ITALIAN GREYHOUND

Temperament: Playful, Alert, Sensitive

AKC Breed Popularity: Ranks 73 of 197

Height: 13-15 inches

Weight: 7-14 pounds

Life Expectancy: 14-15 years

Group: Toy Group

ABOUT THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND

If you’re an art lover, you may have seen the Italian Greyhound in centuries-old portraits, immortalized with their noble owners by famous artists. This slender, elegant dog is the smallest of the sighthounds — the group of dogs bred to hunt by sight and give chase — and closely resembles his much larger Greyhound cousin.

The Italian Greyhound is one of those small dogs with a big personality. If you can give him the attention, exercise, and training he needs — not to mention tons of love — then the Italian Greyhound can make an elegant and loveable addition to your household.

PERSONALITY

The Italian Greyhound is sensitive, alert, smart, and playful. He’s affectionate with his family, and loves to snuggle with you and stick close to your side all day. Strangers may see a more shy, reserved side of his personality.

NUTRITION

The Italian Greyhound should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior).It’s easy to allow these dogs to become overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. On an IG in proper weight, the hip bones should just be seen. Ribs should not be visible but should be able to be felt under a thin covering of flesh.

HEALTH

Italian Greyhounds are generally long lived, with a normal lifespan of 13 to 15 years.

Gs are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they’re prone to certain health conditions. Not all IGs will get any or all of these diseases, but it’s important to be aware of them if you’re considering this breed.

Cataracts

Von Willebrand’s Disease

Vitreous Degeneration

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Hypothyroidism

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Patellar Luxation

Hip Dysplasia

Allergies

Epilepsy

Cryptorchidism

Portosystemic Shunt

CARE

IGs are an active breed and need regular exercise. For the most part, playtime will be sufficient for this, especially if there is more than one dog. Walks on lead are appreciated. Dog parks can be a hazard unless well supervised and having separate areas for small dogs. Even obedience-trained IGs should not be allowed off lead outdoors in unfenced areas, since small, moving animals are a huge incentive to run, possibly into danger.

GROOMING

The most important grooming tip for the Italian Greyhound is that the teeth must be brushed on a regular basis, preferably daily. Dental cleaning by a veterinarian should be done yearly or as needed. Baths are rarely necessary unless the dog has gotten into something that can’t be removed from the very short, smooth coat by gentle brushing. The nails need regular attention, preferably with a grinding tool. They should not be shortened all the way to the quick. This breed has a hare foot, and the two middle nails can be left slightly longer than the other two.

Source: dogtime, akc.