The Italian Greyhound is a relatively unknown breed, so few people know that this toy dog was once used for hunting. Back then, it was known as the Italian Greyhound or the Rabbit Dog. Why was it given this name? It stemmed from the fashion among noblewomen of the time to bring dogs of this breed to social gatherings. They spent their weekends differently than women today: their favorite pastime was rabbit hunting, for which they used their pets.
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Character
In many ways, the Italian Greyhound is similar to other small toy dogs. Therefore, it easily bonds with its owner and, in general, has a rather gentle characterItalian Greyhounds make excellent pets, making them suitable for people with a wide range of preferences. It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring an Italian Greyhound into your home if you enjoy an active lifestyle. This way, your dog won't get bored with exercise.
An Italian Greyhound will feel quite comfortable in a home with a sedentary person. The dog will be able to adapt to both. will become a wonderful friendGiven that Italian greyhounds possess such a useful quality, even older people can adopt them.
These dogs get along well with children. They quickly establish friendly rapport and happily engage in active games. They are very active creatures, with endless energy for hours. Therefore, a child will be excellent companion for them. However, remember that a dog left with children requires supervision, as anything can happen. It's possible that your child might hurt the dog, but the dog will not tolerate such behavior. Therefore, it's not advisable to leave a child alone with an Italian Greyhound, to avoid a tragic situation.
The Italian Greyhound will never have conflicts with other pets. This applies not only to other dogs but also to cats living in your home. Your pet will be happy if you have a country house or a summer cottage. Then you can take him with you, as this animal is I really like visiting new placesItalian Greyhounds are wary of strangers and can sometimes even display a hint of aggression. Therefore, if you frequently have to entertain strangers, you should train your pet to avoid instinctively harming your guests. If this doesn't help, you might want to consider purchasing a comfortable cage.
How to travel?
The Italian Greyhound is not an affordable pet, so only wealthy people can afford one. Many of them travel frequently due to their work, so they need to think carefully about what to do with their pet. The simplest option is put him in a cage and transport him with you in this formHowever, not everyone accepts this option, considering it rather cruel. However, they are mistaken, as can be confirmed by the following facts.
In fact, there's nothing inherently wrong with a cage, as you can use it as a temporary home in your own home. Is it worth spending time and money on various pillows and bedding when a single cage will do the trick? Your pet will feel quite comfortable in it, as it offers plenty of space.
But to do this, you need to address a number of issues. First, you need to determine the appropriate cage size. Keep in mind that the cage should be large enough to allow the Italian Greyhound to change position without difficulty. This means that The optimal dimensions for the cage will be:
- 10 cm larger than the dog's width;
- 4-5 cm more than the height of the dog.
If you've found a suitable model, your pet should be able to sit comfortably in it without their head touching the ceiling. You should also pay attention to the material the cage is made of. Various cages are available, made of wood, plastic, and metal. Plastic cages with a tray are considered the most suitable.
Care and maintenance
When deciding to get an Italian Greyhound, you should remember that it is a toy dog. Therefore, even if you plan to keep it in a country house, she shouldn't live on the streetRegular walks in the fresh air are simply a natural need for her. If you want your Italian Greyhound to grow up healthy, she needs exercise. So, whenever you go for a walk in the park or forest, take your Italian Greyhound along, along with a video camera.
It's quite possible that funny situations might happen to you, which you might want to capture on video. Italian greyhounds have short coats, completely lacking an undercoat. This makes grooming a lot easier. All you have to do is brush them daily. wipe the Italian greyhound's coat with a special glove or a terry towel.
Bathing deserves special attention. This procedure shouldn't be done regularly, even if the dog comes home dirty after a walk. You can clean it up by wiping its paws and belly with a damp towel. However, if you plan to bathe your dog, you should use special shampoos. Human soaps and shampoos are not suitable for dogs.
The problem is that these hygiene products affect Italian Greyhounds differently and not in the most positive way: they can lead to dry skin, dandruff, and sometimes even fungus. Therefore, if you don't want to cause further problems for your pet, take the time to visit your local pet store and purchase the necessary supplies for your Italian Greyhound.
When grooming an Italian Greyhound, Don't forget about your ears either.Surprisingly, this part of a dog's body accumulates an incredible amount of dirt. Ears need to be cleaned regularly, every two weeks. To do this, soak a piece of cotton wool in a special solution. If you don't have one, you can use regular hydrogen peroxide. Some owners recommend removing dirt from the ears using sunflower or camphor oil drops. This is not recommended.
If these procedures are performed regularly, ear wax and inflammation may develop, and in some cases, this can lead to the dog's death. Therefore, it's important to understand once and for all that oil should never be allowed to enter your dog's ears.
You should also regularly monitor the condition of your pet's paws. A distinctive feature of the Italian Greyhound breed, which is also observed in other small dogs, is very rapid growth of clawsThis problem will be less of a concern if you spend long walks on paved paths or if you only trim them. This procedure is generally quite simple, but it's important to remember: dogs' nails contain blood vessels that you can accidentally damage when trimming.
Health problems
Italian Greyhounds aren't known for their excellent health. However, this doesn't stop them from living long lives, with a typical lifespan of 13-15 years. The eyes of this breed deserve the most attention from their owners. They have a characteristic bulging shape, which makes them often affected by diseases such as:
- corneal dystrophy;
- cataract;
- retinal atrophy.
In principle, if you take good care of your pet throughout its life, it could easily live to be 15 years old. However, no one can guarantee that at 15 years old, your pet's vision will be as good as it was at a younger age.
Many representatives of the breed are often affected by other diseases:
- baldness of the skin;
- demodicosis;
- allergy;
- epilepsy.
Therefore, you'll have to work hard to keep your pet healthy. You should definitely consider all this before deciding to buy a puppy of this breed. Therefore, one of the most important questions you must answer is whether you have the time, energy, and resources to provide the dog with the necessary treatment and care.
Where to buy?
Unfortunately, interest in Italian Greyhounds in our country isn't that great, so you'll have some difficulties if you want to get a puppy of this breed. But that's not the only problem you might have. Few people know that Italian Greyhounds give birth to... no more than two to four puppies in a litterIt's only natural that not everyone will be able to get a puppy of this breed, given the low birth rate. Although acquiring an Italian Greyhound may seem difficult at first glance, with the desire and patience, you can find people willing to sell these animals even through online ads.
A great opportunity to acquire a puppy of this breed or find future parents for a puppy is to attend dog shows. Not everyone knows that this is where you can meet these dogs. If you're only considering buying a puppy from a breeder, you're making things a bit more difficult. The fact is, there are a relatively limited number of breeders in our country that specialize in breeding this breed.
The cost of Italian Greyhounds
Price is a pressing issue for every potential Italian Greyhound buyer. You should be aware that due to the small number of puppies in a litter, the price for this breed will be quite high.
Typically, prices for Italian Greyhound puppies are are never below 400 dollarsThis is the price a seller might ask if they're offering you an animal privately and without papers. The price will be completely different if you decide to go to a kennel. In this case, be prepared to hear a price of around $1,000-$1,200. Given the current situation in the country, not everyone can afford to buy an Italian Greyhound puppy from these establishments.
Education and training
It's not easy to raise and train dogs of this breed. Although they are distinguished by their highly developed intelligence, one of their traits is stubbornnessTherefore, if they don't like a command or don't have the desire to carry it out, they won't do it. But if you're determined to get your way, you must be very patient.
Experienced owners know how mischievous Italian greyhounds can be; they love to make noise and have fun. If this happens to you, you should punish your pet immediately. This will let them know why they're being punished. Otherwise, they'll become offended by your injustice, and then you'll stop being a beloved owner and become a tyrant, no longer respected in their eyes.
Conclusion
Although Italian greyhounds are not hunting dogs, they also have there are quite a few fansDogs of this breed won't cause you much trouble if you train and care for them properly from puppyhood. They're quite good-natured creatures, but you still need to be strict with them, as their desire to indulge can sometimes cross the line. And you should always remind them not to do so. Overall, they bring more joy than frustration to their owners. Just be attentive and caring, and your pet will reward you in kind.
