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Italian Greyhound Dogs For Sale

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The Italian Greyhound is a charming little dog of grace and beauty. They are usually jolly little guys. This is a breed that was kept in England as far back as the 17th century. They enjoyed the royal favor of many while in Prussia. The famous Frederick the Great simply adored his Greyhound pets and even left instructions in his will that his body should be buried among his pets in the Greyhound cemetery in the Park of Sans Souci.

The Italian Greyhound comes in colors of all shades of fawn, mouse, white and red. Of interesting note is that the old-time dogs were found in a variety of shades because at Hampton Court, in a painting of the Queen of James I., there are several greyhounds in the colors of fawn, blue, blue and white. So that even as far back as those days the Italian Greyhounds were of a variety of colors.

As with most of the toy breeds we find that they started out much larger in size, the original Italian Greyhound weighed somewhere around 14 pounds.

In appearance the Italian Greyhound of today should resemble the original version just in miniature size. Sometimes it is difficult to produce smaller versions without impairing their health. However, when discussing the point of elegance of the Italian Greyhound, there is virtually none who matches this beautiful creature, who's every movement, indicates "grace personified," and his peculiar prancing action is a distinct characteristic belonging only to the Italian Greyhound.

The Italian Greyhound should have the tulip or prick ears; these are considered "bad" faults, which should be very carefully avoided. He should not be compactly built as shown in his terrier crosses, which were sometimes used to reduce his size. The terrier crosses have also been known to create the bulging eye and the apple head, both of which are very undesirable.

There is further evidence of the terrier crosses to reduce size found in some puppies when first born. They will usually be a black and tan, while in purebred animals they are whole-colored or fawn-and-white.

The Italian Greyhound is gentle and affectionate and not quite a delicate as his fragile form suggests. In cold weather, you need to keep your Italian Greyhound in the house. He should sleep in an area free of drafts and when taken outside in cold weather dress your Italian Greyhound with a warm sweater or coat.

To keep your Italian Greyhound in good physical shape he requires a good deal of exercise. Take care not to over feed your Italian Greyhound. The Italian Greyhound must never be allowed to become "fat," in order to retain their beautiful lines and graceful form.

Don't expect your Italian Greyhound to serve as a domestic alarm or protector, although he is capable of being a very sharp watch-dog and hear the slightest of sound. He is more dedicated to the comforts of the tea table, the fireside carpet, and the luxurious indulgences of the sofa and a warm lap of his mistress or master.

The general appearance of an Italian Greyhound is that of ideal elegance and grace of shape, symmetry and action. He has a flat skull, long and narrow, muzzle very fine, nose dark in color, ears rose-shaped placed well back, soft and delicate and should touch or nearly so behind the head. His eyes are fairly large, bright and full of expression.

His neck is long and gracefully arched. His thighs are muscular, feet are long with arched toes and well slit up. The Italian Greyhound has a tail that is rather long, fine with low carriage. His hair is thin and glossy like satin. One of the most prized colors of the Italian Greyhound is the golden fawn color, but he comes in all shades of fawn, red, mouse, blue, cream and white, blacks, and brindles. His weight today is around 8 pounds average and he prances about with a high and free step.

Italian Greyhound Dogs For Sale

The Italian Greyhound is meant for a quiet apartment or home. She does not do well with loud, rough children as her bones can be brittle as a puppy and she is delicate in both body and mind. She is a good watch dog and loves her family. She can do well with other respectful dogs and animals, especially if she is socialized with them at an early age. If she is housed with other dogs, be aware that they should not be large dogs. She is a climber and may even climb out of a fenced enclosure. Keep her controlled when outside as she can run very fast and can be about impossible to catch if she does not want to be.

*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Italian Greyhound is 12 to 15 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 6 to 10 pounds. There is a under 8 pound class and an over 8 pound class.

*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Italian Greyhound is no exception. Although they are a healthy breed, be on the look out for Progressive Retinal Atrophy (inherited disease of the retina that can cause vision loss and blindness), slipped stifle and epilepsy (common in dogs). Additionally, Italian Greyhound puppies under eighteen months old are prone to broken legs due to fragile developing bones. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

*Grooming. The Italian Greyhound has a short, fine coat that is like satin to the touch. She just needs an occasional rub down with a soft cloth. When she needs a rare bath, be sure that she is dried properly and kept warm.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.

*Life Span. The Italian Greyhound can live between 14 and 16 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

*History. The Italian Greyhound comes from Italy. They are a small sight hound and were bred as pets. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1886.

Some Registries:

*Italian Greyhound Club of America

*UKC United Kennel Club

*NKC National Kennel Club

*CKC Continental Kennel Club

*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.

*AKC American Kennel Club

*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale

*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club

*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain

*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club

*ACR = American Canine Registry

Litter Size: 3 to 5 Italian Greyhound puppies.

Category: Toy

*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS

They barely shed.

Not a spoiled brat.

Generally has good manners.

Good watch dog.

*SPECIAL BAD POINTS

Can be a chore to housebreak.

Can be destructive, especially if left alone.

Does not like criticism.

Does not like it cold.

Poor guard dog.

*Other Names Known By: Piccolo Levrieri Italiani

*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.

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Mitch Endick has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Puppies Dogs and Education. Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.

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