Overview

The first Italian Greyhounds were brought to Europe by the Phoenicians after they were developed by the Romans. This was the favored breed of Catherine the Great and makes a wonderful companion dog for families. They tend to be shy and timid but can have a destructive side. Never use harsh punishment with this dog as they will become overly submissive. Instead, use gentle correction and they will become a part of the family in no time.

Activity

Activity: The Italian Greyhound loves long walks and daily exercise. Since this is a Greyhound breed of dog, they love to run and go jogging with their owners, but should be kept on a leash while doing it as they tend to chase after things. A fenced in yard is the best for this breed, so that they can run and play at will but make sure the fence is secured or they may wander off on you.

Care

The Italian Greyhound sheds minimally, if at all, and is very easy to groom. With a regular wipe down of a soft towel, you can keep this breeds coat looking glossy and well-kept, although their teeth do need to be cleaned on a regular schedule to prevent gum disease and tartar build up. This breed does not do well in colder climates and will need to have their nails trimmed at least once every two weeks.

Character

The Italian Greyhound requires constant reassurance and approval of their master to make sure that they aren't doing something wrong. They do not do well in kennels settings since they are somewhat dependent on their families. Even though they have instances of being high stung, they are extremely sensitive by nature and can become complacent and submissive with harsh words.

Coat

The Italian Greyhound's coat is short and fine, and has the same basic textures of the Greyhound breed. The hair should always be soft to the tough and never coarse, and will remain glossy no matter what you do to it, as long as you do not bathe them too often and wash the natural oils away.

Temperament

This breed makes a wonderful companion pet for people that are experienced with more timid acting dogs. The Italian Greyhound should not be in a home with small children as their timid nature will make them submissive to pestering kids, causing the dog to become overly depressed and anxious around people. They do well with other dogs of the same breed but not with more dominant and larger dogs.

Training

Because the Italian Greyhound is so high strung and sensitive, they can be difficult to train because you may never know what their mood will be from one minute to the next. Most of the time, this breed will require the use of a professional trainer that has experience with Italian Greyhounds. Even though this breed is so highly intelligent, they can still be a handful when it comes to housetraining, and obedience training is necessary to keep them from becoming overly submissive.