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Italian Greyhound
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The Italian Greyhound is a small breed of dog of the sight hound
type. They are sometimes called an "I.G.", or "Iggy" for short.
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Description
Appearance
The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of the sighthounds, typically
weighing about 8 to 15 lb (3.6 to 6.8 kg) and standing about 13 to
15 inches (33 to 38 cm) tall at the withers. Though they are in the
"toy" group based on their weight, they are larger than other dogs
in the category due to their slender bodies, so owners must be
careful when sizing clothing or accommodations.
The Italian Greyhound's chest is deep, with a tucked up abdomen,
long slender legs and a long neck that tapers down to a small
head. The face is long and pointed, like a full sized greyhound.
Overall, they look like "miniature" Greyhounds, though many Italian
Greyhound owners dispute the use of the term "miniature
Greyhound", in reference to the breed itself. By definition of the
American Kennel Club - they are true genetic greyhounds, with a
bloodline extending back over 2000 years. Their current small
stature is a function of selective breeding. Their gait is distinctive
and should be high stepping and free, rather like that of a horse.
They are able to run at top speed with a double suspension gallop,
and can achieve a top speed of up to 45 miles per hour (72 km/h).
The color of the coat is a subject of much discussion. For The
Kennel Club (UK), the American Kennel Club, and the Australian
National Kennel Council, parti colored Italian Greyhounds are
accepted, while the Fédération Cynologique Internationale
standard for international shows allows white only on the chest and
feet.
The modern Italian Greyhound's appearance is a result of
breeders throughout Europe, particularly Austrian, German, Italian,
French and British breeders, making great contributions to the
forming of this breed. The Italian Greyhound should resemble a
small Greyhound, or rather a Sloughi, though they are in
appearance more elegant and graceful.
Temperament
The Italian Greyhound is affectionate and makes a good
companion dog. The breed is excellent for families and enjoys the
company of people. While they are excellent with children, the
breed's slim build and short coat make them somewhat fragile, and
injury can result from rough play.
The breed is equally at home in the city or the country. They are
fast, agile and athletic. Like any dog, daily exercise is a must for a
happier, well adjusted pet. Italian greyhounds love to run. The
young dog is often particularly active, and this high level of activity
may lead them to attempt ill-advised feats of athleticism that can
result in injury. They enjoy running as fast as they possibly can,
typically faster than other larger dogs.
In general the Italian Greyhound is intelligent, but they often have
a "what's in it for me" attitude and do not exactly throw themselves
into training with great excitement, so patience, firmness,
gentleness, and reward in training seem to work best. They are
also known for their mischievous ingenuity; despite a high center of
gravity, they can easily walk upright on their hind legs to reach
items up on tables. They may also use their 'hidden talent' of
jumping to unusual heights to reach high-up items of interest to
them.
Italian Greyhounds make reasonably good watchdogs, as they
bark at unfamiliar sounds. They may also bark at passers-by and
other animals. However, they should not be considered "true"
guard dogs as they are often aloof with strangers and easily
spooked to run. They often get along well with other dogs and cats
they are raised with.
Due to their slim build and extremely short coat, Italian Greyhounds
are at times reluctant to go outside in cold or wet weather, so some
owners lay old newspaper on the floor near an exit so their pets
can relieve themselves. Some respond well to dog-litter training as
well. This breed tends to gravitate to warm places, curl up with
other dogs or humans, or burrow into blankets and under cushions
for warmth. Some smaller Italian Greyhounds are adept at
burrowing into difficult places (e.g. pillowcases, laundry baskets
containing warm clothes) as the breed has a strong affinity for
warmth. Care must be taken near heat sources, such as fireplaces,
baseboard heaters and electric space heaters as the dog may
choose to sit dangerously close to them, especially during winter
when ambient indoor temperatures are generally lower.
As gazehounds, Italian Greyhounds instinctively hunt by sight and
have an extremely high predator drive. Owners of Italian
Greyhounds typically keep their dogs leashed at all times when not
in an enclosed area to avoid the risk of even a well-behaved pet
breaking away at high speed after a small animal. Also, a short
leash is highly suggested to owners due to reports of animals
breaking their own necks when running a full lead mounted to the
ground or a wall. Sometimes a dog harness is a good option; since
the IG has a tapering neck and small head, they can often "slip"
their collar and leash. This can also be used to avoid the above-
mentioned neck injury if your dog is prone to bolting. It also gives
the dog the freedom of a long leash.
Owners of Italian Greyhounds should be extremely mindful of any
unknown dogs, no matter what size, because Italian Greyhounds
can be extremely territorial, and may even "have a go" at any
larger unknown dogs on their property.
Health
Health problems that can be found in the breed:
- Epilepsy
- Legg-Perthes disease (degeneration of the hip)
- Patellar Luxation (slipped stifles)
- von Willebrand disease (vWD) (Bleeding disorder)
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Color dilution alopecia (hair loss in dilute pigmented dogs,
ie: blues, blue fawns, etc)
- Leg Breaks (most common under the age of 2)
- Cataracts
- Vitreous degeneration
- Liver shunts
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- Periodontal disease, gum recession, early tooth loss, bad
tooth enamel
- Hypothyroidism, Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (Hashimoto's
disease)
Responsible breeders will routinely check their dogs for the onset
of various inherited disorders, these commonly include (but are not
limited to): CERF examinations on eyes, OFA patellar
examinations, OFA thyroid function panels, von Willebrand's factor,
OFA hip and Legg-Perthes disease x-rays, and others.
History
The name of the breed is a reference to the breed's popularity in
Renaissance Italy. Mummified dogs very similar to the Italian
Greyhound (or small Greyhounds) have been found in Egypt, and
pictorials of small Greyhounds have been found in Pompeii, and
they were probably the only accepted companion-dog there. As an
amusing aside the expression 'Cave Canem' (Beware of the dog)
was a warning to visitors, not that the dogs would attack but to
beware of damaging, tripping over or stepping on the small dogs.
Although the small dogs are mainly companionship dogs they have
in fact been used for hunting purposes, often in combination with
hunting falcons, rat or mice.
The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of the family of gaze hounds
(dogs that hunt by sight). The breed is an old one and is believed
to have originated more than 4,000 years ago in the countries now
known as Greece and Turkey. This belief is based on the depiction
of miniature greyhounds in the early decorative arts of these
countries and on the archaeological discovery of small greyhound
skeletons. By the Middle Ages, the breed had become distributed
throughout Southern Europe and was later a favorite of the Italians
of the sixteenth century, among whom miniature dogs were in great
demand. Sadly, though, 'designer' breeders tried, and failed, to
make the breed even smaller by crossbreeding it with other breeds
of dogs. This only led to mutations with deformed skulls, bulging
eyes and dental problems. The original Italian Greyhound had
almost disappeared when groups of breeders got together and
managed to return the breed to normal. From this period onward
the history of the breed can be fairly well traced as it spread
through Europe, arriving in England in the seventeenth century.
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Italian Greyhound
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Country of origin
Greece/Turkey
Weight
8-15 lb
Height
13-15 in
Coat
Short, smooth
Color
Red, fawn, black, gray, cream, blue
Life span
12-15 years
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