itlaiano Club of Great Britain) &

Terralea Collins & the Volpino Italiano Club of America, (Junior President UMAVI, North America)  

And of course Roberto Francini  & Pia Rødvig Kristiansen for allowing us to have such wonderful Italian Volpinos of our own!

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