You only have to look at an Italian Greyhound to see that its physiology is different than a standard family dog, in that they have deep chest cavities and reduced waistlines. When you have teeth cleaned at the vet you will need to sedate your dog and this is where the costs start to mount. Let me just say this is a challenge and can be confronting to those who do not like handling their dogs sharp bits. Now is he basically silent unless he is playing, then he does this boowowowowowow growling noise that is amazing. Most holiday planning does not accommodate for our canine friends, particularly if you are travelling overseas. Something not a lot of people think about when adding any dog to their family is what to do with them when you go away on holidays. Small children can be heavy-handed and Iggys have delicate and sensitive skin and bones. She doesn't bark or make noise with knocks at the door, or anything else. They may display passive resistance by bracing their legs and refusing to move. However, it took an amazing family effort of 4 family members standing outside every hour form the time he was a pup for the first 12 months while also ensuring we all used a common trigger word. Every year. I have nurtured 3 Iggs and they are a delight. If the dog in question is known to not make noise, you should be fine. If I leave my Iggy alone for a short time at home it has to be inside in a safe place. This is a recipe for disaster as in most cases this can be into a busy road or dangerous surroundings. Only time will tell I guess. You need to balance the ingredients and get some supplements to ensure a full range of nutrients are delivered. Iggy Clothing | Italian Greyhound Clothing | Melbourne. Not my dogs have to work around my life. ours HOWLED when left alone up until he was about 6 months old, then he calmed down. The landlords are also only there from like noon-2 M-F, and I haven't seen them since move in day, so I don't think they really wander the halls too much (if ever). Obvious from their slender frame, you can see these dogs would get cold, even in moderate weather. However, if you are currently considering purchasing one here is a list of the things that we, and every other Iggy owner, probably already knows and stress about every day. Now, she generally only howls if our other dog decides to start barking, which is infrequent. Also, if you've had barking/whining issues with your IG in the past, what have you done to stop it? His current owner says that their neighbors complain when their 4 month old child cries, so I'm hoping that that means they would also complain if a dog was crying? A breed dating back around 2,000 years there is no doubt their makeup has evolved to appeal directly to our human need for emotional company, grace and beauty. So youll spend almost all your time explaining the difference and telling adoring passerbys that they are fully grown and not a whippet. You would definitely get neighbor complaints if yours is anything like mine. They are loyal and loving beyond description. However, this is also their downfall. If I had to give you a reason to own an Iggy it would come down to a sentence that all owners will understand; They are sensitive and loyal comedians that think they are cats but have a heart and personality that can melt the antarctic with one glance. Simply put breeders, choose bloodlines that have stronger bone density and structure and along with the way they are brought up and cared for makes a big difference. My Iggy would Howl like mad(you would think she was dying) when I first left her in her playpen when potty training. Facts speak for themselves here, you will need some form of protection almost all year round. Facebook groups are littered with images of Iggys with leg breaks. Not an issue as much as an annoyance, however you will need to get used to saying these words; no it is an Italian Greyhound, actually!. My iggy only barks when he's playing or we're teasing him. I set up a camera and it would go one for hours, then she would be ok. Then should would start again a few hours later. It is not recommended that you leave them outdoors for long periods of time. Boredom toys are also useful, they take a decent amount of time for them to figure out how to get the treats so it cuts down the time they feel alone and bored in half. Like, he whines sometimes when I leave the apartment even though my fiance is home and then other times he whines because my fiance left but I'm still home. When it's just SO at home, he rarely barks. My Iggy has this high pitched yelp whine that he does if he's alone without his brother and he will cry the entire time until someone comes home. Great article. Italian Greyhounds are not outdoor dogs. This will reduce the chance of them being startled, but it will not eliminate it. His current owners leave him alone all day and said that they haven't ever had any complaints from their neighbors, so I'm hoping that that is a good sign. With this physiology comes some peculiarities that mean dealing with a Vet that has specialised knowledge is generally recommended. Great Article. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. And if it is super cold where you live or it rains a lot, you can almost be guaranteed youll need to plan for an indoor or covered potty room for you to have any chance of training them. It is important to know that an Iggy does not do well in standard holiday dog kennels and you will often get back a different dog to one that you sent to the kennel before you left. They are very loving and loyal but can be timid. Iggy only ever barks if the door bell rings, and only when I'm home. Something that if you are not aware of could see your Iggy on Thyroid medication for no good reason. And while I cannot speak for the rest of the world, in Melbourne Australia they can be as rare as hens teeth. For example, a normal collar and lead is not ideal. There are only a few of these around and often you need to travel to find them. It is important to remember these dogs are heat seekers, so wherever the sun shines youll find one of these little bodies lying right in the sunny spot. And when they run, there is not much you can do about it. We do brush our Iggys teeth every night in hope this will delay any issues. He is never outside unsupervised.. I only go on holidays where I can take my IGGY. Short fur and delicate skin can mean they are easily affected by excessive UV. What you feed your Iggy is always going to strike debate among enthusiasts, breeders, vets and lovers of Italian Greyhounds. If you have never heard it when you do it will take you by complete surprise. Given the poor road sense, most dogs have this is a recipe for disaster. Their whippet cousins are more well known of sight-hounds, outside the standard greyhound. And that is where the problems begin. Breeders will argue that if you choose a breeder who focuses on quality not quantity the chance of a leg break is minimal. The other option is a natural raw diet which will give you a healthier more energetic Iggy. If she is with someone she is fine. They crave attention and do not do well when left alone or ignored for many hours a day. They can seem aloof, just like a supermodel, but unlike a supermodel when you get to know them they are the best friend you can imagine. More so than any other dog, you need the dedication and persistence to socialize them and get them use to sudden sounds. And it is expensive to get legs fixed with vet costs approaching as much as AUD $7,000 per leg. You will need to cover them with suits to keep them warm during the cooler months and because they have short fur (single layer) and delicate skin they will also need clothing cover during summer to reduce the chances of skin cancer. Both were easily toilet trained, funny, playful, loving and undoubtably my best friends. First thing to note is their narrow heads and small bodies make things like harnesses and standard collars highly risky. Italian Greyhounds belong to the sight-hound family of dogs, and sight-hounds are very different from other kinds of dogs. That said there are two options; a good commercial kibble will be okay, but it is not ideal and in our opinion, you do not get the best out of your Iggy. For those mathematically challenged that means we went outside 0f 1,400 times in the first 12 months. They cannot tolerate cold weather and would prefer to be with their owner even on the warmest of days. A raw diet can be time-consuming to prepare and requires a lot of pre-planning. To help reduce the number that end up in adoption programs or abandoned, the reality of ownership should be every current Iggys owners responsibility when discussing possible ownership with someone who comes up to pat your Iggy and proclaim they want one (we have lost count how many times this has happened to us), just because they look cute. You cant simply throw something in the bowl from a packet and walk away. This has the knock-on effect of making sure you only visit dog parks where you can be confident large dogs are excluded. Oh and Yes we supply clothing for sight-hounds, however, do not be mistaken, this is not a push for more sales. This can mean it can tear easily and healing will often require a medical emergency visit that entails stitches and/or staples. As I mentioned these attributes can often hide the fact that they are a specialty breed and owning one is both demanding and rewarding, but they are not for everyone. If they are startled they can easily slip their harness or collars and run in any direction. Ohmigod that sounds adorable. Some people have Iggys that never catch on or simply forget after a short time period. So if you own an Iggy and someone approaches you, remember it might not be in the dogs best interest to only talk about the beauty, personality and comedic nature of these little guys and gals. We are still cautious and we have worked hard to socialize our little one. It could be costly to keep them occupied or have a dog walker come past daily to take your little one for much needed socialisation. But do not think that avoiding the outside will solve this problem either, even the sun that streams through your home windows can cause damage. The only effective option is to brush their teeth after every meal. It is not unusual to be out of pocket around AUD $500 to $700 for a standard clean. I'm really hoping he doesn't, because that would mean I'd have to take the dog home first if I ever wanted to go out in the evening with my boyfriend, and it's a 20 minute drive to my apartment :/. He'll whine from time to time, but not very loudly or consistently. Many registered and longtime breeders will argue that buying your Iggy off an ethical registered breeder will minimise and almost eliminate the chance of leg breaks. If you dont like dealing with drama queens, high pitched screams and have an inability to understand when something is serious or overacting then maybe this is not the breed for you. Most Iggy owners will tell you the most time you can leave an Iggy unattended is around 4 hours. You must show them, through patient persistence and absolute consistency, that you mean what you say. Even so, we know families who have repeated what we did and they still find small presents located around their houses. We think its a kind of protection thing - gotta protect momma from the evil door bell! Give them a balanced view of the Italian Greyhound and you may just be saving the most personable little animal souls on this planet. It is not essential, however, our personal experience has shown that you come to resolutions of issues faster and this means less expense and a happier dog. If, like us, you live a non-celebrity life (are normal) then owning this breed could be a big mistake if you are working all day, 5 days a week with no home support. As I said to someone onceMy life revolves around my dogs/Iggy. No broken bones despite, in particular, Bella s habit of imitating a flying missile! In some ways, we find this part of their personality endearing and it makes us love them even more. Ahh teeth, it is a big issue. Now when I leave her at home, but she has access to the house and doesn't feel restrained she is fine(aside from getting into paper items and destroying them from time to time). They can be more expensive than normal collars. If you want the best for your Iggy, choosing a specialised Vet is, in our opinion, a sensible move and this can mean having to travel to find the right one. Reality here, youll need some form of protection and that includes a dog sunscreen or UV protective shades in your house. We have been lucky in that our little one goes outside, rain, wind or shine. We love that Italian Greyhounds and Whippets are loved by some celebritys, however that has meant that an increasing number of people buy them because they want to share a little of the celebrity lifestyle. None of them have experienced broken bones but all have had teeth issues which are very expensive. I think she only whines slightly when she has been in there for too long. Like most specialist breeds you need to have the right equipment. They are endearing, comedic and sensitive little souls that can be so human-like you can often forget they are not human (or a cat). Their personality and mannerisms are unique in the canine world. Sadly Louie at 13.5 and Bella 4 weeks short of turning 15 have both passed away now- Louie end of last June and Bella only this April. He also whines if we are late to feed him. This breed also does not like loud unexpected noises which can easily startle them. Reality is these dogs are small and therefore they have small bladders. We believe this is our duty & responsibility to all Iggys around the world. Italian Greyhounds, like all sight-hounds, will chase anything moving that catches their eye. Iggys think they are super-canines and can leap tall buildings in a single bound, but they forget they have these little delicate bones and jumping off anything taller than a cube of ice can result in broken limbs. Press J to jump to the feed. What these people do not consider is that much of the time these celebritys have large budgets and can be home, or can afford dog minders when they are not around. You should plan for the fact that they will only be partially toilet trained. Cages can help here, but they need to be trained to sit in a cage and you cannot leave leave them in a cage too long. By way of example, when we changed to a raw diet we saw a completely different dog, more energetic, calm and we believe more resistant to diseases. This shape resulted from a need to be super fast to when pursuing prey on a hunt. My ig only barks when she is playing. Collars like Martingale Collars that slip to tighten when pulled without hurting their necks are essential items. This can be very annoying for neighbours, not to mention expensive if you have to replace furnishings. Youll get a wide range of stories in regards to toilet training. I'm wondering because I'm about to get my first Iggy, and I would like to be able to leave him at my boyfriend's apartment (which is technically a "no pets allowed" apartment) alone some evenings. You can invest in any of the contraptions that claim to self-clean your dogs teeth, but the reality is that they seldom work effectively enough, if at all. Owning an Italian Greyhound is probably one of the greatest joys in life. While others will tell you they have no issue. This can result in some vets diagnosing your dog with a heart murmur. Any more than this and they can get stressed. Yeah, I'm hoping that this dog doesn't do that. This is one breed that a family with small children are not recommended to purchase. I've bought mine a heated cat bed for when I'm not home so he can curl up in a nice warm spot and be cozy. We have revolved our life around him. Your best option is to have your Iggy cared for by an Iggy knowledgeable family member or another experienced person. Their blood makeup can also be different, including having a lower thyroid count. Youll know how long you can leave your particular dog because theyll either create a disaster at your home and shred everything they can get their little teeth into or they may bark or howl constantly. This does vary by dog, however, to play it safe assume this is the maximum time you can leave them. This can rule out rough play with other bigger breeds that can get carried away with their smaller delicate playmates. my ig doesnt make a peep until he plays, then he growls sometimes, also in the morning he will whimper but its very quiet. The skin of an Iggy is very very thin. Oh, and this is also our response to those who tell us they want to own one because they are so cute! These are not always sold at your local pet store, so often you will need to order from specialist online stores. A wonderful experience. Like the gentle souls they are known to be, they prefer calming environments that dont carry any major surprises. Other than barking when playing, or when I sit at my desk and she wants to play she is quiet. The first few times it can be cute, but when your leather couch or favourite pillow becomes the subject of those little teeth, it can be trying. There is no doubt owning an Iggy requires work and extra effort, but you will seldom find a better companion to spend your time with. Most importantly they are prime targets for dog snatchers who are after a quick sale of a popular in demand breed. The same applies to when leaving you Iggy with friends or family, they need experience with Iggys. The drama will be over the top and the scream that accompanies it goes straight through to your bones. An example unless your Vet knows the breed intrinsically it is unlikely that they will understand that an Iggys evolution to be fast and go from 0 to 60 in a few seconds can mean that they generally have a larger left ventricle. It does not stop there though, this also means you have to jump proof your home if you leave them alone while you duck out to grab something. There is another side to leg breaks. I've heard from my downstairs neighbors that mine cries when I'm not home. Hi Carol, we have the same approach to owning our little Iggy. My job allows me to keep him in the basement while I'm working, so that should be a good way to figure out if he cries when left alone. You need something better. Now, if you own an Iggy you already know the positives (and there are many) and the negatives (there are also many). We have experienced it on several occasions, one for a vaccination and one for a strained neck muscle (a minor strain). When her separation anxiety was bad, she would HOWL and it was the loudest sound you've ever heard. So you can only really let them off-leash in completely fenced parks. Apart from the fragile legs, owners will tell you their teeth is their biggest and most expensive weakness. Seriously, the biggest 10 year old baby I have ever had the pleasure of owning, lol. He was a little whinier as a puppy when we left him (we could hear him outside our door), but he never whined long. As a part of the Iggy community all over the world (thanks Facebook) we see way too many end up in adoption programs because owners simply cannot cope with the demands and costs of owning one. The one I'm getting is almost 7 months old and his current owners said they have gotten no noise complaints from their neighbors (who apparently complain when their child cries) so hopefully that means he'll be able to be left alone without crying! Very trying. I must have been blessed because the only problem I ever had with my adored Iggies was their teeth which was managed by cost of annual teeth cleaning and many extractions!. If you like letting your dog roam free in parks so you can relax and go for a calm walk, think again. Sight-hounds are independent thinkers who dont particularly care about pleasing you. This Subreddit is about Italian Greyhounds and those of use that have no choice to but love them 24/7! Often referred to as Velcro dogs, because of their desire to be by your side all the time, there is no doubt their looks position them as the supermodels of the canine world. One of the most endearing qualities of an Iggy is its timid nature. If you want to use your local Vet, that is fine, however, make sure you have done your research, keep up to date of all developments and be prepared to seek a second opinion on a regular basis from an expert in sighthounds. You must be constantly vigilant, to the point youll often find an Iggy tied (via a lead) to its owner around the house, literally. This makes them highly appealing dogs to the general public who see beauty, style (they prance, they dont walk), sensitive, snugly and comedic dogs. The lighter coloured fur, in particular, can be very prone to UV damage. Most importantly they need to understand the breed intrinsically to make sure they do not jump off high furniture or play rough with larger breeds etc. You must be very vigilant when it comes to the sun and ensure they are well covered during summer and well away from UV rays, even in your house where it can come streaming through your house windows. However, it is not all doom and gloom here, you can minimise the chances by ensuring there is no jumping off anything, but this is particularly difficult, even for very experienced owners. While they are independent dogs and they will often follow you everywhere. If that is at all possible. This can be hard to implement consistently, particularly if your frustration builds quickly. When we are out she is in her crate. So every time someone approaches us to discuss owning an Iggy, we make a point to give that person a balanced and realistic view of one of the most unique and emotive breeds youll come across. I can't even believe such a tiny dog could make such a big sound. An Iggy, more so than any other breed of dog we have experienced when injured or having treatment, such as vaccinations will behave like an 1920s silent picture actress. She does whine constantly whenever anything isn't 100% what she wants, but that's very quiet and she doesn't do it when she's alone because its purpose is to get our attention. What they dont see is the enormous amount of work and cost it takes to own one. This leads to a high proportion of these dogs ending up as rescues. We often see dogs walking next to their owners in our local area (side streets) without a leash, there is no way we would risk this, even with a non-Iggy breed, however, there is ZERO chance we would do this with a sight-hound like an Iggy.