Italian Greyhound: An Elegant and Lively Companion
The Italian Greyhound, also known as the Piccolo Levriero Italiano, is a graceful and affectionate breed that has been adored by royalty for centuries. With their charming personality and stunning appearance, it’s no wonder why they’re such a beloved companion in households around the world.
History of the Breed
As you might have guessed from its name, this breed originated in Italy several thousand years ago. The ancient Greeks were believed to be the first to develop these small sighthounds into swift runners capable of catching rabbits and small game. Later on during the Renaissance era, noblewomen took interest in breeding Italian Greyhounds as fashionable lap dogs due to their sleek silhouette.
Physical Appearance
Italian Greyhounds are petite dogs with slender bodies standing at 13-15 inches tall at the shoulder. They typically weigh between 7-14 pounds with smooth short hair that comes in various colors including black, blue, cream or red shades amongst others. Their almond-shaped eyes can come in different hues like dark brown or amber depending on their coat color.
Temperament
This breed is lively but gentle-natured; they love nothing more than spending time cuddling up on laps while enjoying some pets from their owners. Due to their intelligence and affectionate temperament if well trained when young they make great family pets who enjoy being close to people! Despite being a sighthound group dog they’re not bred for hunting which reflects upon how calm & non-aggressive an IG’s demeanor usually is around kids/other pets!
Health Problems
Like all breeds any health issues present need proper screening during puppyhood stages so it can be avoided before developing further complications later on.There are certain genetic ailments associated with this breed which must be watched out for according to reputable breeding practices.. Although relatively healthy compared to other toy-sized dogs , It’s recommended bringing them for regular checkups with a veterinarian every year.
Exercise
While they don’t need as much exercise as other dogs, IGs still require regular walks & playtime to keep healthy. Their energy levels are moderate so taking them out for a 30 minute walk at least twice daily will suffice their activity requirements; anything more than that is always welcome! Furthermore , It’s good to socialize an Italian Greyhound early in life and introduce it to different experiences such as hiking or visiting the park, especially when young!
Special Grooming Needs
Due to their short hair coat type, IGs are relatively easy-going when it comes to grooming needs; basic brushing once a week & bathing occasionally should be adequate. Additionally, keeping nails trimmed and teeth clean is important too from an early age!
Training
Italian Greyhounds usually have high learning abilities so training them isn’t too difficult . Despite their sometimes stubborn nature positive-reinforcement methods work best & harsh discipline should be avoided!. Moreover,having house-training set up ready before bringing home your puppy is essential (i.e crate/paper training).
Compatibility with children/pets
If well trained from puppyhood stages there shouldn’t be many issues interacting with kids/other pets.. Often times though due to being small sized its better if younger children interact while supervised by parents.
Moreover if properly introduced through socialization/exposure activities like going on walks meeting new people/dogs can greatly improve friendly interaction between differing animals.
Personality quirks
One of the peculiarities of this breed is that they are fond of snuggling under blankets! Other aspects may include frequent whining/barking sounds which can become problematic if not trained correctly. Lastly “selective hearing” might happen where If they’re off-leash but no longer feels interested enough in what you want him/her doing one could easily run off!.
Famous examples
In popular culture,it seems Italian Greyhounds haven’t made quite the impact some other breeds have! However, a few notable mentions do exist in history/film..For instance,Catherine the Great of Russia kept many Italian Greyhounds as pets during her reign. Moreover,a representation of this breed appears in Disney’s “Lady and The Tramp” which is perhaps one of their most famous appearances on the big screen!
In conclusion , if you’re looking for an elegant yet loving companion then look no further than an Italian Greyhound.! Their charming temperament combined with manageable exercise needs & relative ease to groom make them very desirable dogs to own. Despite any training difficulties they may face, it doesn’t take away from how wonderful of a companion they can be; So why not consider adopting one today?