The Little Italian Greyhound or Italian Greyhound is a calm and gentle dog, with a slender and refined figure, and reduced dimensions, being one of the 5 smallest dogs in the world! Its image is reminiscent of the Spanish greyhounds, but of a noticeably smaller size. This does not mean that they are, like all sighthounds, incredibly agile and fast. Below we will discover all the curiosities about these miniature greyhounds on our site.
Origin of the Italian Greyhound
This is one of the oldest races in the world, as there is archaeological evidence, both skeletal remains and their appearance in decorations of the time, dating from year 3000 BC. C. that prove that Italian Greyhounds already existed in Ancient Greece, as well as evidence that they even accompanied the Egyptian pharaohs more than 6000 years ago. In this way, although the exact origin of the Italian greyhound is unknown, it is suspected that it descends from this medium-sized greyhound that already existed in Greece and Egypt.
In Europe the breed was highly valued for centuries, accompanying nobles and kings on their hunts and meetings, thus appearing in paintings and portraits of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
It is true that originally the size of these sighthounds was larger, but over time the breed evolved reaching the current dimensions, establishing the breed as we know it today in the 19th century. day.
Physical Characteristics of the Italian Greyhound
Italian Greyhounds are small dogs, weighing about 4-5 kilograms and between 32 and 38 centimeters tall up to the withers, with no notable differences between males and females.
The figure of small Italian greyhounds is slender and elongated, but keeping balanced proportions between the length and height of their body. In addition, it differs from common greyhounds in that its back is not arched, but is straight. Their limbs are thin and long, along with their powerful muscles, which makes them very agile dogs that can reach surprising speeds.
The head of the Italian greyhound is also thin and elongated, especially as it approaches the snout, which has a proportionally large noseand dark in color. Its ears are set high, wide and bent at right angles towards the nape.
Continuing with the characteristics of the Italian greyhound, the coat is short and smooth, it normally has colors such as black, grey, cinnamon, white or Elizabethan yellow; not brindle, but solid colors, although it can have white spots on the chest and feet.
Italian Greyhound Character
Sweetness and intelligence excel in Italian Greyhounds. They are very homelike animals, who like and require the pampering and attention of their family, with whom they love to share moments of play and activity as well as rest and tranquility.
Despite the fact that their agility might make us think otherwise, they are calm animals, that although they need daily physical activity, they are nothing nervous, on the contrary they are quite silent Therefore, they need an environment that allows them to be away from noise and agitation, because they are animals very sensitive, who get stressed easily in these situations, as well as those that are unpredictable or new.
Due to the temperament of the Italian Greyhound, it is considered to be a good companion for older people or families with older children, but not the best choice as playmates for young children, as they could unsettle him with her overflowing energy and unpredictability. However, if both are trained correctly there would be no problem, as sighthounds are very sociable and affectionate with those they trust.
Italian Greyhound Care
Being a short-haired breed, with little attention we can ensure that it remains soft and neat, it being recommended brush it weekly and bathe it approximately once a month. What we do have to consider is that having short fur is more sensitive to cold, so if we live in a place where the weather is cold, in extreme temperaturesit would be advisable to warm the Italian greyhound to avoid colds and hypothermia.
Another care for the Italian Greyhound is cleaning its teeth, since they tend to develop tartar more easily than other breeds, therefore brushing at least once a week is recommended, although the more frequent the better for the oral he alth of our pet. For this brushing we have to use the appropriate utensils; there are toothpastes on the market that we can simply apply with our fingers, we can even make our own toothpaste at home.
Despite having highlighted that the Italian greyhound is a calm dog, it is also curious and intelligent, so we should not neglect its physical activity. In this way, it is convenient to carry out activities both outside and inside to keep the animal physically and mentally stimulated.
Finally, we must keep their nails trimmed, their eyes and ears clean and feed them in a balanced way, covering all their nutritional needs, which vary according to their age and level of physical activity.
Italian Greyhound Education
The training of the Italian Greyhound will be greatly facilitated by the wonderful combination of intelligence and curiosity that characterizes them. He is always willing to learn and dedicate his full attention to his trainer.
We must pay attention to their habituation to new situations and people, as they are very fearful dogs, especially those that have been rescued from the street or from a shelter, because many have unfortunately been mistreated. That is why they can react in very different ways, even becoming aggressive due to the panic they may suffer in certain situations. Check the article on "How to socialize an adult dog" to do it correctly and don't hesitate to go to a professional educator if you need it.
In order for our little greyhound to adapt to life with us, it is important that we get him used to his new environment, it being opportune that he get to know as many places, animals and people as possible while he is still a puppy, this way it will be easier for him to be more sociable with strangers as an adult.
Once socialized, we can begin to introduce the basic canine obedience commands, always through positive reinforcement, and more advanced tricks to keep the Italian Greyhound properly stimulated. Being such an intelligent and curious dog, it is convenient to carry out intelligence games
Italian Greyhound He alth
Small Italian Greyhounds do not have major congenital diseases Although it is true that they can suffer from some diseases that affect any dog, such as rabies or canine heartworm, so it is important to follow the vaccination schedule and protect it through products against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.
Due to their small size, especially when they are puppies, you have to be careful when handling them, because as they are very affectionate puppies that love to follow their guardian everywhere, we may accidentally step on them, which could be quite dangerous because their bones are fragile and very fine. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful to avoid possible fractures during its development
As we have already mentioned, due to its short hair and low percentage of body fat, it is a breed of dog that is very exposed to inclement weather, which is why it can suffer from colds, respiratory ailments or hypothermia To avoid these he alth problems in the Italian Greyhound, it is enough to keep it dry and warm.
Finally, we must not neglect the psychological aspect, since they are dogs very sensitive to stress and anxiety, generated by frights, loneliness or traumatic experiences, so we must provide them with a calm environment full of affection and affection, thus we will have a stable, he althy and, above all, happy pet.
