Originating in Piedmont

Piedmont

Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...

, Segugio Cravin is a variety of the Piccolo Lepraiolo Italiano, specialized for hunting hare

Hare

Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...

s.

It is probably the result of crossbreed

Crossbreed

A crossbreed or crossbred usually refers to an animal with purebred parents of two different breeds, varieties, or populations. Crossbreeding refers to the process of breeding such an animal, often with the intention to create offspring that share the traits of both parent lineages, or producing...

ing of Italian scent hound

Scent hound

Scent hounds are a type of hound that primarily hunts by scent rather than sight. The Scenthound breeds are generally regarded as having some of the most sensitive noses among canines....

s, like the “Ciaplen”, a very skillful small short-haired scenthound. In the past these dogs were bred by hunters on the Piedmontese hills. The strict selection resulted in an extremely skilled and clever scenthound. Very few pure specimens remain today.

SIPS, the Italian Association for Scenthounds, has created a Committee of experts to get official recognition of the breed Piccolo Lepraiolo Italiano and to set a common standard. The best examples are the Cravin.

General appearance:
It is a medium or small sized dog

Dog

The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...

 of robust constitution with a thick coat, but a slender build with good muscle

Muscle

Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...

s and strong bones. It has a shy and reserved temperament, and does not make a fuss.

Working habits
Dynamic, enthusiastic and tireless, the Cravin can work in all kinds of ground. Its gait

Gait

Gait is the pattern of movement of the limbs of animals, including humans, during locomotion over a solid substrate. Most animals use a variety of gaits, selecting gait based on speed, terrain, the need to maneuver, and energetic efficiency...

 of choice is the trot

Trot

A trot is a type of symmetrical gait in animals.Trot may also refer to:*Trot , the specifics of trotting in horses*Trot , a genre of Korean pop music*Trot , a character from the Oz books of L...

, while searching, which is light, energetic, easy, alternating with some gallop

Gallop

Gallop is an asymmetrical gait used at high speeds by quadrupedal organisms such as the gait seen in the horse.Gallop may also refer to:*Conductor gallop, wind-induced low frequency oscillation of overhead transmission lines...

ing. It follows scents scrupulously, and does not waste time on dubious ones. The dog shows initiative, and conclusive action. It announces what it has found with vibrant movements of the tail which hits the hips, then through a high sharp voice. It can work alone or even better in pairs.

Size of males 47 to 50 cms.

Segugio Cravin Photos