I am looking to buy an Italian Greyhound. Has anyone got anything to say about the breed?

excercise?
health?
temperement?
noise?

Any help would be much appreciated!!

Thank you, Lisa

I have a friend who owns them but the only thing I can really say is that they are very susceptable to breaking legs. Some lines have more of a problem with this than others (presumably because some are finer than others). The ones I know are quiet and don't have high exercise requirement but I'll leave it up to breed specialists to give you more info.

Certain lines are prone to broken legs, luckily mine are not and they are exercised with my whippets and my two oldies a greyhound and a lurcher. They love to run and require a fair amount of exercise if you dont want them doing the wall of death around the tops of the settees!!!!!!!!. They can be very noisy, one of the first sentences my next door neighbours little girl said was 'shut up George' They are very agile and use my table by the window to bark at anyone who dares to use their street. They can be very dirty in the house unless neutered.They make great hot water bottles and have a great sense of fun. Not a breed for the faint hearted please visit breeders and see the dogs in their own homes. There are health problems including epilepsy. You may have to wait some time for a puppy to become available Beware of anyone who has to advertise puppies there will be a reason. Most breeders have a waiting list and only breed when they want a puppy for themselves. Jan

Thanks for that info Jan.

I was wondering if you could tell me, in your experience how well do italian Greyhounds cope when left alone for a few hours? As I will be having a part time job, say five times a week for 3 hrs, in the evening or afternoon. Is that acceptable? It is most likely that during the times I am away someone else will be in the house.

I would not like to crate the dog during this time and it would have access to a large size room, whith no dangers in it.

Surely the time I spend with the dog the rest of the time would make up for the few hours I will be away from it?

Thanks for your help, Lisa

As a rule IGs prefer to have company. I have let puppies go as only pets but that was only because the owner was constantly at home or would take the dog with them if they went out. Even the company of a cat would be better than nothing.
You would not necessarily have to confine the dog to a crate. I do have mine shut off in a small safe area with heat lamps and beds and paper that they can go on as I dont expect them to stay clean even for a short time.
Like all breeds some IGs like their own company but others will fret. You would have to have an alternative plan B in the wings if leaving the dog on its own is not satisfactory.
Besides which you wont have only one IG for long, they are a bit collectable unfortunately!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think thats a good point I need to consider... A plan B that is!! Do you know any reputable breeders as near as Sheffield (south yorkshire) as possible, that would allow me to see there dogs and ask lots of questions? Where abouts are you? and do you ever breed?

I really like what I have seen and heard about IG's but I DO want to have a dog that is very happy with the situation it is in! A very loving home would await it and I am keen to see some dogs and learn as much as I possibly can! (which im sure you can appreciate!)

Thanks again, Lisa

Hi Lisa, sorry have'nt replied before I cant believe it is nearly a week since I last logged on!
We are a bit far south for you in Oxfordshire. There are not a lot of breeders up the North. Do you get to any of the Champ shows at all? We usually get to most of them depending on the judges.
Would Manchester be too far to travel? I know several people up that way with IGs. Litters are few and far between so you may have to travel. We are about to start a new web site up for IGs which hopefully we will have contacts in different areas for people to visit and met IGs in the home. Still early days yet but it is steaming ahead.
If I think of anyone near you I will let you have their number Regards Jan

I am biased but why not think about a whippet, very easy to train and care for and very similar to Italian greyhounds, in looks if nothing else! my two are wonderful and no bother at all, they are clean, don't bark and very easy to wear out!

I have looked into whippets and lovely as they seem I just seem to keep coming back to the IG. !! But I am still open minded, as I want the right breed so that I and it, will be happy for many years!

Thanks Jan, I am heading to stafford toy dog show next weekend! Also I am hopefully going to Leeds to meet some IG's in a couple of weeks. If you do hear of any litters or breeders who might consider me please let me know. I am certainly prepared to travel to Manchester or Leeds or somewhere similar. Thanks again for your help,

Lisa :-)

I have been to Stafford and met some lovely dogs and people! Who would be the best person to speak to get an unbiased oppinion on breeders I met? This may sound like a not very nice thing to do, but I would like to be certain that leg breakages have not been bred into a line of dogs I look at, or things such as epilepsy. I have spoken to the kennel club, but they were not able to give me information such as this.

Thanks again, Lisa

The best bet is to contact the breed club to check on breeders credentials. As for an unbiased opinion on which lines, no such thing really.

Certainly if the breeder is recomended by the club as a member then one would hope they would be honest with answers to your questions.

Will get about doing that tonight! I guess I am worried as I have been specifically warned about certain breeders of Italian Greyhounds and it is difficult to know what to believe! Although it would be lovely if everyone could be trusted to be honest.

On the other hand, Im sure that many breeders have as much trouble assessing would be owners!
Thanks, Lisa

Tell me about it, lol!!!!

Hi Lisa, I was Chairman of the IG Club in 2002. I now do not belong to the Club at all! Nothing more to be said really.
When you were at Stafford was there any particular line of IG that took your fancy.I wouldnt be able to give an unbiased opinion on breeders as I cant lie. All I can say is I can count on one hand the amount of breeders I could or would recommend which is rather sad really. The only good thing about the breeders are that they are not mass producing the breed although unfortunately one or two dubious people have got hold of breeding stock. Do your research thoroughly and you wont go wrong, good luck Jan

By 'unbiased' I meant able to give an oppinion that was honest! (I think I used the word in the wrong way...ooops!) So your views would be much appreciated! I have emailed you privately. Thanks again, Lisa.