This wonderfull piece is by : www.enidgroves.com
The information below is a kind donation from an international IG organization in order to promote the breed itself. It is available to anyone who would like to have it. If you like to name the source it would be even better! The Italian Greyhound also known as IG or IGGY or PLI or Piccolo Levriero Italiano is the smallest in size of the family of sight hounds (dogs that hunt by sight). They are in the 10th or Hound group under FCI rules. They are in the toy group under CKC/AKC rules. They still carry some of their hunting instincts like the bigger hounds (whippets, greyhounds), however these days they are bred solely to be amazing companions. IGs are small, beautiful, happy, sensitive, affectionate, sweet natured, well mannered and sophisticated. If you already have an IG, you know what I am talking about... Just like potato chip commercials say: one is never enough!
We strive to produce healthy, happy, loving, long-lived quality Italian Greyhounds for companions. We breed to keep a sound puppy to continue our lines, for the betterment of the breed. Our goal is to breed not only for conformation (correct dog), but a HEALTHY dog with a sound temperament, who is a great pet companion. Our goal also is to educate people about this divine and charismatic dog. Please read carefully and educate yourself first, then decide if an IG is the right dog/breed for you. Our Iggies are genetically tested. We check eyes, ears, patella, and thyroid before we breed 2 champions with great temperament together.
"Frequently Asked Questions" WHY ARE THEY SKINNY? Do they need to run everyday? Do they like kids?
PHYSICAL TRAITS
Our kennel is also proud to carry some of the most unusual markings, like solid bronze, copper, creamy Isabella and sand-coloured.
Health Considerations: General Health: Very healthy breed in general; don’t let their fragile look fool you.
Health Concerns: Deafness, Epilepsy, PRA (eye disease), Patella, thyroid, periodontal disease, and color dilute alopecia (hair loss found in some light coloured IGs). You can minimize the chances of getting a sick IG by asking from your breeder in writing the health tests of the parents or even the grandparents of your IG. Ethical breeders run these expensive volunteer health tests by themselves and they will give them to you regardless. We give all health tests in writing signed by a neurologist, ophthalmologist and out vet.
IGs are fearless and agile climbers. Don’t let them jump off high furniture as they can break a leg. IGs need coats and t-shirt, cold is not their friend.
ABOUT IGGIES (Piccolo Levriero Italiano). Their history. Phoenicians, who controlled the commerce in the sea at the time, brought them to Egypt where they were loved. The birth of an IG was celebrated like the birth of a son. When the Romans conquered Egypt they brought this elegant dog to Rome (a small IG was found in an ancient lava flow in Pompeii).
Where did their name come from? It is unclear, however some theories say it derives from the words: In ancient Egypt they were part of the human family, and the birth or the death of an IG was a significant event. In some cases only royalty could own an IG. They were held in high esteem. IGs have their unbeatable eyesight combined with their impressive speed, making them good hunters of small animals. They hunted with many kings throughout human history.
GENERAL TRAITS ABOUT IGS Today Italian Greyhounds are not the most popular breed in North America and especially in Canada. A lot of IGs can be found in US rescues which raises questions about the quality of work local breeders do. IGs are sensitive and affectionate dogs, they love to hug, kiss and cuddle with their families. They need affection like they need food. They like to be around company, they do not like to be left alone. They still carry some of the sight hound instincts and they will hunt a small animal that moves. Wearing a safe and secure martingale collar can be lifesaving. Don't let their slender look mislead you, as they are hardy dogs in general. Young puppies are prone to leg breaks if left unattended or being allowed to jump from higher surfaces such as couches or beds. Pet insurance is highly recommended. Iggies bark very little. They are not a guard dog, as they would rather sleep on a fat pillow next to the fireplace. They require little grooming. They need daily brushing of their teeth. Their coat feels like velvet , it shines and is soft. They shed almost nothing at all. As a result they don't get the doggy odour and they make good pets for people with allergies.
IGs will bond with all members of the family, as they are not a "one Master dog". They are not needy, but they will follow you form room to room simply because they want to be with you. They will even bond quickly with their new family when adopted as adults. They might appear reserved, shy, aloof toward a stranger, usually with glasses or facial hair (yes some ladies too :). IGs like kids, but a toddler can hurt the IG by accident. Like other dogs there is only so much they can tolerate by inconsiderate kids. In general they do wonderfully with other house pets, dogs or cats. Crocodiles are not recommended :) IGs love other IGs. Thy might howl if they are unhappy.
They do very well in pairs. Photo: Biological brothers Leonardo and Tiesto lounge together. Enzo joined a family with a pre existing IG, Ronin. An Italian Greyhound does best when with another Italian Greyhound. It is very common to see a 2nd IG in a family. IGs like other pets as well, but they love to cuddle with and play with their own kind. As already stated, they are like potato chips, as they say: one is never enough!!!
Behaviour & Training: Behaviour With Other Animals: Submissive with other breeds especially larger dogs. IGs love other animals, company, body warmth, and to be played with. IGs LOVE OTHER IGs. They are not in love with large black dogs, and will avoid them. Cats don't mind IGs at all. Attitude toward strangers: Properly bred IGs who have good canine skills are friendly tail-wagers toward strangers. Angel Iggies IGs are renowned for this. Some IGs can be aloof, skittish and reserved/shy toward strangers. Sometimes it all depends on the individual dog as well. Housebreaking: Like all toy breeds, they have a small bladder and it can be difficult to housetrain quickly. They can do well when paper trained, potty box trained, or you can use pee pads as well. I don’t suggest cat litter at all. Trainability: IGs are intelligent dogs. They can do agility, obedience, and lure coursing. They become more confident when they do sports. Exercise Requirement:. If you want to long distance run with an IG next to you, seek another breed. They will love a good short run in a FULLY FENCED back yard. IGs make wonderful apartment dogs, as they bark very little.
Recommendations: A crate that is big enough to fit their soft bed, room to play and room to defecate. Never leave them unattended in the house or in the back yard. A crate is not a bad thing, it is their little home. The wired ones are best since they can see you, you can see them, and they don't feel isolated. Buy an expensive fancy bed only after they are adults, because as puppies they will dig and slash their bed. Donut shaped beds are their favourites. Martingale collars are a must, as they can easily slip put of a harness or other type of collars. Rope toys that are not too soft are the best, as they can eat the particles.
Food: IGs need protein and the first ingredient must be meat (duck, venison, turkey, salmon or chicken), as they have very little fat. Avoid corn or wheat based foods. Around one year of age switch to adult formula as they no longer need extra amounts of calcium. I use ROYAL CANINE with 33% protein and/or INNOVA for puppies. TEETH: Brushing once a day after the last meal or before bed time is the ideal, but least 3 times a week is a must. Brush your dog's teeth after permanent teeth arrive only. NAILS: Trim them once or twice a month as they can scratch you by accident. Avoid bringing their nails to your eye level, remember, they are still hounds :)
Character and Personality Traits: Personality: They are very affectionate, intelligent, they enjoy attention, and they are gentle and charming..
Character and Activity Level: As puppies they are playful. They will retain some playfulness as they age. They can be couch potatoes or run in the park and then come back home and crash!
All this info is general and applies to most Italian Greyhounds. Remember that every dog is a different individual and its genetics, training and environment play a significant role.
HOW DO I FIND A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER? Getting an Italian Greyhound is committing for the next 15 years or so. Don’t get excited by their amazing looks. Think twice so that you don't end up abandoning the IG in a shelter because you can’t deal with potty training. Educate yourself first. Is it truly the breed for you? Sure it is cute and rather low maintenance but can your lifestyle fit their needs? If you’re certain, then it is time to find a responsible breeder. It is a wise thing to avoid pet stores, puppy mills, and backyard breeders. These breed to make a profit, period. They keep all costs down and their earnings high, therefore their puppies cost less. A responsible breeder will give you the health tests of the puppy and of the parents in writing.
A responsible breeder will breed to improve the lines, for the betterment of the breed. He/she will bring 2 special dogs together, both sound physically with good temperaments, cleared with health tests and preferably champions, which mean they meet the standard of the breed. A responsible breeder will give you a warranty and lifetime support. He/she will even take the dog back if needed. Responsible breeders sell their puppies on a neuter/spay contract. Pet quality pups should never be bred. Most good breeders are members of IG clubs of their country or of international clubs. Sometimes some of the most interesting breeders for reasons of politics are not a member of such a club. Responsible breeders screen and interview prospective families and they check references. They keep the puppies 8 to 16 weeks of age prior to placement. They need to stay with their litter mates and their mother to learn proper socialization skills. They stay in touch with the new family and they are available to answer question if needed and provide support. A good breeder will not tell you just the good things about the breed, otherwise he/she is just trying to make a sale. Even CKC accepts a registration of litter from parents over 6 months old, but dogs also need to be emotionally mature. 18 to 30 months old for the females (like humans, some mature faster than others) and around 1 year old for the males (the breeder has to make sure dogs are fully developed). Patella tests must be done once they are 1 year old, along with checking eyes and passing the hearing test. Then they can be bred. Some clubs will put a 2 year old minimum. This is for dogs that might derive from doubtful breeding stock making it better to wait longer. For a dog that comes from generations and generations with no health concerns of any nature, with all health tests passed, it truly makes no difference if their period/season came when they were 20 months old or 22, or 26. .
BEAWARE OF SOME BREEDERS
"SALES AGREEMENT" A legal contract is a must in order to protect the breed itself. I ask from the families who adopt my dogs to keep them safe, provide them with good quality food and with preventative medical care and further medical care if it is needed. JUST LOVE IT.
Breeding IGs is very hard work, it takes a lot to produce healthy and sweet IGs. Nature always has the upper hand, NO BREEDER CAN BE ALWAYS 100% SURE, therefore a health warranty is a must. Deposits: We will accept deposits to reserve a puppy after a prospective buyer has completed a thorough screening including filing out our questionnaire plus references. Deposits are non refundable unless a mutual arrangement has been reached between ANGEL IGGIES and you. Email us to receive a copy of the application.
HEALTH GUARANTEE
HOUSETRAINING TIPS I can tell you from my own experiences that not every IG is the same. IGs do not want to go outside when it is cold, rainy or windy. You don't find rescued IGs in Canada easily. In the USA it is different, as they can have behavioural problems or people will abandon them because the breeder did not tell them how to deal with the housetraining. IGs are small dogs with small bladders. Just like young children you cannot expect a young puppy to be able to hold it for long. Young puppies will go as soon as they have to go. Be a realistic person and don't expect them to tell you when they have to go. Try to prevent the accidents. Don't wait for them to happen. If they happen pick them up that moment and take them where they are suppose to go. Catch it before it happens and praise praise praise at the right moment. There are certain signs that can help out. Watch for them. They sniff the ground in circular motions, they go to a corner, usually shortly after a meal, after playing time, after waking up etc. Grab him/her and take him/her to the designated area. Once they are successful, hug, kiss and praise them; a treat would be great. Be persistent every single time. Praise and Reinforcement Let your IGs know they did a good job. I have treats in my pocket all the time. They respond better to higher vocal tones or baby talk. Praise praise praise when they do it right. Praise within seconds of the incident if you can. Get your point across, pick up a phrase “ATA GIRL" or "GOOD GIRL" CLEAN UP
PRICING Why the difference between 1500 and 2500 for a pet? Temperament, gender and markings play a role. A pied shaped with black liner around the eye female is certainly more rare than a monochromatic (one solid color, lively, male puppy). Any purebred dog these days is around 1200 Canadian, Iggies start from 1500 but you don't have the grooming expenses. I used to take my Lhasa Apso to get a professional clipping 4 times a year and I paid 65 with tax, times 4x a year making $280, times 15 years of life? You could buy a brand new Iggy!!! With our kennel you would get puppies that come from healthy parents bred responsibly. We screen families very well, we socialize our pups so when they come to your family they are friendly and up to date with behaviour and training. You can visit by appointment and see their environment, play, hug them, observe them and make an objective decision, as it is question of chemistry after all :). Why? a) gives us, the breeder the opportunity to see the dog again and observe its height, ears, etc. and see in person how our bloodlines are developing b) it is always good for the dog to see the biological family again, makes them so happy :). So if you go away for a day, a weekend or a month, remember we are always here as a back up, as the dog can stay with us and get some additional training, and you get some time off, especially if you travel overseas and with the 50% off you will pay an absolute minimum.
WHY ARE ALL IGGY FORUMS BAD? I have been a member of a few forums, a lot to learn and offer but with a big price to pay, nasty atittude, a ghetto of breeders/ig rescue volunteers who in the name of rescuing an ig go to the extremes. I personally have not found one that I agree with their terms of service, have not found freedom of expression which is very important to me. Therefor,e I am lunching my own social network of Italian Greyhounds for breeders and IG fanciers with no conservative point of views, no gheto of breeders and nasty people, just for the love and knowledge of our breed.
READ THIS: IT IS VERY INTERESTING, HILARIOUS AND HIGHLY ENTERTAINING!!!! Iggy forums are a tool these days for people to spread their poison. As members of an international organization right now we abide by their rules and we removed that content as it is no longer needed, the point came out and clear. The comments and names of the forum members in question, have been kept on file from the organization itself for future references.
WARNING, All IP addresses visiting our site are recorded for ours and your security, CHEERS :)
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