Italian Greyhounds

	Appearance Italian Greyhounds are much smaller than the Greyhound and the Whippet. They have a long, thin neck and an arched back. Their eyes are large and dark and the ears are folded back along the head. Italian Greyhounds can have a gray, cream, fawn, red, black, or blue coat with white spots on the feet and chest.
	Origin Italian Greyhounds are a very old breed. The Pheonicians brought them to Europe. A small greyhound was found in a lava flow in Pompeii and another was found in a 6000 year old Egyptian tomb. Many kings and queens adored this breed, for example, Queen Victoria, Anne of Denmark, and James I of England. Italian Greyhounds are great companions.
	Grooming Because of their extremely short coat, Italian Greyhounds are perhaps the easiest dogs to groom. They do not shed their hair very much at all and they only need bathed when necessary. Occasionally, they need a rubdown with a dry towel and their teeth should be regularly brushed. Their toenails need to be trimmed, too.
	Training Italian Greyhounds are relatively easy to train. Just be sure to keep the lessons short and make sure that there are not any distractions around. Even thought training takes a bit of time, you need to have patience and consistency with your puppy. One of the first words that they should learn is "no." Other commands are mentioned on my other dog pages.
	Temperament Italian Greyhounds are very kind and gentle dogs. They are usually shy around strangers, but they are really affectionate towards their owners. They are playful and high-strung at times. They get along well with other Italian Greyhounds and with well-behaved kids. They should be in a peaceful, quiet household. If your Italian Greyhound is stressed, calm it down by steadily stroking its back. If Italian Greyhounds become frightened or scared, they can be snappish. This breed needs to be handled with extreme care. Normally, Italian Greyhounds are easy to get along with and take care of. They are fast and very active animals. Young puppies are capable of climbing fences and jump just about everywhere where there is furniture. Italian Greyhounds should be separated from larger dogs, but they are happy when around other Italian Greyhounds.
	Potential Health Problems Italian Greyhounds are a generally healthy breed. Because of their thin build, their legs are easily breakable. They need a sweater when going out in cold temperatures because they are highly susceptible to chills. The joints can be easily dislocated and they can also develop low blood sugar.