Italian Greyhound

Italian Greyhound – is the smallest of greyhounds with a characteristic, slim figure and short, dense, delicate coat. Quite friendly, feels good in a group of dogs. Lively, cheerful, needs a lot of movement. He is a sensitive dog, but not timid.

Nature

Greyhounds are delicate, agile and bright dogs, extremely attached to the household. At home, they are not a problem. The only thing they require in large quantities is human contact.

Everyday calm, more movement requires at a young age (mentally mature quite slowly, sometimes only at the age of 3-4 years reach full maturity). They are also not noisy. They agree well with cats and dogs of similar size or larger, but calm.

Like all greyhounds, they do not require long runs. They burn energy in short leaps, they even run a few quick laps on the lawn. As befits greyhounds, they are fast and agile. Although they do not show any tendency to escape, they can be unleashed only in a safe place. Not all greyhounds have kept the instinct to chase moving objects, but it’s better not to check it near the street.

Greyhounds tolerate walking in the cold well – of course only in clothes. They hate moisture for it and on rainy days they can refuse to go outside. With this in mind, you can teach a greyhound to get it into the litter box. Remember, however, that this should not be a permanent solution – these dogs require a certain amount of movement.

Greyhounds, although delicate, should not be kept under a shade. They should be tamed with new stimuli, strange people and gentle animals from the very beginning. Then their real nature is revealed – a happy and eager to play a dog.

Skills

Some greyhounds cope well with chasing (chasing after an artificial hare). Dogs of this breed usually also like agility very much, because this discipline allows using their natural agility and jumping. Sport should not only be played by dogs with a predisposition to bone fractures.

Italian Greyhound. Training and education

Greyhounds require a gentle approach and a lot of heart. They are easy to raise, although you cannot demand blind obedience. They are intelligent, but it is difficult for them to concentrate on one task for too long. So, the best results are short lessons.

Who is this race for?

Greyhounds are dogs not only with a delicate psyche, but also a fragile build. Therefore, they are not suitable for very young children who might accidentally hurt them (for the same reason greyhounds should be protected from contact with large dogs, especially spontaneous). However, they are great as family companions with older children and the elderly.

Italian Greyhound. Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• very sensitive
• badly tolerates loneliness
• needs to run, preferably in a fenced area
• some lines are prone to bone fractures

Advantages

• very attached to the family and emotional
• friendly towards people and animals
• not noisy
• even suitable for a tiny apartment
• easy to learn
• easy to care for

Italian Greyhound. Health

This breed is generally healthy and long-lived, although there are some genetic diseases. For example, some dogs are prone to paw fractures due to low bone density.

Feeding

Italian greyhounds can be picky, so you should always try a particular diet and adapt it to your individual.

Care

Greyhounds are easy to care for – by nature very clean, they almost do not molt.

Italian Greyhound. History

Italian Greyhounds are one of the oldest breeds. Already five thousand years ago they were known in Egypt, as evidenced by the remains found in the tomb of Queen Her-Neit of the First Dynasty. These delicate creatures have been the companion dogs for several thousand years.

The little greyhounds were not only favorites of the pharaohs. They were also bred in ancient Greece, their images are on vases and amphoras. At the beginning of the fifth century BC this race was known in Rome. It gained more popularity in the Middle Ages, and flourished in the Renaissance. Greyhounds were the favorites of the aristocracy. They were kept at many European royal courts.

Miniaturization caused by the fashion for tiny dogs worn on the hands of ladies, would almost lead to the extinction of greyhounds at the turn of the century. In the first decades of the last century, German breeders saved the breed. These dogs can be found in many paintings by brush and palette masters, especially Italian ones. 

Template

Italian Greyhound – group X FCI, section 3, reference number 200

• Country of origin:  Italy
• Character:  sensitive, delicate dog, rather distrustful towards strangers
• Size:  dogs and bitches 32-38 cm
• Weight:  dogs and bitches – maximum 5 kg
• Coat:  short, smooth and delicate
• Ointment:  uniformly black, gray, blue or fawn (called isabella). Acceptable white markings on chest and fingers
• Lifespan:  15 years
• Vulnerability to training:  average
• Activity:  at home, he is very calm, he is a typical sprinter – a short run on the lawn is enough for him; requires a little more movement at a young age
• Susceptibility to diseases:  sensitive to cold and moisture

Interesting facts

The origin of the Italian Greyhound is lost in the darkness of history – he gained the name “Italian” because it was represented by many Italian painters and sculptors.