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Italian Greyhound

Adjusting to Winter Cold for an Italian Greyhound

An Italian greyhound can adapt to a variety of environments quite well, but they are not natural winter dogs. They are not a double-coated breed which means that their hair is not meant to retain body heat in the same way a Siberian Husky’s might.

An Italian greyhound also maintains a lean body weight without excess body fat, and fat is partly what helps keep a Dog Warm. This doesn’t mean create a fat puppy! It just means the IG’s natural body structure is not made for cold climates.

For those IGs that live in colder climates or where there is even snow, certain things should be done in order to insure that the dog stays as warm as possible throughout those cold months of the year.

Here are a few tips to keep your Italian greyhound warm during the winter:
• Clothes! This isn’t about a fashion statement, but dogs with close hair coats should always wear a Fleece Coat or warm sweater when going outdoors. Many of these dogs also appreciate wearing the sweater around the house too. It helps trap body heat close to the Italian greyhound’s skin and body.

• Give your dog plenty of warm beds in the house. Some dogs like snuggle-type dog beds, which help the dog stay warm by balling up inside. You can also purchase dog beds with built in heaters or you can purchase a special electric heater that can be placed within any kind of dog bed.

If you’d rather not use an electrical blanket or bed, you can use human body wraps that are heated in the microwave or create your own. Fill up a small fabric square or pillow with rice or beans and sew shut. This pillow can be heated in 30 second intervals up to 1 ½ minutes.

• Remember to try and locate your Italian greyhound’s bed away from any drafts or cold spots like concrete or tile. Instead, look for an area that receives warm natural light through a window each day, as dogs love to sun themselves.

• Don’t leave your Italian greyhound outside. These are not outdoor dogs, especially in winter cold weather.

• Sometimes it is advantageous to feed your IG a bit more food during the winter, especially if he shivers often. Adding a small amount extra gives him additional calories and fat so he doesn’t lose any of his current weight. It’s okay if he gains up to 2-3 pounds during the winter but no more than that!

An Italian greyhound, while not a natural cold weather breed, can learn to adjust to his environment well so long as he is an indoor dog, has plenty of warm clothes and bedding, and receives a tad more food.

About the Author

Lea Mullins provides tips on how to protect your Italian greyhound in the winter. For more information on Italian Greyhound health, visit TrainPetDog.com.

Italian Greyhound Prison Break

Italian Greyhound Training in Agility

Anyone that has ever spent time with any of the sighthounds, which includes Italian greyhounds, knows that Italian greyhound training is not something always easily accomplished. That doesn’t mean that the dogs cannot or should not be trained!

One of the sports that might be most ideal for Italian greyhound training is agility. Agility is a fast-paced, fun, and addictive sport that really bonds a handler to his dog and relies on not just spoken commands but also body language.

Agility requires a fast, agile dog and a dog that can learn to follow your lead. Training IGs for agility takes advantage of the dog’s natural quickness (sighthounds are some of the fastest dogs in the world) and his agility. Getting him to follow commands takes a bit more time!

Basics of Italian Greyhound Training
Italian greyhounds, like most sighthounds, are very sensitive. You cannot be a heavy handed or harsh Dog Trainer or the dog will not work for you. Any kind of training you do with these dogs must be positive, upbeat, and motivational.

Use higher pitched voices, happy body language, and a lot of reward. Not all Italian greyhounds will work well for food, but try to determine what food items your dog most values. Don’t be afraid to use very high value food items like chicken as it might be necessary.

Especially in agility, Italian greyhounds can utilize their natural instinct to chase small moving objects. Create a lure stick by tying a small fuzzy toy onto a pole with a light rope. This can be used as a reward for any type of training, but it will work well for agility.

How to Do Italian Greyhound Training in Agility
Most of agility is about constant movement over jumps, through tunnels, up obstacles, and weaving through poles. Some dogs can easily be taught these maneuvers with food, and if your Italian greyhound is very food motivated, you can go that route as well.

But, this won’t work for all of them or all of the time. Instead, make it a game using your lure toy. Use the toy to begin teaching skills by luring the dog or enticing him to follow your toy. It can be used for almost every obstacle and command in agility. Allow your dog to catch the toy at the end of the behavior and even play a short tug game, if he likes tug.

As he understands the skills, begin switching from luring with the toy to using it only as a reward at the completion of a behavior. Italian greyhound training utilizing a motivation that is very powerful for most of the breed really helps make the sport fun and teaches the dog the necessary skills.

Final Thoughts:
Don’t worry if your dog doesn’t take to the course or sport as quickly as the nearest Border Collie. Once he gets the hang of it, your Italian greyhound will find it to be quite fun. Just keep it light and fun. Don’t get frustrated or angry and remember to reward him through motivation for the most success.

About the Author

Lea Mullins provides Italian Greyhound Training advice. Check out TrainPetDog.com to learn more about Italian Greyhound Training.

Italian Greyhound $10.13 Italian Greyhound

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