The small Italian Greyhound is a dog breed belonging to the Sighthound family, also called the Miniature Greyhound. The breed is part of the more prominent family of the Sighthound, such as the Borzoi, Whippet, and Saluki. The small Italian Greyhound is believed to have its origin in Egypt, dating back to 6000 – 7000 years ago, but there is some evidence linking it to Greece and Turkey. Italian Greyhounds are one of the best dog breeds for hunting small game. Italian Greyhounds weighs around 11 – 15 pounds, and grow to around 15 inches in height.
Is an Italian Greyhound the Same as A Miniature Greyhound?
The Italian Greyhound is similar to the Miniature Greyhound. Most people are used to the dog as a miniature Greyhound, but it is the same dog breed under the family of the Sighthound. The features of the Italian Greyhound, also known as the miniature Greyhound, include the following: it is slender, fine-boned, and slightly broader at the chest with a sunken and narrow abdomen. It weighs around 11 – 15 pounds, with a height of up to 15 inches. The Italian Greyhound has a slight lean appearance. The breed has white stripes and markings on its body which are dominant on the face, feet, and chest.
The breed is also known to be very sensitive in temperament but will be loyal after it gets used to you. It has a wide range of colors, including black, fawn, red, sable, chocolate, seal, and white. The Miniature Greyhound has fine, short hair that is known to shed moderately compared to other breeds. It makes a good companion dog that you don’t have to worry about dog hair everywhere in your house. The dog has an average lifespan of 15 years and can live longer if it is well taken care of by the owners.
Which is Smaller a Whippet or an Italian Greyhound?
Whippets are slightly more significant than the Italian Greyhound. But the two breeds are separated by narrow margins that are hardly noticeable. Both Whippet and Italian Greyhound belong to the family of Sighthound dog breeds. Greyhounds stand at 12 to 15 inches, while the Whippet is a bit taller, standing at 18 to 21 inches. The Whippet has an average weight of up to 30 to 40 pounds, while an Italian Greyhound averagely weighs 10 to 15 pounds. The Whippet and the Italian Greyhound have a similar appearance, but only size and a few features can separate them.
Similar features include a long arching body frame with slender legs. The breed also has small and pointy heads with round and dark eyes and small dark in color ears. Despite the similarities, a Whippet has a slightly slower speed than the Italian Greyhound, but they are both quick and great hunters. The dogs also have fine, short hair and smooth coats. The Italian Greyhound might have more energy and be a bit playful compared to the Whippet, who might choose to relax and get lazy. They are excellent companion dogs with small body sizes, but they might need large spaces to sprint around to release energy.
Are Italian Greyhounds Hard to Train?
You can train Italian Greyhounds, but they might be stubborn and need a lot of work to learn. However, it is not an easy task to house train them as they are easy to forget and are known to choose wherever suits them at that moment. Italian Greyhounds need to be reminded constantly; otherwise, a few months of relaxation and boredom may make them anxious. A change of environment, weather, or even people they are not used to can make them a bit hostile and anxious. They are known to be high temperament dogs, hence the need for good training. But once the dogs get used to you, they are friendly and loyal. Start training them at an earlier age while they are still puppies.
To efficiently train your Italian Greyhound, you can decide to use either constant treats or praise or specific phrases that they will associate with certain actions. Get your dog to get used to certain people and your family. A walk around the park with the dog or along the road will help it get used to its surroundings. One thing the Italian Greyhound never learns, is time to stop after it decides to pursue something, such as miniature games; it might go and never come back or get lost.
See Also: What Kind of Dog is a Dalmatian?
And: What Kind of Dog is an Indian Ghost Hound?
Are Italian Greyhounds Good with Children?
Italian greyhounds are not the best dog breed to be around children due to their temperament. But the breed can relate well with older children and adults who are not likely to tease them around. Due to their small size, the dog might feel offended when younger children become too playful towards them. The dog is also a bit lazy and would love to take a lot of time resting, and disturbances from children might make them aggressive. Children are also known to be noisy, among the things the Italian Greyhound does not associate with well. The fearful nature of the dog may make it associate the noise with the danger that can make them raise its defenses.
It is advisable not to keep the Italian Greyhound around younger children; instead, you can bring another Italian Greyhound as a companion. However, if you decide to keep them around, children get to train them while they are still puppies. Introduce them around kids at an earlier stage or when still puppies so that they can get used to children. You can also opt to get Italian Greyhounds to older children who can keep boundaries and not be a menace to the dog.
Conclusion
To Conclude, Italian Greyhounds are one the easiest dogs to manage due to their size and personality. They are also known to be a bit shy and would love your attention to keep them in check to prevent them from falling into depression. The dog might be associated with great speed and is one of the fastest dogs in the world, but it is a medium-energy dog that doesn’t require much exercise.
But it would help if you got them to exercise often and checked by a vet due to their relatively fragile bones and body frame. They are also easy to groom due to their soft and short hair; you need a soft bristle brush. If you would love a great companion, the Italian Greyhound is one of the dogs to consider.
Featured image: Italian Greyhound Running
