It was shaped by wild-boar hunters in southern Tuscany, rather than show breeders. That is what the FCI standard says, and its temperament description reads accordingly: almost entirely an account of approaching game, holding it at bay and barking. This is the Segugio Maremmano.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds, Standard No. 361, with working trial, provisionally recognised by the FCI |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Italy |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males 48 to 54 cm, females 46 to 52 cm, plus or minus 2 cm tolerated in otherwise excellent dogs |
| Weight | Males 16 to 23 kg, females 13 to 20 kg |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | two varieties: short-haired (harsh, dense, often with undercoat) and rough-haired (harsh, approximately 3 to 4 cm long) |
| Colours in the standard | fawn from light to dark tan, black and tan, brindle; white markings permitted |
From a Maremma hunting population
The Segugio Maremmano descends from unregistered dogs of the Maremma Toscana in southern Tuscany. It has been documented there since the 1930s, when enthusiasts began seeking recognition. A figure in the appendix of a birth-weight study shows its present spread in Italy: the Italian stud book registered 2923 Segugi Maremmani in 2015, considerably more than its relative, the Appennine Hound.
What “provisionally recognised” means
The FCI provisionally recognised it in March 2018. Its rules say such breeds cannot receive a CACIB, the certificate towards International Beauty Champion status, until definitive recognition. They may nevertheless win World and Section Winner titles, and their pedigrees must carry the FCI logo.
A wild-boar specialist
The standard describes a strong hunting drive and lively temperament. It approaches game confidently and swiftly, barks absolutely reliably at bayed game from an appropriate distance and pursues persistently, alone or in a pack. Its voice should clearly distinguish the phases of the hunt. For life without hunting, this means long daily distances, scent work and secure routes.
Short or rough, including brindle
Brindle is explicitly permitted here, whereas the Italian Short-haired Segugio would be disqualified for it. Both coat varieties feel harsh and are easy to maintain; weekly brushing suffices, a little more often for rough hair during moulting. The standard also describes a docked tail, but only in countries where this is not prohibited. A natural sabre tail conforms equally well. In Germany, docking is generally prohibited under Section 6 of the German Animal Welfare Act.
Health and a boar-hunting risk
No lifespan can be given; the breed does not appear at all in McMillan and colleagues’ longevity analysis. Breed-related diseases have not been studied. An Italian case report does show a risk of working wild boar: a seven-year-old Segugio Maremmano contacted wild-boar blood in 2014, developed severe facial itching the next day and died shortly afterwards of Aujeszky’s disease. Discuss such infection risks with your veterinary practice if your dog hunts.
Made for boar hunting, rather than the sofa
It belongs with hunters who hunt wild boar with scent hounds, and people living rurally who give it distance and purpose. Anyone seeking an easy-going family dog, city companion or first dog should steer clear of this Tuscan boar hound.
A hunting specialist needs careful thought. The breed quiz helps you decide; “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German) goes further. If a puppy is joining you, the Puppy Starter Pack is a useful companion. For brindle or tan dogs, explore the digital artwork and our dog portraits.
Further reading
- Weimaraner: the beautiful hunting dog that never clocks off
- Puppy biting: teaching bite inhibition without spoiling the fun
- An older dog, new rules: giving your senior their best years
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 361 Segugio Maremmano (fci.be, German version dated 27.06.2019, English version dated 12.10.2018, valid original standard dated 12.09.2018); FCI breed page No. 361 and FCI page on provisionally recognised breeds; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed not included); Groppetti D et al., A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy, Animals 2017 (Appendix A1); Pizzurro F et al., Whole-Genome Sequence of a Suid Herpesvirus-1 Strain Isolated from the Brain of a Hunting Dog in Italy, Genome Announcements 2016.
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