Thank you for your interest in adopting an Italian Greyhound that is in need of a home! Italian Greyhound Rescue is a non-profit organization made up entirely of volunteers.
This group dedicated their time and energy to finding homes for homeless dogs.
This effort is overseen by the Italian Greyhound club of America.
The "Truth About IGS:
We call this collection of information the "truth" because it is based on experience as well as fact.
It is information that you may not find in a book. The Italian Greyhound is a wonderful breed but is NOT the breed for everyone.
Like everything in life worthwhile, there is some work and some drawbacks...owning an IG is no different.
Where do the dogs come from?
The dogs that enter our program come to us in a number of ways.
Often the dogs are given up due to no fault of the dogs but because an owner has moved, died, divorced or is unable to keep the dog for other reasons.
Others come to us from shelters. Because the breed has recently been sold in pet stores, many of our rescues are impulse buys from the stores that did not work out.
A quick purchase is made giving little thought to the time and dedication it takes to raise that cute little puppy they saw in the window.
By rescuing an Italian Greyhound, you will give a much-needed home to a dog, that without your help, may have led a life of discomfort and fear,
or even an untimely death. And if an Italian Greyhound is the right breed of dog for you and your lifestyle, it will certainly repay you for your kindness with affection for years to come.
What Age/Sex Are the Rescue Dogs?
We get a variety of ages in the program. Most are adults.
However, we do often get young adults and occasionally do get puppies. Older dogs also come into the program and with a lifespan of 14-16 years, these dogs can make wonderful pets.
Males outnumber females. However, all dogs are spayed or neutered prior to placement.
Occasionally people contact us who have very strong preferences about age, sex, and color of the dog.
The more open you are about sex, age, coat color, the more likely that we can find a suitable dog for you. If you do have very strong preferences, a rescue dog may not be for you.
Donation
Italian Greyhound Rescue does not sell dogs.
We do, however, ask for a donation which helps to fund our program and pays for vet expenses and helps us to continue our work in saving other Italian Greyhounds.
The adoption fee of $150 helps cover these expenses.
The Italian Greyhound Personality
The Italian Greyhound coat is short and sleek and carries no odor. Because of their short hair, they do like to stay warm by laying in the sun, sleeping in your bed UNDER the covers, and wearing coats/sweaters when temperatures dip.
Because of their fine structure, Italian Greyhounds do not make a good pet for young children. Italian Greyhounds are NOT outdoor dogs.
They can not tolerate cold weather and would prefer to be with their owner even on the warmest of days. They also do not like getting wet and many owners have built shelter areas to protect their dog from the elements for cold or wet days when going outside for potty.
As creatures of comfort they also do not like to put their feet on wet grass and will often utilize the sidewalk instead.
Italian Greyhounds love other dogs and usually cat, too. However, care must be taken when introducing the dog to a larger breed. The activity level of an Italian Greyhound varies but most are pretty active until about 2 years old often having only 2 speed-either high or low.
Italian Greyhounds are very people oriented and enjoy your company more than anything else. They are not an independent dog and will often follow you everywhere.
They crave attention and will not do well left alone or ignored for many hours a day. Their greatest joy is to be with you.
Once you adopt an Italian Greyhound you will never be alone again. If you like your privacy, the Italian Greyhound may not be the breed for you.
Fences/Leash
Because Italian Greyhounds are sighthounds, they have keen eyesight.
This, along with their incredible speed can be a deadly combination. Therefore, an IG must always be on leash when not in a fenced in area. No amount of obedience training can overcome what has been bred into the breed for thousands of years, so there are no exceptions.
Housetraining
Some rescue dogs are already housetrained, but we do not assume it and neither should you.
If it is an important issue to you, please make sure to discuss it with your rep. Any dog coming into a new environment should be treated as if he/she is not housetrained.
You should take the dog out often, watch it closely, and limit freedom initially until the dog is familiar with your environment and schedule.
The use of a crate is recommended. Like many toy breeds, the Italian Greyhound can be a little more difficult to housetrain.
It takes patience, praise, and consistency. Often they will not go to the door when they need to go out.It may be up to you to put the dog on a schedule and take him/her out for regular potty breaks. In order to keep their system on a good schedule, open feeding is not recommended. Many IGs do not like to go out alone. Harsh punishment does NOT work for Italian Greyhounds. They are much too sensitive for that and a firm voice is sufficient reprimand.
If an occasional potty accident (especially on very cold or wet days) is unacceptable, then this may not be the breed for you.
Making the Adoption Work
We try to make the best possible match we can to ensure a successful adoption. Some of the things you can do to prepare for your rescue's arrival: purchase a high quality pet store food, bowls, leashes, safe toys, and a crate.
It is also a good idea to select a veterinarian prior to your dog's arrival. Although the dog has been vet checked, we do recommend taking the dog to your own veterinarian after adopting the dog.
It is also a good idea to take your newly adopted dog to obedience classes. Any dog (and owner) can benefit from such a class. It improves communication between dog and owner, it gives the dog a chance to socialize and it also improves the bond between owner and dog.
"Off The Furniture"????
Italian Greyhounds, especially young ones are curious and can be susceptible to broken legs, so care should be taken.
IGs are very cat-like in that they love to jump and climb on furniture. They also like nothing better than to sit by you on the couch or sleep with you. If you are opposed to dogs on your furniture, perhaps an Italian Greyhound is not the breed for you as it is very difficult to teach this loving affectionate breed to stay off the furniture because of their desire to be with you.
Correcting The Dog
Italian Greyhounds do not respond to harsh punishment. They should NEVER be hit. They should NOT be corrected with a newspaper either.
These actions will only teach them to fear you and your hand. Because of their sensitive personality, a verbal correction is more than sufficient.
Getting Involved In IG Rescue
Because we are a non-profit organization run strictly by volunteers, we can always use help with our efforts.
Foster homes that care for the dogs before they are placed are needed. Transportation of rescues between cities and states is helpful when moving a rescue to their new home.
You can distribute rescue brochures to your local shelters, vet offices, and groomers. Offer to donate an ad in your local newspaper to inform readers about IG Rescue.
Purchase products sold by IG Rescue on the IG rescue webpage: IG Rescue Items page that benefit our program.
For those of you without web access, contact Judy Longhouse for info re the sale of IG Rescue items. Donation of pet items and money are always welcome.
Remember IG Rescue at holidays and throughout the year with a donation. Help rescue an IG today!
