ITALIAN GREYHOUND
The Italian Greyhound (IG) is an affectionate small dog breed with a slender appearance that resembles the large Greyhound. This beautiful dog loves to bask in the sun, is playful, and has unmatched loyalty.
Origins
This small dog breed is also called the Italian Sighthound and Piccolo Levriero Italiano. However, the name, which suggests that the breed is Italian, is misleading.
The Italian Greyhound had existed for centuries before finding favor among the Italian Courtiers and British nobles. This small dog was common in the Mediterranean basin 2,000 years ago.
The breed’s elegant and graceful appearance, coupled with a glossy coat and loyalty, won over the privileged society living in Italy. So when the Italian Greyhound’s numbers started declining in Europe, the American Kennel Club was responsible for saving the breed from extinction.
Physical Characteristics
The Italian Greyhound has a long, narrow small head, long legs and neck, and is deep-chested.
The slender and athletic body gives the Italian Greyhound his ability for top speed, and he could easily hunt down both rabbits and hares.
As for the coat colors, this small dog breed has gray, deep black, and pale gray yellow. The single coat is short, with minimal shedding.
SIZE & WEIGHT
The Italian Greyhound ticks all the boxes of a toy breed as he stands no more than 15 inches (38cm) tall, though the height varies between 13 to 15 inches (33 to 38cm).
This small dog breed weighs anywhere from 6-17 pounds (3 to 8kg).
Character & abilities
As with all small dog breeds, the Italian Greyhound is loved because he is cute, charming and cuddly. However, unlike the larger Greyhound, which is strong, the Italian Greyhound is gentle and sensitive.
This toy breed is devoted to his owners and human family, and he is not aggressive around other pets. However, the Italian Sighthound is alert and barks whenever he senses danger.
Being an affectionate dog, the Italian Sighthound will seek warmth whenever he can be found, including under pillows or even blankets. It also shows affection in the following ways:
- Sticking close to you.
- Curling up next to you.
- Rubbing his body and leaning against you
The Italian Greyhound is shy and reserved among strangers. However, his sensitive and gentle nature might make the small dog a target not only of rambunctious children but also larger aggressive dogs.
Trainability & Intelligence
The Italian Greyhound is intelligent. Training this breed is easy for leash walking, food training, potty habits, and obedience training.
As with all small dog breeds, you should start training as soon as the pup is home. The Italian Greyhound will take between 6 and 12 weeks to fully comprehend most of the instructions, probably because of his short attention span.
To successfully train the Italian Sighthound, it is best to use positive reinforcement, healthy dog treats, and be both kind and focused in the training approach. This breed cannot hold it for long and should be taken outside immediately he shows signs that he needs the toilet.
Exercise Needs & Nutrition
The Italian Greyhound is highly energetic and requires daily exercise. However, before maturity, this breed’s puppies have fragile joints and bones, so don’t exert them during physical activities.
Since this small dog spends most of his time indoors snuggling and staying close to his family, he tends to put on weight. The best exercise for them includes walking them, making them run up and down the hallway, or ensuring they run in the yard.
When exercising your Italian Greyhound, make sure you spend between 40-60 minutes of your time on it. This small dog breed is very active and can be destructive if he is not kept busy.
Another way of exercising your Italian Sighthound is by entering dog competitions like agility, obedience and versatility.
What you feed your Italian Greyhound will largely depend on his age, size, build, and level of activity. The best food for this small dog breed is high-quality, high-calorie kibble.
The Italian Greyhound can also be fed raw food because uncooked food retains its nutritional value. Thus, some sumptuous meals will have raw chicken gizzards, kidneys, liver, and lamb.
To maintain a healthy weight, it is advisable to avoid guesswork with regard. Therefore, premium-quality dry dog food is formulated to offer a balanced meal with all the necessary nutrients.
Grooming
The Italian Greyhound is highly energetic and requires daily exercise. However, before maturity, this breed’s puppies have fragile joints and bones, so don’t exert them during physical activities.
Since this small dog spends most of his time indoors snuggling and staying close to his family, he tends to put on weight. The best exercise for them includes walking them, making them run up and down the hallway, or ensuring they run in the yard.
When exercising your Italian Greyhound, make sure you spend between 40-60 minutes of your time on it. This small dog breed is very active and can be destructive if he is not kept busy.
Another way of exercising your Italian Sighthound is by entering dog competitions like agility, obedience and versatility.
What you feed your Italian Greyhound will largely depend on his age, size, build, and level of activity. The best food for this small dog breed is high-quality, high-calorie kibble.
The Italian Greyhound can also be fed raw food because uncooked food retains its nutritional value. Thus, some sumptuous meals will have raw chicken gizzards, kidneys, liver, and lamb.
To maintain a healthy weight, it is advisable to avoid guesswork with regard. Therefore, premium-quality dry dog food is formulated to offer a balanced meal with all the necessary nutrients.
Living Conditions & Adaptability
This short-coated breed shivers easily and is not adaptable to living outside. When walking in chilly weather, the Italian Greyhound would be more comfortable in a dog jacket or sweater.
In the hot summer months, this breed loves to lie around in the sun for hours. He needs sunscreen to protect his thin skin from developing cancer.
Health
The Italian Greyhound is generally a healthy small dog. Some of the breed’s common health concerns are:
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Epilepsy
- Periodontal disease
- Luxating patellas
Another health concern for the Italian Sighthound is obesity. This causes the small dog breed to have joint pains, and in the long term, they may suffer from HBP (high blood pressure) and heart disease.
To arrest these health problems early enough, regular visits to the vet are necessary. In addition, weight management involves feeding balanced, high-quality dog food and avoid feeding table scraps.
Italian Greyhounds are allergic to some anesthetics and insecticides.
This small dog breed can live 12 to 15 years when in good health.
Conclusion
Trainability
Shedding
Energy Level
Watchdog
Good with kids
Popularity
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