My Italian Greyhound

[3l3ctric]

I just recently joined this forum. I don't have much fish-related stuff to contribute yet, but I thought I would share some photos of my dogs. This first thread will be devoted to my Italian Greyhound girl, Juno. She's about 9lb, not the brightest... but extremely loving, cuddly and contagiously happy.

Please meet Juno:

And here are some photos of her playing with my 6lb Chihuahua, Oliver. I'm going to give him his own thread soon.

 

[3l3ctric]

...and here are some of her doing a practice agility match:

 

[coldcazzie]

I just recently joined this forum. I don't have much fish-related stuff to contribute yet, but I thought I would share some photos of my dogs. This first thread will be devoted to my Italian Greyhound girl, Juno. She's about 9lb, not the brightest... but extremely loving, cuddly and contagiously happy.

Please meet Juno:

She's gorgeous! I love greyhounds!

Nominate this one for POTM

 

[NottsFishy]

Sweet little greyhound and chihuahua hey look so happy.
I will second nomination for POTM

 

[TigerJack]

I absolutely ADORE Italian Greyhounds. I had them growing up and they are the most loving and precious dogs. I was heartbroken when my last one died at 10yrs. I want another Iggie so bad, but we already have a small dog and my hubby hates small dogs. So instead we got a Greyhound. I also had Greyhounds when I was younger, so it's not a total disappointment Juno is stunning! I was going to nominate POTM but the others beat me to it 8D Good luck with your new girl!

Edit-I reread and see that you are new to the forum, not that Juno is new! Haha good luck anyways 8)

 

[Flute]

Such a pretty little lass!

 

[3l3ctric]

Thanks everyone I'm going to enter her in POTM then! What a nice way to be welcomed to the forum. I love it here already! Hopefully I'll be able to post more updates on my fish tank soon.

 

[tucan]

she sooo sweet. i want her... i've been wanting a whippet for ages, but things happened and we've not manage to get one yet, are whippet very different from italian grey hound?

 

[3l3ctric]

she sooo sweet. i want her... i've been wanting a whippet for ages, but things happened and we've not manage to get one yet, are whippet very different from italian grey hound?

I have never owned a whippet (maybe in the future- they are gorgeous too!), but everything I have read suggests that they can be very similar but with some important differences. And, obviously, there are always exceptions and you have to account for each dog's individual personality and upbringing. I have read that whippets can have a tendency to have a higher prey drive, and some people don't like the idea of keeping italian greyhounds and whippets together because IGs may be small enough and act in a way that may trigger the whippet's prey drive and cause problems. However, I have also heard of many people who keep full size greyhounds and IGs, or whippets and IGs, together with no problem.

Whippets can be more fragile than some dogs their size, but they're usually a lot hardier than IGs. IGs can be very prone to leg breaks and I have met many more skittish IGs than whippets. IGs, I think, can be more neurotic as well. A lot of this is probably just related to their size. Juno was very well socialized and LOVES people and small dogs, but she does have a major fear of big dogs - we're still working on it.

I don't know if whippets have many conditions that they are prone to.. other than being sensitive to anaesthesia (which almost all sight hound dogs are). IGs are also prone to bad teeth - but I couldn't tell you if whippets are or not.

I would have considered a whippet more strongly but I already had my chihuahua and I travel back and forth between my home town and where I go to university so I needed another small dog rather than a larger one to cart around. Most IGs I know weigh about 12-15lb, but Juno only weighs about 9lb (and my Chihuahua is a bit bigger than 6lb) so they are a better match for size.

It's definitely worth speaking to some breeders before you choose and before you buy one - even if you're hoping to get a rescue, good breeders will not only encourage that route but will still be happy to talk to you.

 

[TigerJack]

Iggies live slightly longer then Whippets if they are in good health. Not by much, a few years. It's also true that IGs have terrible teeth. I've read that Whippets also can have bad teeth, but I'm not sure if they are as notorious for it as IGs are. I also agree that they are more neurotic then Whippets are. If you get an Iggie, it will forever be attached to you! It will most likely follow you everywhere you go. At least in my experience! Also, one thing is for sure, whether you get an Italian Greyhound or a Whippet, NEVER let it off lead or in an unfenced yard!

A little side note, Iggies are very breakable. Mine broke her tail from falling off the bed!

 

[3l3ctric]

Iggies live slightly longer then Whippets if they are in good health. Not by much, a few years. It's also true that IGs have terrible teeth. I've read that Whippets also can have bad teeth, but I'm not sure if they are as notorious for it as IGs are. I also agree that they are more neurotic then Whippets are. If you get an Iggie, it will forever be attached to you! It will most likely follow you everywhere you go. At least in my experience! Also, one thing is for sure, whether you get an Italian Greyhound or a Whippet, NEVER let it off lead or in an unfenced yard!

A little side note, Iggies are very breakable. Mine broke her tail from falling off the bed!

You certainly should brush any dog's teeth pretty often, but Iggies really do take the cake for bad teeth. My Chihuahua is almost three and while I brush his teeth regularly, I definitely didn't worry about it too much until I got my IG and created more of a schedule - and his teeth are sparkling. My IG on the other hand- I brush her teeth constantly and the very back ones still aren't great. I'll have to get them cleaned at the vet this year (and she's not even two yet).

My chihuahua is more of a "velcro" dog than my iggy is, but everyone else generally finds IGs to be more clingy than mine is. She does love to cuddle though and is a major suck up. I would never be heavy handed with a dog, but you REALLY couldn't get away with it with an IG. They are super sensitive - usually just a stern "no" is enough to get them to think about what they are doing and take off.

I also want to second not letting any sight hound off leash unless well fenced in.

 

[TigerJack]

Iggies live slightly longer then Whippets if they are in good health. Not by much, a few years. It's also true that IGs have terrible teeth. I've read that Whippets also can have bad teeth, but I'm not sure if they are as notorious for it as IGs are. I also agree that they are more neurotic then Whippets are. If you get an Iggie, it will forever be attached to you! It will most likely follow you everywhere you go. At least in my experience! Also, one thing is for sure, whether you get an Italian Greyhound or a Whippet, NEVER let it off lead or in an unfenced yard!

A little side note, Iggies are very breakable. Mine broke her tail from falling off the bed!

You certainly should brush any dog's teeth pretty often, but Iggies really do take the cake for bad teeth. My Chihuahua is almost three and while I brush his teeth regularly, I definitely didn't worry about it too much until I got my IG and created more of a schedule - and his teeth are sparkling. My IG on the other hand- I brush her teeth constantly and the very back ones still aren't great. I'll have to get them cleaned at the vet this year (and she's not even two yet).

My chihuahua is more of a "velcro" dog than my iggy is, but everyone else generally finds IGs to be more clingy than mine is. She does love to cuddle though and is a major suck up. I would never be heavy handed with a dog, but you REALLY couldn't get away with it with an IG. They are super sensitive - usually just a stern "no" is enough to get them to think about what they are doing and take off.

I also want to second not letting any sight hound off leash unless well fenced in.

So true. My Oly had really bad teeth. When she was 9 she needed to have some teeth pulled but my mom didn't have the money. My poor girl! And it's true how sensitive they are. When I was probably about 10 or so, I got mad at her for some reason. I yelled at her and refused to talk to her for a few days. She was so upset, always trying to wiggle into my lap and kiss me...poor girl, I was so mean

Now I have a Chinese Crested and they also have terrible teeth!! He already had to have some teeth pulled and he's only 5 I took him in last year to get his teeth cleaned and the vet said 2 teeth had to go or he would get an infection and possibly die! And he's such a baby when I try to brush his teeth! My big Greyhound on the other hand has no problems when I brush his teeth. He likes it because the toothpaste is meat flavored!

 

[3l3ctric]

Now I have a Chinese Crested and they also have terrible teeth!! He already had to have some teeth pulled and he's only 5 I took him in last year to get his teeth cleaned and the vet said 2 teeth had to go or he would get an infection and possibly die! And he's such a baby when I try to brush his teeth! My big Greyhound on the other hand has no problems when I brush his teeth. He likes it because the toothpaste is meat flavored!

Yeah, I've head the Cresteds are prone to bad teeth. For them I think it's actually something to do with the enamel, but they're also a small dog so they already have that against them. Oliver is fine about me brushing his teeth, even with "mint" flavoured toothpaste. Juno will tolerate it, but only with a meat flavoured one and I have to give her a break between brushing each side. There are a few possible reasons for Iggies having bad teeth. Some have a rare enamel problem, but for most it's probably a combination of being a small dog, having dry mouths, and having cheeks/lips that are very tight to the gums and teeth.

 

[Carlovel1]

Juno is so cute!

 

[3l3ctric]

Juno is so cute!

Thanks