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General Description
(Piccolo Levriero Italiano) (IG)The Italian Greyhound is sleek and elegant. This breed looks like a miniature Greyhound; however, there are many differences. A tiny head leads to their long narrow muzzle. Large round eyes cover most of their head. Small ears sit back against their head and will become erect when they are alert. A small, yet long, neck leads to their small bodies. A deep chest leads to their sunken in stomach and long straight tail. Long slender legs end with their tiny paws. Short sleek fur covers their small body. Mnay colors are acceptable for their coat including red, cream, fawn, gray, black, or blue. These colors often contain white markings.
(Piccolo Levriero Italiano) Italian Greyhounds, also known as Iggies or IGs, are a sleek, affectionate, and elegant dog. They are similar to Greyhounds, but are smaller and more slender in all proportions. Their heads are narrow and long, and taper to their noses. Their eyes are medium sized and have a bright, intelligent expression. Their ears are small and are carried folded when at rest; when alert, they are carried at right angles to their heads (their ear shape is called a "rose ear.") Their necks are long and slender, which a graceful arch. They have a deep, narrow chest and a slender tucked-up waist. Their legs are long and well-muscled, with their feet having long, well-arched toes. Their tails are slender and curved. Their soft, silky coats can come in many colors, such as black, blue, seal, red, fawn. In the United States, white markings are often seen. Black and tan (like Dobermans) and brindle (like Greyhounds) are not acceptable IG colors. The Italian Greyhound's movement is unlike any other breed and has often been compared to a prancing horse.
Character
Italian Greyhounds are very loyal dogs who love their masters but who are standoffish with strangers. Because of their intelligence, they can get into trouble easily and do require consistent discipline and early training. Although gentle and playful, Italian Greyhounds can be a bit high-strung like other tiny breeds. Be prepared for a dog that is very active but also fragile and hard to housebreak.
General Health
The Italian Greyhound is rather fragile until they are 18 months old because their bones are prone to break or fracture. Some other health concerns are epilepsy, slipped stifle, and PRA. Other than these concerns, they are rather healthy and live a long life of 12-15 years.
History
The Italian Greyhound is a very ancient breed and may have lived in Egypt over 6,000 years ago. These dogs came to Europe with the Phoenicians and later the Romans set about refining the breed. The remains of an Italian Greyhound were even found preserved in Pompeii after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Later, nobles like Catherine the Great of Russia developed a fondness for this small breed and helped spread its popularity throughout Europe.
Maintenance
The Italian Greyhound is easy to groom and does not shed. To keep their coat sleek just wipe them down with a wet towel. Other than that just trim their nails and clean their teeth. Only bathe this breed when it is needed and make sure they dry well. Since this breed has very short fur, in cold temperatures they need to were a doggie coat or sweater. Exercise is fun and upbeat with the Italian Greyhound. They enjoy playing and going for walks but not that much exercise is really needed.
Like all dogs, the Italian Greyhound does shed but since its coat is short and with the lack of an undercoat, shedding is minimal.
Ideal Environment
The best home for an Italian Greyhound is with adults who are willing to open their home to more than one of these small dogs. Because of their fragility and high-strung nature, the breed does not do well around children and usually don't do as well with large dogs. They do best in mild climates without any temperature extremes and should be kept indoors as a full-time companion. Because they are active when young, you'll need to spend time playing or walking this small breed frequently so it doesn't end up getting into trouble in the house.
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Italian Greyhound Q&AAsk a Question
is my dog a full italian greyhound??My dog Abbey was brought to me on the square almost a year ago during Gold Rush in Dahlonega ga. The owners said she was a wolfhound, but when i looked it up she did not match the description... She does resemble the italian...
Asked by Anonymous - 0 answers
How long do you wait to breed a female greyhound and when is the first time they come in ...How long do you wait to breed a female greyhound and when is the first time they come in heat, 6-8 months?
Asked by Anonymous - 1 answers
When they are fully grown how big are they?When they are fully grown how big are they?
Asked by Anonymous - 1 answers
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