Owning an Italian Greyhound is an amazing experience for most people. The smallest of the hounds, the Italian Greyhound is a graceful dog. Most hounds are bred to hunt by sight and chase their prey. To keep this pup happy, it will need time to run and exercise. You will be amazed at how fast Italian Greghounds can be.
They are amazing lap dogs that enjoy cuddle-time with their owner, showing their love and affection. They are perfect companion dogs that may become shy around strangers. The coat of an Italian Greyhound is very short, smooth, and requires little grooming.
The Truth About Italian Greyhounds
Italian Greyhounds have personalities that are marvelously quirky, inquisitive, and demanding. This sets them apart from other breeds. I would not recommend this choice to an inexperienced dog owner. However, our family has had a family of five, and we wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. All five have been “blanket” dogs. They cuddle up next to you at night under their blanket, and you feel like you have your own heating blanket in your bed.
Italian Greyhounds have long spindly legs. Young pups can fracture their growing leg bones by jumping from your bed or sofa. Italian Greyhounds, especially young pups, will not hesitate to leap before thinking. This breed needs protection from himself and others. But even without this knowledge, our family successfully raised 5 Italian Greyhounds, 3 from birth, and none of them had any leg or knee problems.
Check Out Our Family of Iggies
From left to right, Gianna, Marcello, Luciana, Sophia, and Lorenzo. The two on the left with their ears back are the troublemaking parents. They mated even though we weren’t looking for pups. When I took Gianna to the vet on a Saturday morning to see if she was expecting a litter, the vet examined her and said “No”. Quite early, the next morning, I was awakened to Gianna in my closet with what appeared to be a mouse right next to her. Before lunch, we had three puppies, two females and one male. Of course, we were going to sell them. But by the time they were six weeks old, they already had their forever home. With us. That was 13-14 years ago. Gianna passed last year, but I still have Luciana and Sophia with me. My daughter has the father, Marcello, and my son has Lorenzo with him.
If you are wondering, we never yelled these names out back when calling them into the house. They all had pet names like Gigi, Chucky, Lulu, Bootsie, and Spikey!!!
More Useful Tips on Owning an Italian Greyhound
If you own an Italian Greyhound, you may already know this. Housebreaking can be difficult, as this breed may refuse to go outside in the rain or cold. Our family lived in Pennsylvania and survived housebreaking, but our pups didn’t like the snow and rain.
Some meds or vaccinations can also be challenging. I recommend splitting the administration of vaccinations to separate days when possible. Important: When anesthesia is necessary, be extra careful.
As Italian Greyhounds are low in body fat, making them sensitive to anesthesia. and require an experienced vet. When anesthesia is necessary, be extra careful and use an experienced vet.
Italian Greyhounds are prone to a few eye conditions. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is one of them. It is an inherited disease that isn’t painful. The dog’s vision will gradually worsen until it goes completely blind. Symptoms generally begin around three to five years of age. Night blindness is usually the first sign noticed in a dog with PRA. Dilated pupils are another symptom. There is currently no effective treatment available for PRA, but there is a genetic test to determine if a dog has it.
More on Owning an Italian Greyhound
Sighthound breeds are not normal dogs. Their blood work may appear deceivingly “abnormal” or “normal” to a veterinarian unfamiliar with sight hounds. Some levels to consider are the Complete Blood Count or CBC, Creatinine, Thyroid Levels or C4, and Total Protein or T.P.
Owning an Italian Greyhound, even with their potential problems, is so worth it. They will improve your life. However, it is important to do your research and be prepared before getting an Iggy. Please ensure you have the time, money, and willingness to spend the next 15 years with a dog before making the commitment.
Imagine Your Life with Your New Best Friend
There is no other breed like the Italian Greyhound. They have an amazing, quirky personality that allows you to develop a strong and unique connection to them. Super funny and amusing, they are intuitive. Sensing your deflated mood, they somehow feel it and support you. After owning an Italian Greyhound, I cannot imagine my life without one.
In the Middle Ages, Italian Greyhounds were favorite dogs of noblewomen. Today, it is common to find an Italian Greyhound in old portraits. Famous Italian artists had been known to paint them often. If you start while they are a pup, you can even dress them up. They can be a real show stopper.
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