Are they hard to housebreak? When they are outside is there anytime you can take them off of the leash? Do they do well alone or is it good to have a pair. Thanks.
Answers:
First to answer your questions:
The Italian Greyhound is EXTREMELY hard to house break. This can be made easier by using a litter box, and by getting the puppy (or dog) from a breeder that keeps their dogs impeccable clean. Dogs who grow up in filth tend to not care if they soil their crates and surroundings.
As for taking your IG off leash, it depends on the dog and where you are taking the dog off leash. A nice fenced dog park is great for off leash romps. But unless the area is fenced, there is no 100% safe off leash IG. IGs do well in pairs and alone. If you are getting a puppy, it is usually best to start off and bond with one until s/he is about a year old. You'll bond better (and you'll find it is easier to focus on housebreaking one).
As for general advice: Find a responsible breeder. The breeder should do the following - health test (PRA, Luxating Patellas, should be the minimum, Thyroid, Hips, vWB are others). The results should also be submitted to OFA and not just verbal to you as the buyer. The breeder should insist that you alter your puppy if you are not showing it. A good breeder should be a lifetime of support for you and the dog. They should take the dog back for any reason at any time. They should not let puppies go to their new homes before they are 10-12 weeks of age. 12 is better. They should participate in AKC conformation showing and at least one (preferably both) parents should be a champion. They should screen you as carefully as you screen them. They should invite you to their home/kennel and let you see how the dogs are kept. They should emphasize the need to socialize your puppy. They should have the dogs clean and the dogs should be happy and not neurotic. Aloof is okay. Freak show is not. They should not sell dogs on the internet or in the newspaper. They should not take credit cards or click and add to cart. They may have a website, but there should not be pictures of puppies with prices. They may show available dogs, but they will evaluate you as a potential home before they will even think about taking money or placing a dog.
When you decide on a breeder, the breeder should choose the best puppy for you and your family. You may have a choice of one or two, but they should not just show you a litter and let you pick. A good breeder will have evaluated the temperaments and structure and will have at least one set aside for themselves to show. Upon bringing your IG home you should start socializing as soon as possible after the dog settles in. If you have a little puppy, carry to Petco, Petsmart, etc. and let it meet people. Let all kinds of people interact with your puppy. Take him/her to puppy kindergarten. Socialize, socialize, socialize!
Be consistent with housetraining. You may want to try a litter box. IGs do not like to go out if it is too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, etc. Know that IGs are almost never 100% reliably house trained. 95 - 99% yes. But there will still be occasional accidents. Maybe only one a year, but they will have them. Be prepared for that.
Only use positive training methods. No jerk and choke. Clicker training is GREAT with IGs.
Be gentle but firm. Do not encourage aggression or resource guarding. Also do not reward timid behavior. If your puppy is startled by something do not pick him/her up and coddle him/her. Approach the object and show curiosity while ignoring your puppy. Talk to the object (person, dog, etc.) Touch it if is appropriate. Your puppy will see that it is not a threat. If puppy is still terrified, leave the source of fear without incident. Walk away and make it no big deal.
Socialization is the key to a good pet in this breed.
That should cover the basic first questions you have.
Join and IG forum like
http://Iggyplanet.com or http://Igpost.com
Good luck.
Start volunteering with IG rescue.
Prepare yourself for a neurotic, emotionally needy animal that your vet and his or her staff will loathe handling because it freaks out if you look at it the wrong way! lol
They're ok dogs, just weird. Genetically they don't have any predispositions that I know about as far as cancers or joint problems, just a little coocoo in the head.
I love all greyhounds (full sized, whippets and Italians), and have been looking into all three varieties because I'd like to own one some day. Of the three, though, the one I've heard the most negative comments about is the Italian.
They are considered a toy breed, and like a lot of toy breeds, they need a lot of attention or they can develop behavior problems. Italians are very fragile, too-you have to be careful not to let them jump from high places or when carrying them because they can break bones very easily. The general notion is that they can be hard to housetrain, but of course, remember this will depend on the individual. Remember also that they are small dogs, so they have small bladders-this must be taken into account when training.
They are very sweet and loving but can have a stubborn streak, bark very rarely, and barely shed, the last two being excellent qualities for an indoor dog. Actually, they should be kept indoors-their thin coat means they can get sunburned easily in the summer or freeze in winter. They need to be walked with a sweater when it gets cold outside.
They should never be let off the leash in open spaces. Being greyhounds, even small ones, they can still RUN-up to 35 mph. (Check out the pic of the running Italian in the Wikipedia link below!) You'd never be able to catch him. They are still hounds, so they will take off after small prey, like squirrels or lizards. And due to their timid nature, they are more likely to run if startled. Only let them off the leash in a safe enclosed place. Be careful when taking them to the dog park-Italians should not be allowed to roughhouse with dogs larger than they are, because they could break a bone very easily if play gets rough.
I've heard that they do well in pairs. :)
Honestly, if you want a small greyhound, I would go with a whippet. They are larger than the Italian, but still smaller than a full-sized Grey (they are medium-to small sized) and are hardier, sturdier and more self-confident than the Italians. It's up to you, though. It's always good to find as much info as possible before owning any breed of dog.
Good luck!
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