<C>Availability:</C> May take some effort to find.
<b>History:</> Mummies of a similar dog to the Italian Greyhound have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. The breed was later developed by the Romans, and evidence of a small greyhound was found in a lava flow from Pompeii. During the sixteenth century, this delicate dog became popular with European nobility, and is depicted in many paintings of that time. The breed was favored by James I of England, Catherine the Great of Russia, Anne of Denmark and Queen Victoria, among others. Frederick the Great of Prussia liked his little Italian Greyhounds so much, he even took one to war with him. When his Italian Greyhounds died, he buried them with his own hands on the grounds of his Sans Souci Palace. In 1991, Frederick's heirs granted his dying wishes and transferred his remains to Sans Souci, and placed them beside his little Italian Greyhounds. A nineteenth century African chieftain was so taken with these graceful dogs that he offered 200 cattle in exchange for a single specimen. The Italian Greyhound is an excellent companion dog.
<b>Description:</> An elegant, miniature fine-boned greyhound with a long head and tapering muzzle. Like his larger cousins, the brisket is deep, the abdomen tucked-in and the back arched. The fine narrow ears fold back along the head, but rise perpendicular to the head when the dog is alert. The Italian Greyhound has an easy-care short sleek coat in fawn, cream, red, black, or blue, often broken up with white markings, or white with colored markings (never brindle, black, or tan). The Italian Greyhound has a high-stepping gait.
<b>Notes:</> Can be difficult to housebreak. Very sensitive to cold temperatures; should wear a sweater to go out in cold weather. Generally easy to get along with and care for. More hardy than he appears. Prone to slipped stifle, fractures. PRA and epilepsy. This dog is extremely fast. Young Italian Greyhounds are very active. They can climb wire fencing and are very inquisitive, jumping from chairs to table tops to nearby furniture. Because Italian Greyhound like to play by running at and bumping into each other, play with groups of other Italian Greyhounds should always be supervised to prevent accidental injury. Play with large dogs is not recommended. Bitches whelp easily and are well-suited to motherhood. Teeth should be brushed regularly and toenails kept trimmed. The Italian Greyhound may be a good jogging companion for short distances, but does better as a walking companion.
<b>Personality:</> Gentle, submissive and affectionate. Playful and intelligent. Can be high- strung and timid. Naturally well-behaved. Must be handled and trained gently. Very dependant. Peaceful--doesn't do well with rowdiness. Can snap if frightened.
<b>Behavior:</>
<C>Children:</C> Best with older, considerate children.
<C>Friendliness:</C> Reserved with strangers.
<C>Trainability:</C> Easy to train.
<C>Independence:</C> Needs people a lot.
<C>Dominance:</C> Low.
<C>Other Pets:</C> Generally good with other pets.
<C>Combativeness:</C> Friendly with other dogs.
<C>Noise:</C> Average barker.
<b>Grooming and Physical Needs:</>
<C>Grooming:</C> Very little grooming needed.
<C>Trimming & Stripping:</C> No trimming or stripping needed.
<C>Coat:</C> Short coat.
<C>Shedding:</C> Very light.
<C>Exercise:</C> Very little exercise needed.
<C>Jogging:</C> A good jogging companion.
<C>Indoors:</C> Fairly active indoors.
<C>Apartments:</C> Good for apartment living.
<C>Outdoor Space:</C> Does all right without a yard.
<C>Climate:</C> Prefers warm climates.
<C>Owner:</C> Not recommended for novice owners.
<C>Longevity:</C> Moderately long lived (12 to 15 years).
<b>For More Information:</>
Call the AKC Breeder Referral Hotline: 1-900-407-PUPS for the name of a breeder referral representative in your area. Cost is 99 cents per minute.
<b>Photo Caption:</> ITALIAN GREYHOUND
Photo copyright: Cook PhoDOGraphy 1995. All rights reserved.
