Italian Greyhound Pros And Cons, Do You Really Want An Italian Greyhound 

I just lost my Italian greyhound 3 weeks ago and I have never been so in love in my life. 16 years of the deepest love I ever felt. About potty training though, I spent a year trying to potty train mine as a puppy and just no luck. I was getting so frustrated and just didn’t know what to do. I took her one weekend to stay with my parents when I went out of town and came back and she was all potty trained. All it took was spending three days with my parents potty trained dogs using the doggie door and it clicked with her and till the day she died she never had a single accident again. So if you have one and you can’t potty train it try taking it around other dogs who are potty trained so they can watch and learn.

My Italian Greyhound lived 18 years- he was always flying off the couch, bed, the deck in the backyard, and would even jump really high to get on surfaces. He never broke a leg; amazing really. Maybe because he was sprinting since the beginning and he developed enough muscle to withstand the landings? Max was trained well, but he still had accidents in the house. No matter how well you train them I think this is inevitable. He hated the rain and cold, but I bought custom coats for him for every weather situation, rain coat/heavy winter coat/lighter fall coat, and then would just push him outside and say "you're a dog this is the way," haha!

Shhhh. Italian Greyhounds are a best kept secret. Let everyone else have their Yorkies and Bulldogs. 😊

Mines is 5 months old. They are the happiest dogs I've ever seen. They are full of energy and love to play and jump. No matter how much you train them they will revert back to their playfulness which can be a little annoying at times. Definitely a joyful dog.

Is this being in my recommend the internet’s way of telling me I watch too much Jenna Marbles?

I am seriously considering an IGGY for my next dog....and this has been very instructive.

Very helpful and informative video, this is great, thank you!

Good video; clear, concise, informative, good speaker with personality and nicely edited.

What a beautiful doggie🥰 Thanks for this great video😘

Thank you for the video. I love this breed. I have 3 and they are sweet, affectionate, independent minded, and funny. I live in a cold climate and it is true about the shoveling. My husband makes fun little paths for them in the backyard. With 2 coats and long booties each we are able to go out most of the year. I'd also add that if you don't want a couch buddy or a dog who sleeps in bed, don't get an IG. All my 3 are trained to go outside and are great about it. They will stare at me asking. As puppies, I took them out all the time and even if they had an accident I'd bring them outside to finish on the grass and praised them. I also don't crate or leave them alone for more than 4h. I also noticed that my family friends with whippets need them in a leash always due to high prey drive. All my 3 iggies do well on off leash trails (never near a road of course). Their need to stay near the pack and our family is fascinating. But remember each IG is a little different based on their own personality as well as how you raised them.

Shovelling a path through the snow in your backyard is totally a thing I wish I had learned sooner. So is a 300$ bespoke winter snowsuit with boots if you have very cold winters.

My Iggy is a 8 months old male and has a four year old German Shepherd sister and they are best buddies. They do everything together. This is my first iggy, but I think I’ll always have one after Loki. He’s so smart and cuddly. He’s surprisingly been pretty easy to house train as well.

Damn that is some indepth knowledge. Amazing.

Truly an informative video! I currently have a very sweet loveable Whippet who has just turned one (the second Whippet I’ve owned), but in the future I’ve considered downsizing to a more manageable sized Iggy. Every Iggy I’ve met has been gloriously joyful, affectionate, and cuddly... it’s great to know that going from a Whippet to an Iggy means there’ll be many more hugs and laughs to come! Also, as someone who’s brushed my Whippet’s teeth religiously since day one, I really appreciate you warning people about setting up a structured brushing routine. I agree it’s absolutely imperative to do this to avoid not just costly dental bills, but also most importantly to preserve the well-being of your furry loved one.

So informative! Especially about finding the right vets.

Thank you for this informative video.

My baby boy is an (unconfirmed but if you see him you can tell by body) italian greyhound mix (we think mixed with Chihuahua based on his appearance). The potty training is so true, he did pad train but never got house broken. I have a silicone pad the put his on so it isnt right on the floor. Fortunately his face is less narrow due to being a mixed breed so less risk of dental issues. He is the sweetest little guy though. Super cuddly. Sticks to me like absolute glue.

Thank you so much!

I love the statue in the back! Where did you purchase? :)

Very informative, my fiancé and I decided to get a Whippet instead for our first dog together. We will consider and iggy once we have our own home.

Thank you for the informative video. I used to love running with my border collie when I was a kid. Can I take an IG for a long run, like 5km?

Thank you for your information about IG , we currently have 2 but we have had this wonderful breed for 15 years also whippets . Our 1 year old puppy who is now house trained sometimes marks his territory generally only in a room he doesn’t often visit. Your advice would be most helpful. Thank you

Thank.

Hey 👋, I'm considering getting iggy as my next dog. Thanks for your video! I should try brushing my current dogs teeth on daily basis 😬.

Thank you! Not only was this video helpful and informative, it might just be the sweetest video on the Internet. I think we can go ahead and delete the Internet now, just keep this video :)

Thank you for the informative video! I have a one-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, and I'm thinking about getting an Italian Greyhound. Do you think these two breeds are compatible, or will the JRT have significantly more energy than the IG?

I really enjoyed your video, I am just starting my research. Looking for a companion now that I work from home. I have an elderly cat who would be the only other pet in the home. What are your thoughts on how a 1-2 year old dog would react with a cat in the environment? Traditionally are they good with cats? The cat is our little old lady and has been around dogs in the past before our yorkie passed away. Great content and keep up the amazing work!

I just rescued an 8 month old….. I was told it was a chihuahua….I could see her ribs. I thought she was just emaciated. Got her home and discovered she was Italian greyhound mix. Not the breed I ever would have chosen, but so far it’s been great. Very easy to train, cuddly. Only problem is she chews up everything. Even canvas Kong toys.

Iggies are the best!

My IG went in for a dental appointment and he was not the same for 6 months. Clearly there was an issue with anesthesia or oxygen to the brain. He spent a lot of time staring off blankly, then would snap out of it. Eventually he became himself again. Also, he had seizures until I read that dogs cannot have any food (often soft treats) that contain Polypropylene Glycol. As soon as I changed his treats, he never had another seizure and lived 12 more years.

Hello there thank you so much dor the video! Would you recommend even brushing a puppys teeth who is teething? My pup is 11 weeks old and those sharp ones are really coming through now. She was sold to me as a pure whippet puppy, however they only showed the mother, and she is so so tiny still i am somewhat convinced she maybe italian greyhoundor at least partly. Thanks again, david

Joyce, I have a question. Our Twigs is impossible to walk. He is afraid of sudden noises, like leaves skittering along the ground. We had a chain link fence built in the backyard so he could exercise, but he’ll only fetch a ball a few times. I would like him to keep his muscles up, but he strains anxiously, even with the proper collar on. I’m afraid he’ll harm his windpipe. I’ve tried to get a harness for him, but haven’t been able to find one to fit his body shape. Would you happen to know where I could find an Iggie harness, or if such a thing actually exists? PS. I hope you had good luck with your dog’s teeth. Since Twigs had some of his teeth out he can’t eat rawhide bones. His mouth bleeds, as his gums get crushed in spots.

Joyce. What made u pick Italian greyhound over greyhound Dog? May I ask? May family is thinking about getting a greyhound dog, Thanks again for your time and knowledge Thumbs up 👍

Could this breed do well with other breeds? I have a toy poodle currently. She’s 8 months old, weighs 8 pounds and is 12 inches at the shoulder (a bit over sized for a toy). We might be getting another dog in a few years. You said they do well with multiple IG’s but would a toy poodle companion be ok too?

My biggest concern is the bone breaks but I know it’s a matter of good supervision

Hello! I have an iggy and I love the stress you put on dental care. Also the anesthesia is a serious issue. How did it go for your lovely girl?

Daily brushing is not necassary if you give them a good diet and treats designed to clean teeth. My dog is 4, never had dental issues and has perfectly white teeth. I think I've brushed my dog's teeth maybe twice.

I think “CenCal” chihuahuas (mine included) are likely mixed with Italian Greyhounds. The look of my chihuahuas are like a miniature Italian greyhound, exact same confirmation. I also have a Great Dane: the similarities between their confirmation/behaviors are uncanny and seem to need further discussion… anyone have thoughts?

I have a 6 month old iggy and I’m obsessed so I have another coming in 3 weeks! I’m worried she will hate me for this

Bon, il faudrait arrêter de se poser des questions au sujet de cette race de chiens. Ils sont adorables. Ils méritent d’ être bien traités, point final. Le fait que l’ on se pose des questions par rapport à cela est déjà une forme de maltraitance. Oui, ils méritent largement d’ être aimés. Et oui, c’ est au maître de bien mériter son nom de maître. There is not the slightest drawback to have an Italian greyhound. A vet will confirm. It is not a chore to take care of a pet you loooove . 😊 here, the dog has tears in his eyes while hearing what you have said … before your conclusion.

I had been looking for months on petfinder all the animal shelters and organizations within a 50 mile radius and had not seen any dogs that made MY ears perk up. I thought this was simply my heart still grieving over the loss of my 14yr old retriever mix rescue (funny we always said who rescued who)Molly Moshbausch Miss Mosh my girl my heart my best friend my angel. One day I had to quickly retrieve an email opened my email in box and hmm Petfinder has several pets for me to check out okay ill just scan here quickly aww so sweet so many wait stop go back this little face with big brown eyes staring up at the camera as if to say Whyyy whyy am I here what did i do to make you not love me enough to never ever send me away from you? I burst into tears to my shock. I filled out the forms not even seeing the distance at this point there was no doubt in my mind. The shelter in Van Nuys called me back immediately and told me her story...owner surrender pregnant wife and husband stated although she had never bitten anyone they could not be sure once their baby arrived and she would tear things up when left alone not potty trained and not spayed only 6 months old..sight unseen and you pay for her and pick her up here is our address...5 hours of driving up, we are so excited she is sweet and gentle and loving and obedient she is also emaciated has a scar from her chest to her shoulder to her neck our vet said she was 4 lbs underweight she weighed only 13lbs her ribs you could count her spine and hips visible her legs were only skin and bone her stomach was concave and she flinched as if she had been beaten. When we got home she was afraid to enter the house she would not jump up on the furniture and in our house my motto is if my animals my pets or my babies cannot enjoy the furniture then it has no place in my house it is useless then out it goes. So we lifted her up to sit with us she was uneasy so we thought maybe enjoy a beautiful calm relaxing walk we have a nice neighborhood and a nature trail around the block as well..as we put on her leash she did not know what we were doing she was so fearful we reassured her and both my daughter and i took the time she needed to calm herself with our soft words and sitting next to her and reassuring her she began to relax but still it was quite clear that walking on a leash had only lead to being taken to the shelter then the vet then a long car ride then into this new owner strangers house now where are we going oh my goodness...we were so overwhelmed by her willingness to trust here she was ribs and hip bones tiny thin face a twig branch for a tail but it was wagging so fast she would jump 3 ft in the air at us every time she looked up at us she would jump and be so excited we picked her up she hugged us she hugged me and here we are in the middle of our walk stopped on the sidewalk hugging KoniKa and my daughter and i hugging and crying crying at the forgiveness to trust another human being after being so abused so abandoned so betrayed..i mean is there anything more evil than intentional harm to the helpless defenseless?! There is a special place in hell my great grandmother used to say a special level tailored perfectly fitting so that on that day without a doubt they will fully reap all that they have sown. I love my little Italian Greyhound mix wish i knew what she was mixed with but she looks alot like the Simpsons dog Santas little Helper and recently she has gotten dark stripe down her spibe

never had to brush the teeth of any of my dogs is it a problem of the diet or a genetic problem ?

Oh my gosh! My daughter just got a male IG and he is the sweetest thing! When he sleeps he wants behind you should and he snuggled up into the crook of your neck and his nose usually just below the ear. So very sweet! But whenever I walk anywhere in the house, or even sit on the potty for a second, he is always jumping up and running beside me. It gets so annoying. I have gotten him to sit, a command he know, when I set on the toilet and I tell him to sit and he does so I scratch his head and give him praise, but the second I quit petting him and quickly reach for toilet paper, he’s jumping up on my knees again. I also have a 3 and 5 yr old grandsons, and while the other dog in the house is a. 2 yr old GSD, we have to keep watch because her size. What I hate the most, I’d when the IG jumps up at my 3 yr old grandson, his feet, and nails are at my grandsons face level, so it really irritates my grandson and it’s dangerous, I’m scared he’s going to get hurt. Any immediate steps we can take to stop the jumping? He loved the boys and the boys love him but the jumping has to stop. I’ve tried turning my back on him, or ignoring him, but haven’t seen any progress.

Can you train them well enough so they can walk off the lead??

I've never met a vet who didn't know how to anesthetize an IG. An IG properly exercised as a pup should have strength to endure what would cause a fracture. The biggest CON is cancers skittishness from over breeding!

I found giving my 12 yr old IG, wheat germ oil on a daily basis, stopped her seizures completely. One tablespoon per day

My iggy always barks and snaps at other dogs while on the lead so everyone sees him as a aggressive small dog 😢it’s also very sad as when he goes to italian greyhound meet ups to socialise him he doesn’t quite bark but hides from them

My husband owns an Italian greyhound mix with a beagle. My husband has his hand full with his Italian greyhound mix. She will not come when you call her name and Will not stay when you tell her to stay.

I don’t have an Italian greyhound but I am considering getting one in the future. Currently I have a toy poodle. Sadly I didn’t head the warning about brushing her teeth. So now she only has two. The rest were removed by the vet. So, I am not sure it would matter what dog I got next I would brush their teeth. My poodle likes to wear clothes in the winter too. I love my little poodle but I am not sure I would want to get another poodle when she is gone as I think I would feel like I was replacing her instead of bringing in a new member of the family.

I am not an expert like Joyce, but I have had an Iggy before and he did the same thing. He would lie on his back and pee on himself. I did some research on it and apparently it’s a sign of submission.

Man, Italian Greyhounds "sell" themselves like shrewd used-car salesman. I feel like people think I am actively trying to dissuade them from getting an IG when they meet my dog. I'm just trying to be real with them. I love the breed too. They definitely are not for everybody. And they'll never tell you that themselves.

DENTAL is number one priority, period

brushing teeth everyday for a dog .... convinced me to not ho and get a italian greyhound

Honestly, the only piece of advice I agree with in this entire video is the hot and cold sensitivity part. You will know though because your dog will likely whine and tell you they are cold. Our dog limps around if it is too cold and barks a bit. That's when we know it's time for winter boots/slippers. Literally everything else seems like overkill to the max. We have brushed her teeth 2-3 times and we have never had a broken leg despite her jumping. I do think that an Italian greyhound will likely have sensitive pawpads which can be tedious and annoying to bandage and treat. They don't like things on their feet, so they will pry them off at every opportunity if you bandage them up. Skin sensitivity - YES Most everything else? No. For us, at least. Your mileage may vary.

Italian greyhound gatekeeper here