Italian Greyhound
Back ground: Despite
their name these dogs surprisingly are
not from Italy but in fact they are from Greece and Turkey. The Italian
Greyhound was well known during the renaissance age and can be seen in multiple
renaissance paintings which is why they are called, "The Italian Greyhound".
They were also been considered to be a high class dog in the past and mainly
seen with royalty such as Charles the 1st, Catherine the great, queen Ann,
queen Victoria, and Fredrick the 2nd. This was because they were good companion
dogs.
Characteristics: Italian
Greyhounds are sometimes called Velcro dogs because they love to be by your
side and snuggle for warmth with their owners. They are built for speed like
their cousins the original greyhound that are used for dog races. With their
speed is their acute sight and hearing. All this leads to their speeds reaching
as fast as 25 miles per hour.
Weight: 6-10 lbs
Life span: about
15 years
Temperament: Italian
Greyhounds are very shy and need to be socialized early during puppy stages.
They have also been known to be cat like, they have a good temperament overall.
Coat & Color: They
can come in multiple colors ranging from black, grey, tan etc. Their coat doesn't shed a lot and there is
little odor.
Health Issues: A
fairly healthy breed.
Living Conditions: They are adaptable to pretty much any living
conditions whether it's an apartment or a house. They are not tolerant at all
so during the cold seasons they need to be kept warm with blankets or coats and
should be kept indoors to avoid the cold.
Tips:
* It is best to
keep them out of the cold so litter box training is possible.
* For the 1st 12-18 months they should be watched carefully
because their bones are very fragile and can break easily.
* They are fast dogs and do not do well with responding to
being called back after they are after something so they should always be kept
on a leash when outside in an unfenced yard.
* They are not good with lively children because they are so
shy so a family of either adults is best for them.
Final Note: These
are excellent companion dogs that are
good for novice or new dog owners.
Sources: Animal Planet's Dogs 101 television series
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