Mazzanti - Italian Greyhound

Physical Characteristics of the Italian Greyhound

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Head: Narrow and long, tapering to nose, with a slight suggestion of stop.

Skull: Rather long, almost flat.

Eyes: Dark, bright, intelligent, medium in size.

Ears: Small, fine in texture; thrown back and folded except when alerted.

Nose: Dark. It may be black or brown or in keeping with the color of the dog.

Neck: Long, slender and gracefully arched.

Muzzle: Long and fine.

Shoulders: Long and sloping.

Chest: Deep and narrow.

Forelegs: Long, straight, set well under shoulder; strong pasterns, fine bone.

Coat: Skin fine and supple, hair short, glossy like satin and soft to the touch.

Body: Of medium length, short coupled; high at withers, back curved and drooping at hindquarters, the highest point of curve at start of loin, creating a definite tuck-up at flanks.

Tail: Slender and tapering to a curved end, long enough to reach the hock; set low, carried low.

Hindquarters: Long, well-muscled thigh; hind legs parallel when viewed from behind, hocks well let down, well-bent stifle.

Color: Any color and markings are acceptable except brindle markings and the tan markings normally found on black-and-tan dogs.

Size: Height at withers, ideally 13 inches to 15 inches.

Feet: Harefoot with well-arched toes.

Contents

Discover the origins of this elegant miniature sighthound, believed to derive not from Italy, as its name reveals, but from Greece and Turkey. Trace the breed from these ancient lands to the British Isles and from there to the US and beyond.

Find out if the Italian Greyhound is the right dog for you. A happy, long-lived companion and alert watchdog, content in a city or suburban setting, the IG is an intelligent and personable pet. Be aware of the breeds limitations, in size, durability and possible congenital problems, before adopting an IG.

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Italian Greyhound by studying the description of the breed as set forth in the American Kennel Clubs breed standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the standard.

Be advised about choosing a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, typical puppy. Understand the responsibilities of ownership, including home preparation, acclimatization, the vet and prevention of common puppy problems.

Enter into a sensible discussion of dietary and feeding considerations, exercise, grooming, traveling and identification of your dog. This chapter discusses Italian Greyhound care for all stages of development.

By Charlotte Schwartz

Be informed about the importance of training your Italian Greyhound from the basics of house-training and understanding the development of a young dog to executing obedience commands (sit, stay, down, etc.).

Discover how to select a proper veterinarian and care for your dog at all stages of life. Topics include vaccination scheduling, skin problems, dealing with external and internal parasites and common medical and behavioral conditions.

Consider the care of your senior Italian Greyhound , including the proper diet for a senior. Recognize the signs of an aging dog, both behavioral and medical; implement a senior-care program with your vet and become comfortable with making the final decisions and arrangements for your senior Italian Greyhound .

Experience the dog show world, including the basics of conformation showing and handling. Go beyond the conformation ring to obedience trials, agility trials, lure coursing and more.

K ENNEL C LUB B OOKS I TALIAN G REYHOUND

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-316-7

eISBN 13: 978-1-59378-981-7

Copyright 2002 Kennel Club Books An Imprint of I-5 Press A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA

Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

P HOTOGRAPHS BY M ARY B LOOM AND I SABELLE F RANAIS

with additional photos by Norvia Behling, T. J. Calhoun, Richard Branchaud, Doskocil, A. Jemolo, Carol Ann Johnson, Bill Jonas, Mikki Pet Products, Alice Roche, Shot on Site Photography and Alice van Kempen.

I LLUSTRATIONS BY R ENE L OW.

The publisher wishes to thank Cecilia Amen, Patricia Campbell, Sandy Cornell, Kerri Gelish, Mary Hudson, Sondra Katz, Richard & Pat Klinger, Joan Proto, Gundrun Rosenbush, Laura Thompson and the rest of the owners of the dogs featured in this book.

For a diminutive dog, the Italian Greyhound is an athletic, lithe sighthound who is equally comfortable posing on a pillow as he is chasing a rabbit or participating in coursing events.

The Italian Greyhound is one of the oldest miniature sighthounds in existence, believed to have originated more than 2,000 years ago. The Italian Greyhounds appealing lines and unmatched loyalty have helped sustain its popularity for thousands of years. The breed was favored for many generations by the nobility on various continents. In fact, remains of miniature Greyhound-like sighthounds have even been recovered in Egyptian tombs. These Greyhound-like skeletal structures found throughout the Mediterranean basin help support the nearly world-wide theory of the breeds origin.