Dog breed · Italy
The Lupo Italiano is a dog breed from Italy. According to its creator, the breed's foundation was a wolf hybrid produced from crossing a German Shepherd and an Italian wolf, though a number of genetic studies put this in doubt. As it is not recognised by the ENCI, selection and rearing of the Lupo Italiano is carried out by the Associazione degli Affidatari Allevatori del Lupo Italiano (AAALI; transl. Lupo Italiano Caregivers Association), a state-funded nonprofit organisation which prohibits its sale and only allows specimens to be leased to volunteers, police and search and rescue organisations.
According to the breed standard established by the AAALI, the Lupo Italiano has a wolf-like muzzle, powerful jaws, and pointed medium-length ears. The eyes should ideally be gold colour and oblique in shape. The adult should be 58 to 68 cm (23 to 27 inches) at the shoulder, have a robust chest and a back that is not too low. Its tread is light, even in large specimens. The breed's creator claimed that it can run at speeds of 70 km/h (43 mph). The coat is grey with shades of fulvous or beige, but the standard allows for full black or a white patch on the chest. The tail is long and pendulous when relaxed, but takes on a slight curve when raised.
History: According to the breed's creator, former banker Mario Messi, the Lupo Italiano originated in 1966 after he was given a wolf hybrid born from a female Italian wolf, captured in the Province of Rieti by a hunter in his employ, and a male German Shepherd specialised in rescue operations. The hybrid, named "Zorro", was then mated to German Shepherds and their resulting female offspring. The specimens were originally kept in a 19th century villa in Cumiana until Messi was ordered to relocate by the mayor of the comune after residents of Borgata Porta complained about the dogs' howls. The dogs were moved to a modern facility capable of housing 200 specimens, and included enclosures modeled after the wolf's natural habitat.
In 1980, Messi founded the Associazione Selezione Originale di Lupi Italiani (ASOLI; transl. Original Association for the Selection of Lupo Italianos), a nonprofit organisation dedicated to preserving the breed's purity. The organisation was funded by volunteer contributions, and Messi declared that the Lupo Italiano could only be leased for public utility. Official recognition of the Lupo Italiano by the ENCI was slated for 4 July 1982 during the Italian dog breed expo, but this did not materialise due to Messi's refusal to commercialise the breed.
In February 1984, the experimental phase of the breeding project was declared concluded, with the Lupo Italiano's phenotype having been stabilised. Nevertheless, Messi expressed concern that he would have to close the breeding facility, despite the patronage of the Ministry of Public Education and the Ministry of Ecology in Piedmont. The next year, lack of funds made providing food and vaccines to the dogs difficult, resulting in the deaths of several pups from disease and malnutrition. In 1987, despite being warned of the possible euthanisation of all 200 dogs in the facility, Messi continued to oppose selling them, even to cover costs.
