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.
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.
Size
12-15 inches
Weight
6-10 pounds
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.
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.
Dog Training!
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