Every dog has his or her own story but there are a lot of overlapping situations that cause Italian Greyhounds to end up in shelters or to be surrendered to rescues by their owners, these are things you need to know before adopting an Italian Greyhound.
Italian Greyhounds are a unique breed with quirky traits their owners fall in love with, but, in that same breath there are a lot of difficulties each Italian Greyhound owner faces during the life of their dog. Some people pay for or adopt an Italian Greyhound not knowing the challenges they will face. Be an educated potential pup parent and decide for yourself if you have a lifestyle and personality to make a 10-15 year commitment to a dog from this breed.
Each year, Italian Greyhounds across the country do the heart-wrenching – break their leg. It is most common for an IG to break its leg while a puppy but adult IG’s are not immune. Why do they usually break their leg(s)? Jumping. These dare devil dogs love to bound from sofas, exit cars and just jump for joy but landing the wrong way can cause injury to their thin legs. In some situations people have sat or stepped on an IG and broken one or more of their apendages. Furthermore, children that aren’t aware of how to ‘be nice and gentle’ with this breed can be too rough and cause the IG to break a leg or two as well. If your IG breaks its leg, it’s an expensive undertaking to fix and can easily cost upwards of $3,000. An IG breaking his or her leg coupled with a family facing financial hardship is a common reason why people surrender their broken legged IG. Be sure you are financially stable enough to afford an Italian Greyhound. If you love the breed but would not be able to take on the cost of care if your pooch broke a leg, consider purchasing pet insurance! It’s a responsible way to mitigate risk and put yourself in a position where, if the unthinkable happens, you can keep your pet and not lose the shirt off your back. For more information on pet insurance, you can look into 24petwatch.com. If you do not want to consider / can’t afford pet insurance and you won’t be able to pay for vet services, adopting an Italian Greyhound is not a good idea for you or for the Italian Greyhound.
Another common reason why someone adopting an Italian Greyhound may surrender their pet is because they are notoriously hard to potty train. If you have patience and are consistent, your Italian Greyhound will most likely learn to potty outside or potty on a pad. However, for first time pet owners or someone that is accustom to an ‘easier’ breed, this might pose quite the challenge. People that are not ready for an intense and long potty training experience get a rude awakening upon adopting or purchasing an Italian Greyhound. Decide for yourself if you could deal with accidents in the house. There are a lot of ways to help your IG become potty trained but some Italian Greyhounds just never come around. Do you have the personality to provide patience and consistency when potty training your pooch? Will you give your pet the boot if they potty in the house or are never fully potty trained? If potty in the house is the end of the world or not tolerable, please consider another breed.
Losing your Italian Greyhound is another way they end up in rescue. It is sad but true, Italian Greyhounds love to bolt and when they do – they are often never found. Let this be a lesson, your IG will always need to be kept on a leash when not in an enclosed area – this includes preventing them from running out open doors/windows/jumping over fences. This breed, when they run off, often don’t come back when called. Some will get hit by a car, get forever lost, or get hurt by another animal. When an Italian Greyhound is lucky enough to survive the harsh elements of the outside world and someone spots this delicate beauty, they often are turned over to rescue. Do your best to keep your IG on a leash at all times, out of harms way, and realize it is in their nature to run wild without thought if given the chance. If you want a pet that will walk nicely next to you off lead, adopting an Italian Greyhound is not a good idea for you.
If you do lose your pet, sites like http://lostmydoggie.com/ can help spread the word.
These dogs are emotionally sensitive, it’s both good and bad. They respond best to positive reinforcement and food reward training. They need to be bribed to learn things as they have a ‘what’s in it for me’ type of attitude. This does not mean they are not intelligent, rather, they are stubborn. For an inexperienced pet owner adopting an Italian Greyhound, it is sometimes challenging. To teach your Iggy basic commands is a huge accomplishment. Although this isn’t usually the only reason why an Italian Greyhound is relinquished to a shelter or rescue, it can be a leading factor. If you are not consistently kind or have a temper, adopting an Italian Greyhound is not a good idea for you.
Last, but not least, they are a breed that needs a lot of socialization. Most IG’s love other dogs and love their owners to death but they do not do well with strangers and have a naturally shy personality. If you have a lot of change in your life, an Italian Greyhound typically will get stressed as they do not adapt well. With persistent and consistent efforts your IG can become as friendly as a golden retriever with strangers and can enjoy going along for the ride where life takes you – but that is more often the exception to the rule. This is not a leading factor but it is still a factor in an Italian Greyhound being given up to a rescue or ending up in a shelter. If you need a pet that welcomes your guests, you have a lot of people in and out of your life, or you do not have any consistencies in your life, adopting an Italian Greyhound is not a good idea for you.
On a positive note, there are a lot of reasons why people love this breed. They are very polite, graceful, shadows that follow their owners around, playful, great lapdogs, have a lot of love to give, don’t bark much, don’t shed much and they have a loving and whimsical personality unlike any other breed (among other things).
Here are some Italian Greyhound Facts. We highly recommend anyone looking to adopt an Italian Greyhound do their research about the breed because although they are wonderful, they are not for everyone.
#1) They are the smallest of the sight hounds, they are part of the toy group
#2) They are true companions and generally want nothing more than to be by their owners. They are often called Velcro dogs.
#3) The breed tends to be more reserved around strangers and a well adjusted Italian Greyhound often requires a lot of socialization **Very important
#4) Successful training requires consistency by the owner. Many IG’s will never learn basic commands if their owners are not consistent enough. **Very important
#5) Height typically ranges from 12-15 inches and weight from 6 to 18 pounds
#6) They are sensitive to cold and wet weather. It is suggested to provide IG’s with cold weather gear including shirts, sweater, boots, and snoods
#7) The breed sheds little to no hair and requires minimal grooming. Many do well when adopted by people that have pet allergies.
#8) It is common for the breed to break a leg while in the puppy stage but tend to hardy up when they become adults (although they can still break a leg easily as an adult).
#9) Their chest drops between 1.5 and 2 years of age
#10) The Italian Greyhound was recognized by the AKC in 1886
#11) They are notoriously hard to potty train and have to go potty often (and often, on your furniture, floors, beds, and anything else nearby) **Very important
#12) They have a what’s-in-it-for-me type of mindset (treats go a long way) and aren’t necessarily eager to please
#13) They will bolt and never look back if the right series of events happen. All IG’s should ALWAYS be on a leash when not in an enclosed area **Very important
#14) They love to snuggle under covers and sleep in bed with their owners. IG’s are not a breed you can teach to stay off furniture.
#15) They have high anxiety and don’t do well when left alone for long periods of time. They are like a 2 year old child and do best with families that always have someone home. **Very important
#16) Their teeth and nails need constant care. Many IG’s will lose some or all their teeth by mid age. IG owners should implement brushing or be prepared for costing dentals and extractions
#17) They are high jumpers and have been known to clear high fences as well as jump off things like couches, beds, chairs, tables
#18) Many IG’s will suffer a leg break during their life, it is a costly surgery any IG owner should be prepared for it **Very important
#19) When they are not sleeping they love to run and jump to get from point a to point b (often times going from sleep mode to ‘zoomies’ mode at the drop of a dime for no reason)
#20) They are a very sensitive breed, any negative experiences can leave a lasting impression.
#21) Because they are tiny, are selectively social, and like to be the center of your universe – they are not the best choice for a family pet
#22) They respond best to positive reinforcement training techniques
#23) They commonly suffer from epilepsy, leg fractures, patellar luxation, PRA, arthritis, and dental diseases.
#24) Because they are part of the sight hound group, they too are sensitive to anesthesia and barbiturates.
#25) They are not a protective dog breed as they are shy with new people and often shy with of other animals including non-sight hound dogs
Think about if you have what it takes to raise, train, and live with an Italian Greyhound as they have a unique set of challenges that can be ahead (but, they are worth it).