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| What is an Italian Greyhound |
The Italian Greyhound is one of several
breeds regarded as being one of the oldest in existence.
Undoubtedly gazehounds, the Greyhound, Saluki, Borzoi, Scottish
Deerhound, Ibizan Hound, Pharaoh Hound, and Italian Greyhound
all have a common ancestor, which was probably larger than the
current IG, and smaller than some of the modern sighthounds.
he IG was attributed to Italy because of the many works of art
originating in in that country. By the Middle Ages, the IG had
appeared throughout southern Europe. It became a favorite of
Italian ladies of the sixteenth century and less than one
hundred years later, was introduced to England. |
| The American Kennel Club first accepted
registration of the IG in 1886. Today there are few dog shows
anywhere that do not have at least a presentation of the breed.
The IG should be a refined miniature of the large English
Greyhound. Like his racing relatives, he is fast and light on
his feet, but lacks both the endurance and the almost fanatical
will to run of the larger dog. |
| IG’s are people dogs. They do not do well
under impersonal conditions. IG’s do well with children who are
old enough to understand that they must be handled with
sensitivity. |
| In obedience training, IG’s can be sharp
workers, eager one day and absolutely impossible the next. They
seem to delight in goofing exercises and thereby attracting the
amused attention of ringsiders. |
| Imaginative, full of fun, and passionately
devoted, the IG is bright and quick to learn, providing his
trainer can avoid boring him. Many lovers of elegant dogs have
made the transition from poodles and other heavily coated breeds
to the effortlessly groomed IG, without feeling that any beauty
has been sacrificed. There is certainly no money to be made in a
breed that tends to select its owners rather than vice versa,
but owning an IG may just change your entire lifestyle. |
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