History of occurrence
The Italian Greyhound is a very old Greyhound. Interestingly, a dog similar to the Italian Greyhound of today was found in a 6000 year old Egyptian tomb. Like the Greyhound, this breed was brought to Europe by the Phoenicians. The breed was later developed by the Romans. As evidence, a small Greyhound was found in an ancient lava flow in Pompeii. During the sixteenth century, this delicate dog became popular with European nobility, and is portrayed in many paintings of that time. They rose to great heights of popularity in the Italian renaissance and gained their name then.
General form
A miniature Greyhound, more slender in all proportions, and of ideal elegance and grace in shape, symmetry and action.
Отличительная особенность породы Italian Greyhound
Head and Skull: skull long, flat and narrow. Muzzle very fine. Nose dark in colour.
Eyes: rather large, bright and full of expression.
Ears: rose-shaped, placed well back, soft and delicate.
Mouth: teeth level.
Neck: should be long and gracefully arched.
Body: chest deep and narrow. Back curved, and drooping at the hind- quarters.
Forequarters: shoulders long and sloping. Legs straight, well set under the shoulders; fine pasterns; small delicate bones.
Hindquarters: hocks well let down. Thighs muscular.
Feet: long, hare-feet.
Rather long, fine, with low carriage.
Coat: skin fine and supple. Hair, thin and glossy, like satin.
Colour: all shades of fawn, white cream, blue, black and fawn and white pied.
Distinctive action is high stepping and free, the foreleg is lifted with a slight bend at the wrist rather than a goose step. Both front and rear legs move forward in a straight line with reach in front and drive from the rear. Both front and rear legs may converge slightly as speed increases but should not cross. Movement is sound, elegant and smooth, not choppy or hackney-like.
Weight — 2.7-3.6 kg. and not exceeding 4.5 kg.
Character
The Italian Greyhound is a devoted and affectionate dog breed who makes a good companion. Headstrong and stubborn, the Italian Greyhound requires a consistent and firm leader. It loves to run and chase. It is extremely gentle and sensitive. Reserved, often timid, with strangers, it is devoted to its family and is good with children, and other dogs and pets. However, it can be easily injured by boisterous children and larger dogs. While Italian Greyhounds like to please, bad habits have to be discouraged right from the beginning.
Maintenance care
The Italian Greyhound likes a daily romp outdoors, but it hates the cold. Its exercise needs are best met with a good walk on leash or even a rollicking game indoors. It also likes to stretch out and sprint in a fenced area. This breed cannot live outdoors, unless the kenneling is well insulated and the run covered and is situated in a sunny sheltered area. . Care of the fine short hair is minimal, consisting only of occasional brushing to remove dead hair. Regular brushing of the teeth is important in this breed.
Lifespan – 12-15 years.
Dignity
Has a sleek easy-care coat that comes in many colors.
Doesn't shed very much (though is not a hypoallergenic breed).
Moves with light-footed grace and a high-stepping gait.
Can switch from couch potato to fast, agile athlete in an instant.
Polite and peaceful with everyone.
Doesn't bark much.
Difficulty keeping
The fragility of toy breeds.
Shyness when not socialized enough.
Keeping him on-leash or in a safe enclosure, as he would otherwise dash away, oblivious to your calls, in pursuit of anything that moves.
Emotional sensitivity to stress and abrupt changes in schedule.
An independent "what's in it for me?" attitude toward training.
Notorious housebreaking difficulties.
Diseases
The Italian Greyhound is prone to minor health conditions such as patellar luxation, leg and tail fractures, epilepsy, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), or major ones like periodontal disease. This breed is sensitive to barbiturate anesthesia and susceptible to portacaval shunt, Legg-Perthes, color dilution alopecia, cataract, and hypothyroidism on occasion. Regular knee and eye tests are advised for this breed of dog.
