Italy
Possibly originally bred to hunt rabbits. The Italian Greyhound was the first dog to be bred as a companion to man.
Toy
Bitch 32-38cm., Dog 32-38cm.
Bitch 3-5kg., Dog 3-5kg.
9-15 years
Short walks; weather permitting as this dog does not like cold or damp conditions. Young dogs must not jump or run around too much whilst their bones are forming. These animals do well in dog obedience trials.
The Italian Greyhound should be fed small meals twice a day. The diet must be as natural as possible and balanced to meet their nutritional requirements.
Young dogs have very fragile bones that can break easily. The Italian Greyhound is allergic to anaesthetics. They can also have periodontal problems and epilepsy.
Similar in shape to the larger Greyhound these dogs are very slender, elegant looking and graceful. They have narrow heads with long muzzles. Their eyes are dark brown; the ears are small and folded over. They have arched necks going down to a medium sized body with well tucked up flanks. The tail is long and slender and is carried low. The Italian Greyhound’s coat is short and soft. The dog can be any colours with markings, except brindle. Overall appearance is of a small, elegant dog with a high stepping gait.
Italian Greyhound K9 Obedience Dog Breed Summary:
This little dog is extremely loving and quickly becomes devoted to its family.
They are definitely not suited to being outside in a kennel but much prefer to be indoors in a warm bed. The Italian Greyhound can be quite needy for love and attention and they form a wonderful rapport with children.
However, unruly children should not be allowed to play rough games with it, as they can injure easily. They are easy to care for as they do not smell and cost little to feed.
These little dogs are well suited to apartment life and to living in a city if given regular daily jaunts to the park with an energetic owner.
Overall the Italian Greyhound makes a wonderfully devoted and loyal family pet. |
