Written by Janet www.sighthound.net

The Italian Greyhound is one of the exceptions to the rule!
They are very lively, quick and intelligent small charmers, who fascinate and bewitch their family into being their slaves! One quickly discovers that first impressions are very deceptive. These small elegant, seemingly demure bodies hide some of the cleverest, nosiest, calculating and independent small creations, who straight away you get to really know them, win over all hearts! Often, it's the woman of the house who decides to own one, whilst the man would much rather have a larger breed. However, this particular breed has a large number of devoted male followers! They cannot be denied and before the men know where they are, they too are just as wild about them! The IG is not so interested in just lying around dozing and keeping an eye on you all day like the other sighthounds - they want things to happen and to be in the middle of them! If necessary they create "happenings" and funny tricks and numbers and are so entertaining that they easily become the family's court jester! But a jester who is extremely intelligent. They can liven up the lives of any family!

As puppies they are naturally lively and active and one must mind out that they do not come to harm. They can jump up on high tables and chairs and think that they can just "fly" down again - sometimes with dire consequences! 5 feet is 5 inches for them! In the start it is best to keep them down on floor level, until their small bodies are better developed. If you should surprise your IG up on a high table, do not scald, shout or panic but creep carefully up to him/her and gently lift him/her down again. One of the many great pleasures of having this breed is seeing their antics when they run around free. They should have plenty of exercise to strengthen both muscles and bone - it is often assumed that they do not need much exercise at all, as they are so small, but they can use almost just as much as all the other sighthounds, if given the chance! My "Gucci" goes on daily walks of up to 7 kilometers every day - and he is in top form at 13 years old!

Appearance
The Italian Greyhound is about the most extreme elegant of all the Sighthounds. Long legs, tucked up stomach, well chiseled head with rose ears and a beautifully loving and intelligent expression. They should look like a Greyhound in miniature and quite without the bulging eyes, apple-headed dwarf-look that many other miniature dogs suffer from. Max size for both sexes (here on the continent) is max. 38 cm at the shoulders and at least 33 cm - I don't know what the size is in inches? The Italian Greyhound is known for its very special elastical high stepping gait. They can live to be quite old, 15-16 years is not unusual.

They have been used to hunting and chasing in the past and in Germany and Finland I know they now race on race tracks just as keenly as Greyhounds! I have had the pleasure of seeing two Finnish dogs race here in Denmark! But why Italian Greyhounds have survived through the centuries is no doubt not so much for their hunting abilty as their great entertainment value for the ladies left at home whilst the men were out having fun!!!

Color
Denmark is a member of the FCI and IG's must be all one color! Only very tiny "bibs" at the throat and/or tips of toes is allowed. If you don't intend showing your dog, you can be lucky and get a puppy that is otherwise "perfect" where its only fault is a little too large white "bib"! IG's hair is fine and silky and easy to keep. They do not smell of dog! In the home, their needs are simple: Plenty of love and attention and the comfort of the family's best sofa. They love to be warm and to be cuddled. They have a great need for love. At the same time they are immensely decorative sitting tastefully arranged in the furniture, like living works of art, which indeed they are!

A little history
The Italian Greyhound is a very old breed, obviously related to Greyhound and probably tracing it's past right back to Egypt and the Pharaohs. There have been found mummies of small dogs very like the IG in some of the tombs. There have always been very small Greyhound-like dogs, as one can see in art all through the ages. The name is not so much because they come from Italy as the fact that the Italians have depicted them in all art forms more than any other nation. They have always been popular with royalty and all over Europe there are histories and statues, paintings and tapestries showing IG's together with their royal masters and mistresses.

Exercise
The Italian Greyhound should be exercised every day, just like any other breed of dog. They are definately NOT just "lap-dogs"! If the owner has time, they can easily run around on a 1 1/2 - 2 hours walk and arrive home seemingly just as fresh as when they left! They hate cold, wind and rain because they lack the fat layer, (just as Greyhounds and the other sighthounds), which would otherwise protect them. It is best to have a variety of coats for every weather condition! If you would like to have a very lively and loving little dog who is very intelligent, which you can take with just about everywhere and who will entertain you constantly all your waking hours, then choose an IG!