sign in sign up
<<
Home , Collie, Italian Greyhound

SCRAPS Breed Profile ITALIAN

STATS

Country of Origin: Italy Group: Toy Use today: Family companion and hunting Life Span: 12 - 15 years Color: Solid gray, slate gray, cream, red, fawn, black, or blue - often broken up with white markings on the chest and feet, or white with color markings. Coat: Has easy-care short, sleek coat. Grooming: One of the easiest to groom. All that is needed to keep the fine, silky coat gleaming is a rubdown with a piece of toweling or chamois. Only bathe when absolutely necessary. After bathing make sure the dogs is thoroughly dry and warm. The teeth should be brushed regularly to keep tarter from building up, and the toenails should be kept trimmed. This breed sheds little to no hair. Height: 12 - 15 inches Weight: 6 – 10 pounds

Profile

In Brief: The is playful, black, or blue - often broken up with white intelligent, gentle, submissive and affectionate markings on the chest and feet, or white with dogs. This can be high strung and timid color markings. A flecked version also exists but and must be handled very gently. They should are not accepted in all countries. The Italian be in a quiet household where there are no lively Greyhound has a high-stepping gait. children. However, they get along well with behaved children and other dogs and cats. They can be difficult to housebreak. Temperament: The Italian Greyhound is a gentle, submissive and affectionate dog. They become very attached to their masters and can Description: The Italian Greyhound is an be reserved with strangers. Playful and elegant, miniature fine-boned Greyhound with a intelligent, generally these dogs are not difficult long head thinning gradually to a pointed to train provided their handler is consistent with muzzle. It has a dark nose, thin lips and a them. They are often naughty and are aware of healthy scissors bite. Like his larger cousins, the it. It is important that you can see the funny side brisket is deep, the abdomen tucked-in, and the when things go wrong but this does not mean back arched. The fine narrow ears fold back allowing them to take advantage of you. This along the head, but rise perpendicular to the dog can be high strung and timid and must be head when the dog is alert. The neck is long and handled very gently. This is a for a quiet thin. The expressive eyes are large and dark. household where there are no lively children, The tail is straight ending in a slight curve. The although they do get along well with behaved Italian Greyhound has an easy-care short, sleek children and other dogs and cats. In a stressful coat in solid gray, slate gray, cream, red, fawn, situation it needs constant reassurance by stroking. They are very dependent and peaceful.

It can be snappish if it is frightened. This breed Origins: The Italian Greyhound is a very old can be difficult to housebreak. They are Greyhound. Interestingly, a dog similar to the generally easy to get along with and take care Italian Greyhound of today was found in a 6000 of. This dog is extremely fast! Young Italian year old Egyptian tomb. Like the Greyhound, are very active. They can climb this breed was brought to Europe by the wire fencing and are very inquisitive - jumping Phoenicians. The breed was later developed by from chair to table tops to nearby furniture. They the Romans. As evidence, a small Greyhound are not good companions for large dogs. They was found in an ancient lava flow in Pompeii. do get along well with other Italian Greyhounds During the sixteenth century, this delicate dog and some recommend that you have more than became popular with European nobility, and is one of this fine breed. portrayed in many paintings of that time. The breed was favored by Catherine the Great of Health: The Italian Greyhound is hardier than it Russia, James I of England, Anne of Denmark appears. The adult dog is certainly not delicate and Queen Victoria, among others. Frederick but until they are about eighteen months old, the Great of Prussia liked his little Italian their bones are quite fragile and they can break Greyhound so much, he even took one to war a leg rather easily. Italian Greyhounds are prone with him. When his Italian Greyhound died, he to slipped stifle, fractures, PRA and epilepsy. buried him with his own hands on the grounds of Bitches whelp easily and are well-suited to his Sands Souci Palace. In 1991, Frederick's motherhood. family granted his dying wishes and transferred his remains to Sans Souci, and placed them Living Conditions: The Italian Greyhound is beside his little Italian Greyhound. A nineteenth good for apartment life. They are fairly active century African chieftain was so taken with these indoors and will do okay without a yard. This graceful dogs that he offered 200 in breed is very sensitive to cold temperatures and exchange for a single specimen. The Italian should wear a sweater to go out in the cold Greyhound is an excellent . weather.

Exercise: Italian Greyhounds are active little dogs who enjoy a good walk and love to run free and play. Because Italian Greyhounds like to play by running and bumping into each other, play with groups of other Italian Greyhounds should always be supervised to prevent accidental injury. Play with other large dogs is not recommended. Italian Greyhounds may be a good jogging companion for short distances, but they do better as a walking companion.

Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service 6815 E. Trent • Spokane Valley • Washington • 99212 (509) 477-2532 voice (509) 477-4745 fax www.spokanecounty.org/animal