By :
Brent McCoy
The Italian Greyhound (nicknamed the "Iggy" or "IG" for short) is a smaller version of their more popular cousin in the standard Greyhound and features a non-shedding coat that comes in a wide variety of colors. Similarly to their cousin, the breed first appeared in Ancient Egypt, and was initially bred for the primary objective of hunting and companionship.Just a few of their more distinctive characteristics can include their highly sensitive temperament that allows them to almost know what their owners are thinking, their love for running and their hypoallergenic coat that rarely sheds - which essentially make the Italian Greyhound a familiar breed for active owners or allergy sufferers who can provide them with gentle loving care.The Italian Greyhound is well-known for their gentle and sensitive spirit as well as their love for running like their larger relatives. They are characteristically timid with guests, which along with their size can make them not very suitable as a guard dog.The Italian Greyhound is also demonstrated to be fairly intelligent - scoring 60th compared to other dogs based on their capability to be trained obedience directives. They are also recognized to be good with children so long as they are taught to handle them carefully - which makes them somewhat suitable as a family pet. The Italian Greyhound is not very friendly with other animals such as dogs, cats and other smaller animals due to their natural prey instinct.Grooming the Italian Greyhound is a pretty simple duty. They require only occasional rub-downs due to their short non-shedding coat but need more regular care for their teeth with brushing each day.The Italian Greyhound can be satisfied with a large well-fenced yard to provide them with enough space, but they are suitable for apartment life provided they are exercised on a regular basis. They prefer warmer temperatures, and they will be less content if it gets too cold due to their short coat - so special clothing will usually be required to keep them warm.The Italian Greyhound takes pleasure in hobbies including a sprint around the yard, playing fetch and using the natural hunting instincts to find hidden items. They have a high amount of energy which gradually decreases as they grow older and require exercise each day in the shape of long walks and occasional sprints to keep them happy, motivated and healthy.The Italian Greyhound could be the right dog breed for retirees, couples without children or families with older children. They are appropriate for anyone who is able to perform a minimal amount of grooming and set aside time to give them patient housebreaking, early socialization and firm obedience training as well as take them for long daily walks or runs and bestow a good amount of company and attention. Though they may be to some extent unsuitable as a pet in families with young children that may handle them too roughly, if you are capable of meeting their need for gentle care, sensitivity while training them and fulfill their natural running instinct then the Italian Greyhound could be the ideal dog for you.
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