Drop ears are an unmistakable sign of advanced domestication, according to this breed’s standard. With that argument, the FCI text traces the Italian Short-haired Segugio (Segugio Italiano a pelo raso) to ancient Egyptian hunting dogs supposedly brought across the Mediterranean to Italy by Phoenician merchants.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds, Standard No. 337, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Italy |
| Size (height at the withers) | males 52 to 58 cm, females 48 to 56 cm; 2 cm above or below tolerated only in excellent dogs |
| Weight | 18 to 28 kg |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | short, harsh, dense, close-fitting and smooth; a few rough hairs on body, muzzle and legs are not faulty |
| Colours in the standard | solid fawn from intense red to washed-out, or black and tan; white on muzzle, skull, chest, neck, paws and tail tip allowed, but less is better; black and tan with a white chest star is called tricolour |
From Egyptian drawings to Borso d’Este
Drawings from several pharaonic dynasties show dogs very similar to the modern Segugio, says the standard, with characteristics virtually unchanged over the centuries. A painting from 1600 in Borso d’Este’s castle is named as later evidence. This is the breed standard’s account, not a genetic investigation. The FCI definitively recognised the short-haired breed in May 1993.
Two coats, almost one genome
Alongside this dog is the Italian Wire-haired Segugio with a separate standard. In 2018, Talenti and colleagues could not reliably distinguish the two coat types genetically, treating them as one breed. In 2023, Bionda and colleagues found differences mainly in genes associated with coat texture; otherwise, the two were closely grouped. In the Italian studbook, the short-haired type is more common: 3570 short-haired and 1070 wire-haired dogs were registered in 2015.
A standard with a protractor
Few hound standards are this precise. The body fits into a square, the ear measures around 70 percent of head length and even joint angles appear in degrees. A missing or shortened tail disqualifies the dog, expressly whether congenital or acquired: a docked Segugio does not meet this standard.
Steady, fast and beautifully voiced
According to the standard, these dogs adapt to any terrain, are resilient, fast and very keen, alone or in a pack. Temperament is steady, manner unobtrusive and voice melodious. Without hunting, provide alternatives challenging the nose: tracking, mantrailing and long outings on a long line. The short, harsh coat is quickly cared for with a rubber mitt; more important are the hard pads, which need checking for cracks after rocky terrain.
What research does not answer
No lifespan can responsibly be given. McMillan and colleagues’ UK analysis places both Segugi together in one row without a result. A blood-value study of 123 Segugi does not distinguish coat types and is therefore left aside. Before buying, ask about the parents’ hips, eye results and the ages reached by earlier dogs.
Hunters first
These dogs do well with hunters using hounds for hare or wild boar and countryside residents with daily time for scent work. Anyone expecting a flat-dwelling dog or an easily recalled off-lead companion will not be happy with this fast hare hunter.
The breed quiz helps you assess whether a fast hound really fits your daily routine; “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) provides more background. If a puppy is arriving, the Puppy Starter Pack supports the early weeks. The red or black-and-tan coat looks good as a poster in a wooden frame or among our dog portraits.
Further reading
- Weimaraner: the beautiful hunting dog who never clocks off
- The socialisation period: why “as much as possible” is the wrong advice
- Calculating your dog’s food portions: how much your dog really needs
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 337 Segugio Italiano a pelo raso (fci.be, German version dated 11.10.2018, English version dated 17.12.2015, valid original standard dated 13.11.2015); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (not analysed); Talenti A et al., Studies of modern Italian dog populations reveal multiple patterns for domestic breed evolution, Ecology and Evolution 2018; Bionda A et al., The Shepherd and the Hunter: A Genomic Comparison of Italian Dog Breeds, Animals 2023; Groppetti D et al., A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy, Animals 2017 (Appendix A1).
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