Italian Greyhound

Description:

The Italian Greyhound was brought to Europe by the Phoenicians, and later the Romans had significantly improved the breed. These dogs were darling of Catherine the Great. Today, Italian Greyhounds are rarely used for hunting, actually, they are more popular as family pets. This breed can be extremely timid and indecisive. Hence, punishment or any other kind of oppressive handling will only intimidate this wonderful dog. It is necessary to be kind and calm.

Height: 12-15 inches  Weight: 6-10 pounds  Lifespan: 12-15 years

Characteristics:

The Italian Greyhound cannot be kept in a kennel. In fact, a dog of this breed is a true member of the family and he should be kept in the house. Italian Greyhound can be a little too nervous and hypersensitive. This is an active and very fast dog which loves taking part in an agility competition. Comparable Breed: Greyhound and Whippet.

Character:

The Italian Greyhound is really a wonderful companion, perfect for living among people. However, this dog is not suited for families with very young children that do not know how to control themselves. Greyhounds communicate well with other dogs, but too large and dominant breeds can overwhelm this delicate and kind little creature.

Coat / Care:

This breed is dressed in a very beautiful short, soft coat. In fact, since the Italian Greyhound looks just like “miniature” Greyhound, it is obvious that they have similar coats. The hair comes in all shades of solid fawn, cream, red, blue or black. White markings are allowed. Since the Italian Greyhound sheds minimally, it is rather easy to maintain a gorgeous glossy look of his coat. It us enough to periodically wipe the dog with a soft towel. In order to prevent inflammation in the oral cavity or tartar build-up, it is highly important to regularly clean the dog’s teeth. Italian Greyhounds should not be exposed to cold weather and the claws should be trimmed at least once in two weeks.

Health Problems:

The Italian Greyhound is generally healthy dog breed, but like all breeds, they’re prone to Cataracts (Difficulty in seeing), Hip Dysplasia, Allergies, Epilepsy, Cryptorchidism, Portosystemic Shunt (PSS), Patellar Luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, Hypothyroidism (Involves low levels of the hormone produced by the thyroid gland), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Vitreous Degeneration, Von Willebrand’s Disease (Blood disorder). The Italian Greyhound has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.

Training:

Training the Italian Greyhound can be extremely difficult because it can be too nervous and timid. That is why dogs of this breed need an experienced coach who knows how to handle them. Nevertheless, the Italian Greyhound is very intelligent, striving to please his owner. Make sure to carry out early socialization by applying firm but not too strict teaching methods.

Activity:

The Italian Greyhound is very lively and energetic; therefore, he needs intense exercise on the everyday basis. Dogs of this breed are very fond of long walks and running, so the best environment for their proper development is a big yard. It is not surprising that Italian Greyhounds love to run, at the end of the day, they’re hound dogs. Therefore, these elegant dogs show exceptional agility and swiftness. When going for a walk, do not forget to keep your pet on a leash, as the Italian Greyhound can be quite unpredictable.

Photo Credit: Jean/Flickr; madaise/Flickr