| What the books don't
tell you about Italian Greyhounds.by Mary Ellen Berger
The vast majority of IGs turned into rescue by their owners are
because the dog is not housetrained. I don't care if a book, or
a website, or a breeder, or the AKC, or anybody, tells you otherwise;
IGs are difficult to housetrain. Let me repeat myself: *IGs
are difficult to housetrain.*
They are not, however, impossible to housetrain. If you expect to
open the backdoor three times a day and have your IG trot out merrily
to do his business all by himself, you will be sadly disappointed.
But with patience, consistency, and determination, it can be done.
Think about it: the Italian Greyhound is a dog with no body fat
and precious little fur.
How likely would YOU be to run outside naked first thing on a frosty
morning to use the bathroom? So you can see the dilemma.
One important aside to this issue is that I consider territorial
marking to
be related to housetraining, but not the same problem as poor housetraining.
A male that lifts his leg in the house to "mark" is exhibiting
a very
different behavior from a dog that just needs to go to the bathroom,
even
though the end result may smell the same.
OK, some of the books mention this. What they don't mention is the
cost of repair. In my area, the total cost of repairing a broken
leg has run about $2000 each time it's happened. Most IGs will not
break their legs, but there is almost a profile of "at risk"
dogs: around a year old, little previous exercise, dubious nutrition,
and then -- freedom.
They can't handle sudden freedom, and at the first opportunity,
thud,snap-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay. That's the sound of a leg breaking,
followed by the infamous "Iggy Death Scream". Best to
make sure you have pet insurance, a good vet, a savings account,
or all of the above, just in case.
Of the fosters I've had and the dogs I've known, the range of temperaments
has been so extreme it makes me wonder if the dogs are even Italian
Greyhounds sometimes. The breed is supposed to be reserved with
strangers, loving to family, moderately active little dogs.
Well, I've had some that would put a toddler on a sugar rush to
shame. They just don't quit, play all the time, and love everyone
they meet. Others have preferred to sleep in some quiet corner,
preferably under a blanket, and dream their days away.
This is related to temperaments. Most IGs seem to tolerate children
at best, but I have had a very few that simply adore kids.
I would not recommend that someone acquire an IG as a pet for a
small child, though. But if the dog is for an adult or a responsible
older child, and there are young children in the house, with the
right dog (AND the right kids AND the right parents) it can be a
wonderful combination.
Not every big dog, I wouldn't suggest putting an IG into a home
with a high-prey-drive Borzoi, for example, but a big, mellow dog
that won't try to squish or chase a little one would be fine.
IGs may not require much in the way of grooming, but they are emotionally
high-maintenance dogs. They want nothing more than to be with you
as much
as possible. Some people find this charming, others find it cloying
and bothersome.
If the thought of being followed into the bathroom or enduring scratching
and whining while you use the facilities turns you off, an IG is
not for you.
This is a personal opinion, but it's been pretty consistent across
the IGs I've known.
Female IGs pick one person to adore. The rest of the world is a
cast of extras. The boys are bit more willing to love someone new
and be friendlier to strangers.
People often ask for a female rescue because they feel it will be
sweeter and more
loving than a male, but the boys are just as cuddly as the girls
and will warm up faster to you.
Again, related to temperament, age and activity level. The amount
of exercise they enjoy is highly variable. Some can do quite well
with a few walks on a leash a day,
others are happiest when zooming around a fenced backyard with another
dog.
A bored IG, like most pets, can do a lot of damage.
And climb, too. When I do home inspections for pre-adoption approvals,
the first thing I do is tell the prospective adopter to think about
cat-proofing their house. IGs can often climb or jump into places
you would never have imagined.
My first IG is infamous for her ability to jump onto my kitchen
counters so she can eat whatever is cooking on the stove. Oh, and
she jumps that high from a sit.
And did I mention she lost a back leg to cancer? It brings a whole
new dimension to the phrase "counter-surfing".
Be prepared to brush teeth. A LOT. Small dogs in general, and IGs
in particular, are
prone to bad teeth, so regular cleanings and preventive care will
help your IG stay healthy. Epilepsy is relatively common in IGs.
Luxating patellas (slipping kneecaps) are common,
too. An eye disease called Progressive Retinal Atrophy,
or PRA, is also a problem, as are thyroid
and autoimmune blood disorders. Their body type
(fast metabolism/no body fat) makes safely anesthetising them more
difficult.
If you are buying a dog from a breeder, it's good to know up front
which of these problems you may confront. I would be highly suspect
of a breeder who told me they never encountered any of these problems
in their bloodlines.
The gene pool simply isn't that big.As a final note, all these points
are based on my personal experience. I'm sure I can find several
IGs who would violate each and every one of these "rules".
Heck, I got my first IG so I could do competitive obedience -- that's
a big rule-buster right there. But when people are trying to do
their homework, and find the perfect breed for their family, it's
only fair that they know the quirks and idiosyncracies that endear
the breed to those who love it, and make the rest of the world think
we're crazy.
Oh, yeah, before I forget -- did
I mention IGs are difficult to housetrain?
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