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[S371]Shellac Excellent Italian Greyhound

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The Italian Greyhound is a hound of diminutive size that has become the darling of the apartment dwellers in many large cities. Today It is often pictured in the arms of fashion models or carried by movie stars wearing fancy jeweled coats and collars. This is one of the first breeds in history to be exclusively bred as a companion dog. As early as the 16th century there are records of Italian Greyhounds being present in the royal courts of Spain and Italy.

Paintings and sculptures glorifying this dog have been done by such well known artists as Botticelli, Giotto and Bosch. The little dogs could be found in the courts of James I of England, Francis I of France, Catherine the Great, Queen Victoria and Frederick the Great of Russia. The high stepping little dog was much admired by the royalty of many countries and through many centuries. An Italian Greyhound named Djali can be found as a companion to the fictional heroine Madame Bovary in the novel by Gustave Flaubert.

The tiny Italian Greyhound for a time became almost too small (10 inches) and began to show signs of dwarfism in the late 1800s. However by the 1950s the breed began to "stabilize" and by 1968 the first Italian Greyhound standard was written and since then the breed has remained firmly true to form and structure as described in the standard.

Experts agree that the Italian Greyhound was bred down from the greyhound and in most respects is a smaller version of the Greyhound. The height is usually 13-15 inches. It has the typical Greyhound look of sleek "racy" lines, with a fine head and beautifully expressive eyes. In temperament it also resembles the Greyhound, for it is a dog that enjoys being with people and being pampered, it is a quiet and gentle dog that generally gets along with other dogs and is mannerly and affectionate.

The IG as it is often called is a small dog that is exceedingly fine boned. Obviously care needs to be taken that it never jumps off of furniture as it could damage itself easily. Also this is a breed that is prone to chills and it needs to wear a coat in winter and should be carried rather than allowed to wade through snow drifts in the wintertime and it should be exercised indoors. A benefit of its size is that it can be paper trained or litter trained much like a cat.. This is a dog that is quite delicate in some respects. Often with small breeds people do tend to carry the dog too much and it is important the the dog be allowed to exercise adequately.

Like all canines the dog needs to develop muscle power and needs to be allowed to explore its environment and "be a dog". However like many of the finer sight hound breeds from the Mediterranean, including its larger cousin the Greyhound, the Italian Greyhound is fine skinned and it should not be allowed to run in areas with thorns and brambles, as breeders report that its skin will easily tear when it runs into things.

Can your Italian Greyhound wait 10 hours to go for a walk? What if you can't come home Wednesday nights because of a prior commitment?

Anytime an Italian Greyhound owner needs to go away on vacation, stay long hours at work or has regular scheduled activities that take them away from home they must consider how their Italian Greyhound will be cared for. Your Italian Greyhound provides entertainment and companionship but is also a huge responsibility. You show respect for your Italian Greyhound by taking its needs into consideration and planning accordingly.

Fortunately there are many services available to assist you in caring for your Italian Greyhound during times when you can't personally give them the attention and care they need. What are they? Which is best for your Italian Greyhound?

DAY CARE

Social animals, like Italian Greyhounds, can suffer emotionally from a lack of attention. If your Italian Greyhound has access to the outdoors they will be able to relieve themselves when necessary but a house-bound Italian Greyhound will physically require a walk or you will come home to an accident on your rug and a frustrated animal.

Day care centers provide the needed social stimulation most dogs crave. At the day care your Italian Greyhound will spend time with other dogs and have people looking after its physical needs. If you have a young Italian Greyhound this can be especially important as your Italian Greyhound may become destructive with a lack of supervision and an abundance of unused energy.

BOARDING KENNELS

If you plan to be away overnight or for longer your Italian Greyhound or may be placed in a boarding kennel. This can be expensive but will ensure your Italian Greyhound is cared for daily and overnight.

IN-HOME CARE

If you are comfortable leaving your Italian Greyhound at home all day you may find the in-home services of a visitor or dog walker to be sufficient and less costly while still providing personal attention.

Cats and other animals may not need daily visits if you come home in the evening but will need some attention if you are away overnight or for several days. Cats prefer their own homes rather than the highly social aspect of day cares or boarding kennels. Other pets, such as birds and reptiles, will most likely do better with in-home care as well.

In-home care can be as basic as someone taking your Italian Greyhound for a walk in the middle of the day or as inclusive as having a sitter stay in your home with your Italian Greyhound.

Examine your situation and budget when choosing a method of care. Take your pet's best interests in mind. If you are having someone come to your home be sure they are reputable. Licensed businesses should be insured and bonded when employees are trusted with entering and locking up your home.

Keep all these things in mind. Prepare ahead for your absences, and you should be able to have peace of mind while you are away from your Greyhound and/or other pets.

Author: Connie Limon. Visit us at http://www.abouttoydogs.com and sign up for our bi-weekly FREE newsletter. About Toy Dogs is a guide to the selection and care of toy dog breeds. We feature articles, dog training resources, dog books, dog supplies and a Toy Dog Breeder Directory. Purchase a full page, 3 picture ad to showcase your toy dog website, kennel or puppies for sale for $25 per year.

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Connie Limon has sinced written about articles on various topics from Careers and Job Hunting, Dogs and Colon Cleanse. Author: Connie Limon. Visit us at http://www.abouttoydogs.com and sign up for our bi-weekly FREE newsletter. About Toy Dogs is a guide to the selection and care of toy dog breeds. We feature articles, dog training resources, dog books, dog supplies a. Connie Limon's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.