Do your best not to leave your Italian Greyhound alone for more than a few hours. If you can, stop at home during your lunch break for a quick walk. Spend nights and weekends giving it plenty of affection if you work during the day.
Daily running or sprinting helps strengthen their legs and prevent the risk of injury. Their size makes them great apartment dogs, and they don’t really have any breed-specific space requirements. However, they do benefit from having an enclosed area large enough to sprint and exercise their legs. Avoid play with young children or larger dogs and other situations that could cause your dog injury. Be especially careful about your puppy’s playtime, as young Italian Greyhounds are particularly fragile.
A bored Italian Greyhound, like many breeds, can get mischievous and chew up your belongings. Make sure it has its own toys to keep it busy.
Hold a treat out, say the command, and gently guide your dog into the proper position when just starting to train. Repeat ten or twenty time to make it automatic, and make sure to give a treat and positive encouragement when your dog follows the command. Keep training session short and fun, since Italian Greyhounds typically have short attention spans. Always make training rewards-based by using treats and incorporating it into playtime. Italian greyhounds are generally sensitive dogs, so it’s important that you never strike, swat at, or yell at them.
Take your dog out 15 to 30 minutes after eating, and feed your dog at the same times every day. Take it out a few times a day in addition to after eating, including first thing in the morning and a half hour before bed. Consider using the crate method. Purchase a crate that allows free movement but isn’t too big. Leave the dog in a crate while at work or at night, letting it out every few hours if possible. Don’t scold your dog if you come home to find a mess. If the dog had the accident hours earlier, it won’t make a connection between being scolded and going to the bathroom inside. Try leaving pads or paper mats out if you don’t want to use a crate. Clean up any accidents promptly with an enzyme cleaner to prevent the dog from being attracted to one particular spot in the home and relieving itself there.
If you gently press your hands down your dog’s spine and cannot feel its ribs, it might be overweight. Talk to your vet and cut down the amount your dog eats. Cut down on giving your dog treats and other food between meals. When buying food for your Italian Greyhound, look for brands marked for toy dog breeds. If you have a puppy, buy food marked specially for puppies. Three-fourths to one cup of food twice a day is typically a good amount of food for a small dog. Deciding what to feed your dog depends on what’s affordable and on your personal preferences. For instance, you might prefer to make raw or homemade dog food or like the ease of store bought brands. Either way, just make sure that you’re feeding your dog balanced, nutritional meals. If you want to make your own dog food or put your dog on a raw diet, consult with an animal nutrition expert first. Otherwise, the dog may quickly become unhealthy.
Ask the breeder or shelter where you got your dog if its parents’ health records are available, preferably prior to purchasing or adopting. Many of the health issues Italian Greyhounds are prone to are detected with blood tests that your vet will provide, so regular exams are important.
Pay special attention to your dog’s legs, especially when it’s a puppy or juvenile. Note limping or if your dog doesn’t put weight on a limb. Italian Greyhounds have fragile bones and are prone to leg fractures.
Talk to your dog’s vet about its diet and activity level to help your dog maintain a healthy weight. Carrying too much weight will strain an Italian Greyhound’s legs and hips. Ask your vet if they recommend flea and tick treatment for your location.
Stay away from full sleeves, since they typically restrict movement. Knit sweaters tend to fall down the dog’s back and aren’t the most warmest option. When shopping for dog attire, look for products that are designed specifically for your breed in order to select the best form and material.
Keeping an eye on your dog’s weight, avoiding overfeeding, and giving it regular exercise will help prevent or manage hip dysplasia. Consult your vet to decide how much and how often you should feed your dog in order to prevent obesity. Be aware dog can develop hip dysplasia at any point in its lifespan, including as a puppy.
Your dog might resist brushing, but it’s an essential part of keeping your dog healthy. Be confident and decisive about brushing, but do your best to avoid overwhelming or scaring your dog. Your dog will eventually accept brushing as part of its routine if you keep up with it daily.
A dog’s nails shouldn’t touch the floor. Check your dog’s gait, or the way it walks, to make sure it doesn’t put too much weight to the backs of its paws due it overgrown nails. Using a nail grinder or hand file rather than clippers reduces the risk of removing too much nail, which can cause pain and bleeding.
Keep an eye on its coat for dust or dander, and brush once a week or as needed. Check its ears a couple times a week and clean out any wax or debris using gauze wrapped around your finger. Avoid using water to clean out ears. Avoid over-bathing you dog, as this can strip the skin of natural oils, which may lead to dry and/or damaged skin.
