Italian Spinoni Dog Names

For most people, the first time they saw an Italian Spinone was when they were introduced at the Westminster Kennel Club’s annual dog show. Even then, this large scruffy looking sporting dog did not garner much interest. However, with them being seen time and again at televised dog shows people’s interest has been stirred and their popularity is beginning to rise. Mateo, or Gold Grand Champion Darby Canyon’s Dante’s Inferno CD RD CGC, from Geneva, Illinois has helped promote his breed across the country. His owners, Lindsay and Roger Stanton, have even dedicated a room in their home as Mateo’s room complete with a bed fit for royalty and shelves groaning under the weight of all his trophies. Mateo was invited to the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club’s annual dog show held at Madison Square Garden in New York City in February of 2016. At just three years old, Mateo’s resume was more impressive than most dogs ever dreamed about. He was the number one Italian Spinone in 2015 with almost 100 more points than the number 2 Italian Spinone which guaranteed him an invitation to the Westminster Dog Show.

Mateo has had a knack for dog shows since puppyhood. At just six months old he competed at the Italian Spinone Nationals where he won first place in his class. These were his first set of shows and Mateo loved the show ring so much that the Stantons continued showing him. In 2016, Mateo was awarded the Top Show Dog of the Year trophy by the Spinone Club of America. This trophy is awarded to the Italian Spinone with the highest number of AKC conformation points in the previous calendar year. When Mateo is not on the road or preparing for dog shows, he is the star of the neighborhood and many of the children in the neighborhood ask to play with him. Mateo eats up all the attention and knows he is truly something special.

Mateo’s breeder, Diana Cannon of Darby Canyon Spinone, is very proud of Mateo and the Stantons for working hard to promote the Italian Spinone breed and also for being so committed to campaigning Mateo to not just one championship but four and also in earning his Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title, Companion Dog (CD) title, and Road Dog (RD) title. Darby Canyon Spinone had three dogs from her bloodlines invited to the 2015 Westminster Dog Show.  Mateo’s half brother, Spumante, was the number one Italian Spinone in 2012.