The Italian Greyhound is the smallest member of the sighthound family. The Italian greyhound is a true Greyhound, his small size is the result of selective breeding. There is some differance of oppinion as to wether he was bred for huntiing small game or as a companion. It seems he most likely filled both rolls, and for this reason is very adaptable to both city and country living.. 
Perhaps the most outstanding characteristic of the IG is his affactionate disposition. He thrives best when this affection is returned and is happiest with his owner and imediate family.For this reason he is sometimes a trifle aloof with stranges. He is sensative, alert, and intelligant, and remains playful until long after puppy hood has past. He adapts well to most households and gets along well with children and other pets.





Here are some  great places to find info on the Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound Club Of America
The American Kennel Club

Teeth are an issue with IG's 

               ALL ABOUT TEETH
 
MANY TOY DOGS HAVE GUM DISEASE.  IT OFTEN STARTS AS 
EARLY AS A YEAR OLD, OR MAY NOT BE A PROBLEM UNTIL 
THEY ARE 5 OR OLDER.  SIMILAR TO HUMAN BEINGS, IT 
OCCURS FROM NOT KEEPING THEIR TEETH CLEAN ,THERE 
MAY BE A HEREDITARY FACTOR, AND IT MAY BE CONTAGIOUS 
FROM DOG TO DOG!
BAD BREATH IS A FIRST SIGN.
LOOK PARTICULARLY AT THE LITTLE UPPER FRONT TEETH .  
IF THERE IS REDNESS, SORENESS, ODOR, AND IF THE GUMS 
ARE RECEDING FROM THE TEETH, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE. 


SOLUTION:
BRUSH THE TEETH AT LEAST THREE TIMES A 
WEEK (EVERY DAY IS GOOD TOO).  USE A SOFT 
BRISTLE HUMAN TOOTHBRUSH, AND I USE A 
COMBINATION OF BAKING SODA AND SOME 
CHICKEN BOUILLION GRANULES FOR FLAVOR.
DOG TOOTH PASTE IS GOOD BUT EXPENSIVE.
I ALSO SCALE ANY PLAQUE I SEE.  THIS TAKES 
SKILL AND PATIENCE BUT EVENTUALLY YOUR 
DOG WILL LET YOU DO IT WITHOUT ANY 
SEDATION.  YOU MUST NOT HURT THE DOG.
AFTER BRUSHING YOU MAY ADD ANY SOLUTION 
YOU LIKE, EITHER SPRAY ON BRUSH IT ON.
THE REAL ANSWER HOWEVER IS ANTIBIOTICS.  
MY FAVORITE SO FAR IS AMOXICILLIN 400MG/5CC 
STRENGTH.  IT IS DESIGNED TO BE MIXED WITH 
WATER AND GIVEN TO CHILDREN, BUT TELL THE 
PHARMACIST NOT TO ADD THE WATER.  YOU ARE 
GOING TO USE IT DRY.  THIS STUFF IS FLAVORED 
AND VERY WELL TOLERATED.  USING A WET 
FINGERTIP, PACK THE POWDER INTO THE BASE 
OF THE GUMS WHERE THE INFLAMMATION IS.
AFTER JUST A COUPLE OF TREATMENTS, THERE 
IS OBVIOUS IMPROVEMENT.  THIS PREPARATION 
DOES REQUIRE A PRESCRIPTION, BUT IS CHEAP 
AND LASTS A LONG TIME.



BEHAVIOR ISSUES

1.  IGS DO NOT CONSIDER URINATING THE 
SAME BUSINESS AS POOPING.  THEY WILL 
READILY PEE ON A DEISGNATED PAD, BUT 
POOPING IS A WHOLE OTHER ISSUE.
2.  THE WHOLE HOUSEBREAKING PROBLEM 
SEEMS TO HAVE TO DO WITH THE WEATHER.  
IGS DO NOT LIKE BAD WEATHER, IE 
ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN 72 DEGREES, 
DRY AND NO WIND!  YOUR BEST BET IS TO 
FIND A DESIGNATED AREA WHERE THE 
CLIMATE CONDITIONS ARE IDEAL.
3.  A REALLY BIG CRATE WORKS BETTER 
THAN A LITTLE TINY ONE.  LET THE IG DO ITS 
BUSINESS IN THE CRATE--IT MAKES A GREAT 
INDOOR BATHROOM!



These helpsful tips came from my good friend Lois March who has over 30 yrs experiance with IG's.


The Italian Greyhound