Italian Greyhound

[IggyIggyIggy]

I've been patiently waiting for the right time to get a new addition to our family and DH has given the green light (it's been a very long wait)!

I've decided an Italian Greyhound would be a good fit. Now, to go about finding a good breeder. Any tips with that? I've signed up to champ dogs for alerts. There are a few listed on the KC website too.

So, if you have one, talk to me! Pics also very welcome!

We have an Italian Greyhound! She is the most loving, adorable creature and so I can 100% recommend them. She sleeps a lot of the day, and doesn't need a great deal of exercise, although she loves her walks and in particular chasing full pelt after a ball. She is pathetic in the rain! They are not hardy dogs and very delicate - our's broke her leg when she was 9 months old. Make sure you have insurance for accidents and try to limit the jumping on/off beds etc. whilst they are young. Despite that, she suits us perfectly and we are slightly obsessed!

@Alternativepersona - I hope you don't mind me asking this, but are they a very anxious/nervous breed? Whenever I have seen them, they seem so timid and fearful (coupled with the fragility you mention),

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Our dog is not timid or anxious at home - she goes around spreading her love to everyone! She is extremely friendly and will go up to any dog, but in a very submissive way and will be easily freaked out if they are big and clumsy. They are not robust, boisterous dogs for sure, but have a lot of personality and are great fun (but not in a jumping in the river/bog/sea kind of way!). She does tend to cower when we ask her to wait, you'd think we beat her, but obviously we don't!

If you're considering greyhounds, I'd recommend talking to the Greyhound Trust who rehome retired racing greyhounds. We adopted our girl from them nearly three years ago, and they have all the qualities you've mentioned wanting in an Italian greyhound. Although the ex racers are larger, they fold up very small!

Sorry OP, just reread and realised it was a PP who listed good qualities of their Italian greyhound.

Get a whippet! All the goid things about an Iggy but less fragile...
Our whippet puppy is 5 months old and a delight.

We considered an Iggy but I was put off by how easily they break! It just takes a boisterous paw from an overexcited lab puppy (so nothing unusual in the local park) and they can snap a leg or spine.

We also went for a whippet

Whippets are FAB aren't they Fazed? How old is yours?

My dream dog. I'll never have another dog, but if I had my time again an Italian greyhound would be the one. Send photos when you have one please

I'm here for the whippet love 🥰🥰

I have one and he is the most precious, crazy, wonderful dog in the land. So unbelievably loving and gives the best cuddles ever. On the other hand, absolutely bonkers and has a cracking personality.
Ours is a boy and quite big for the breed, so therefor less fragile. I don't fear for his legs (that doesn't mean I'm not careful), I just mean that he is very sturdy. However, my one has a few girlfriends who are absolutely tiny. Adorable, but tiny. And therefor very fragile as a result. So I personally would get a boy.
You have to be so persistant with potty training though; they're notorious for being arseholes when it comes to peeing and pooing inside!
Basically, get one! And take post pictures when you do :)

Ooh thanks for the replies.

I like all the bigger sighhounds too but it really is the iggy that has my heart. Those with them how did you find your breeder?

I specifically want to buy a puppy, we have an older chihuahua and a 7 yo DS so a rescue isn't for us this time around.

@Alternativepersona

Our dog is not timid or anxious at home - she goes around spreading her love to everyone! She is extremely friendly and will go up to any dog, but in a very submissive way and will be easily freaked out if they are big and clumsy. They are not robust, boisterous dogs for sure, but have a lot of personality and are great fun (but not in a jumping in the river/bog/sea kind of way!). She does tend to cower when we ask her to wait, you'd think we beat her, but obviously we don't!

Ah do you have a pic?

We have a wiggy. Italian / whippet Cross.
Small enough to curl up on your lap for cuddles but not so fragile.

We have what we think is an IG, he was put into our local rescue so we don’t know his background or age. He’s an absolute joy at home, easy going, funny, very cheeky and is usually burrowed under a blanket for most of the day. Taking him out is a different story, he’s not good around other dogs and reactive. It makes lunches out and holidays stressful as we can’t take him anywhere that will be busy with other dogs. He can also be quite anxious and needy.

I used to know a fab Italian Greyhound whose best mate was a Doberman! They used to race aound together with max rumbunctiousness and she didn't seem at all nervous. She was lovely.

I love how they look like spiders! I don't think I would choose to own such a fine-boned dog, but I always enjoy meeting them.

Oh good luck. I wanted an Iggy originally but we concluded s/he would not fare well here with a clumsy adult and one child who is all limbs. We ended up with a hardy golden retriever.

But Italian greyhounds are beautiful.

We considered an ex racer greyhound and spoke to a fantastic greyhound enthusiast at Discover Dogs. He massively put us off Greyhound Trust. We ended up getting a puppy from a breeder.

I don't know about Italian greyhounds specifically but I'd imagine there is a breed club with shows,? They might be good to meet a breeder. Failing that if you know someone with the type of dog you want, and bitch/ stud with good temperament and health tests, then that is another good bet.

Good luck, hope you find your ideal pup.

I have an Italian Greyhound, he is 11 now.
I absolutely adore him but he is the most frustrating breed I have owned.
He is great when the weather is IG perfect - sunny, no wind but if it is windy or wet, he would rather toilet in the house than outside. This is common for the breed, I used to meet up with about a dozen other owners and have discussed it at length.
If I was going to have another sighthound, I'd have a whippet.
Here he is in his snuggle sack.

We had an Iggy cross Chihauhua, and he is the most loyal, devoted, needy little soul that has ever lived. He is my constant shadow, and when I'm not paying him attention then he's busy asking for it. Unless he's asleep!

He also adores running, and will go zoomie around any other dog who is daft enough to stand anywhere near him in the park. He literally adores running.

But because he's a cross he's not so fine limbed. Indeed a vet-friend heard we'd got an Iggy, but not the cross bit, as asked if he'd broken a leg yet.

Toilet training he's fine, but we're sort of lucky in that we have cats, and he learned to use the litter tray too!

You'll see a theme with pics of them too!

I am absolutely obsessed. Thank you for sharing

Hoping this image works!

@Alternativepersona

Hoping this image works!

Very well

Anyone else follow Tikka The Iggy on Instagram with her two Dads and amazing catwalk outfits. Always makes me smile and whenever I see an Iggy now in my mind they all speak with the accent 😂

May or may not be going to view some on Friday. They just happen to be 10weeks and ready to leave also...