The Buzz About Italian Greyhounds

By Carol Harris

My name is Carol Harris.  I have bred and owned many breeds of dogs and loved them all, but especially I enjoy hounds for their beauty, their desire to please and their extreme athletic ability.  The Italian Greyhound is very definitely a toy hound in every respect.  Thirty years has made me get to know them extremely well.  In the past, breeding and showing IGs represented some huge problems and responsibilities for us all because the dog world felt they were so delicate they couldn’t jump off a bed or a sofa without breaking at least one leg.  This dreadful reputation was only because the breed was so overly pampered and poorly raised in small ex-pens, that their ligaments and muscles knew nothing about protecting their tiny little legs.  Today we hear very little about IGs breaking any bones that belong to them.  They have become tough and durable toy dogs and are no longer nearly as skittish and scared as they were known to be in the past.   IG breeders have slowly learned that these dogs needed to be socialized early in life and given opportunities to visit with intelligent children and adults as they grew.

Because of these changes, IGs have become more fun to handle at dog shows than in the past, and with their new self-esteem, they have actually become more competitive in the toy groups.  At one time the only IGs you ever saw at a show could be found shivering and shaking in someone’s arms.  When I bought my first little dog, it was because of my curiosity to find out why they were so insecure that they had to be protected and carried everywhere, rather than being asked to walk on the ground.  It has taken me close to 20 years of wondering, but I do believe IG breeders are finally waking up and permitting their puppies and grown dogs to enjoy a normal life with healthy exercise.  Some IGs today are even competing in obedience, agility, coursing and racing.

At this time I own approximately 30 IGs.  All are special friends that we carefully feed and care for.  We have so much fun watching them jump and play in large paddocks.  They don’t live in crates except when traveling, and I can honestly say that they make outstanding pets for any affectionate dog owner who is intelligent enough to know that they can also be taught to be clean little house dogs.

Of late I have watched this breed become more and more popular at dog shows and I know exactly why.  They are no longer spooky, mysterious, hard to understand animals.  They have gradually emerged into small, easy to live with odorless pets who just plain enjoy their lives.  They do not fight with each other and are extremely inexpensive to feed, and, oh yes, something important I almost forgot – - – THEY ARE SMALL DOGS THAT DON’T HAVE HAIR TO MAT, COMB, WASH OR DRY!

I personally feel that the IG breeders deserve to be congratulated for turning these little toy hounds into AKC’s most improved toy breed.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=31404

Posted by chesliepickett on Aug 30 2013. Filed under Featured, The Buzz. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.