An Italian greyhound is a toy dog, from 13 to 15 inches at the shoulder, though they may be as
small as 11 inches or as large as 18 inches. They can weigh as little as five pounds or as much as
15 to 16 pounds. Because of their short, odorless coat and low body fat ratio, they need to be
kept warm in cool weather.
This Scout and Sebastian. They are both full grown, male Italian Greyhounds. They are at opposite ends of the size spectrum!
The Italian Greyhound is registered with the American Kennel Club
as a member of the toy group. This breed is believed to have originated over 2000 years ago.
Italian Greyhounds are very active, inquisitive little animals who enjoy giving and receiving love
immensely. Being people oriented, they require the stimulation of quality human companionship.
They do not make good pets for households with very young or rambunctious children, or very large active dogs. They do very will with gentle, considerate children, or mellow larger dogs.
The dogs that enter our program come to us in a number of ways. Often the dogs are given up due to no fault of the dog's,
but because an owner has moved, died, divorced, or is unable to keep the dog for other reasons. Others come
to us from shelters. Since the breed has recently been sold often in pet stores, many of our rescues
are impulse buys from the pet stores that did not work out. A quick purchase is made giving little thought to the time and
dedication it takes to raise that cute little puppy they saw in the window. By rescuing an Italian
Greyhound, you will give a much needed home to a dog that, without your help, may have led a life of discomfort and fear, or
even an untimely death. And if an Italian Greyhound is the right breed of dog for you and your lifestyle,
it will certainly repay you for your kindness with affection for years to come.
We get a variety of ages in the program. Most are adults. However, we often do get young adults and occasionally
do get puppies. Older dogs also come into the program and with a lifespan of 14 to 16 years, these dogs can make wonderful pets.
Males outnumber females. However, all dogs are spayed or neutered prior to placement. Occasionally
people contact us who have very strong preferences about age, sex, and color of the dog. The more
open you are about sex, age, and coat color, the more likely that we will find a suitable dog for you.
If you do have very strong preferences, a rescue dog may not be for you.
Italian Greyhound rescue does not sell dogs. We do however ask for a donation which helps to fund our
program and pays for vet expenses and helps us to continue our work in saving other Italian Greyhounds. The adoption fee of $250
helps us to cover these expenses.
The Italian Greyhound's coat is short and sleek, carrying no dog odor. Because of their short hair,
they do like to stay warm by laying in the sun, sleeping in your bed UNDER the covers,
and wearing coats or sweaters when the temperature dips.
Because of their fine structure, Italian Greyhounds do not make a good pet for young children.
Italian Greyhounds are NOT outdoor dogs. They can not tolerate cold weather and would prefer to
be with their owner even on the warmest days. They also do not like getting wet and many owners have built
sheltered areas to protect their dogs from the elements on cold or wet days when going outside for
potty. As creatures of comfort, Italian Greyhounds do not like to get their feet on wet grass and
will often utilize the sidewalk instead.
Italian Greyhounds love other dogs, and usually cats too. However, care must be taken when introducing the dog to a larger breed.
The activity level of an Italian Greyhound varies, but most are pretty active until about two years old.
At this age they have only two speeds - either high or low.
Italian Greyhounds are very people oriented and enjoy your company more than anything else. They
are not an independent dog, and will often follow you everywhere. They crave attention and will not do well left alone or
ignored for many hours a day. Their greatest joy is to be with you. Once you adopt an Italian Greyhound, you will
never be alone again. If you like your privacy, this may not be the breed for you.
Because Italian Greyhounds are sighthounds, they have keen eye sight. This along with their incredible
speed can be a deadly combination. Therefore, an IG must always be on a leash when not in a fenced
area. No amount of obedience training will overcome what has been bred in the breed for thousands
of years, so there are no exceptions.
Some rescue dogs are already housebroken, but we don't assume it, and neither should you. If it is an
important issue to you, please make sure to discuss it with your rep. Any dog coming into a new environment should be treated
as if he/she is NOT housebroken. You should take the dog out often, watch closely, and limit freedom
initially until the dog is familiar with your environment and schedule. The use of a crate is recommended.
Like many toy breeds, the Italian Greyhound can be a little more difficult to housetrain. It takes
patience, praise, and consistency. Often they will not go to the door when they need to go out. It may be
up to you put the dog on a schedule and take him/her out for regular potty breaks. In order to keep
their system on a good schedule, open feeding is not recommended. Supervision during potty outside is recommended.
Many IGs do not like to go out alone. Harsh punishment does NOT work for Italian Greyhounds. They are much too
sensitive for that and a firm voice is sufficient reprimand. If an occasional potty accident (especially
on very wet or cold days) is unacceptable, then this may not be the breed for you.
Italian Greyhounds, especially young ones, are curious and can be susceptible to broken legs, so care
should be taken. IG's are very cat-like in that they love to jump and climb on furniture. They also
like nothing better than to sit by you on the couch or sleep with you. If you are opposed to dogs
on your furniture, perhaps Italian Greyhounds are not the breed for you, as it is very difficult
to teach this very loving breed not to get on the furniture because of their desire to be with you.
Italian Greyhounds do not respond to harsh punishment. They should never be hit. They should NOT
be corrected with a newspaper either. These actions will only teach them to fear you and your hand. Because of
their sensitive personality, a verbal correction is more than sufficient.
We try to make the best possible match we can to ensure a successful adoption. Some of the things that you can do to
prepare for your rescue's arrival:
Purchase a good quality pet store food, bowls, leashes, safe toys, and a crate.
It is also a good idea to select a veterinarian prior to your dog's arrival. Although the dog has
been vet checked, we do recommend taking the dog to your own veterination after adopting the dog.
It is also a good idea to take your newly adopted dog to obedience classes. Any dog (and owner) can benefit from
such a class. It improves communication between dog and owner, it gives the dog a chance to socialize
and it also improves the bond between owner and dog.
