u/velv3taire

I want to say "SOMEONE HELP ME OH GOD I HAVE NOT CAUGHT MUCH SLEEP THIS PAST MONTH 😭"

but also me "oh my darling baby girl love of my life what would I do without your helicopter wags and parkour jumps across my living room? thank you for gobbling your 350ml of water and 120 grams of kibble with my homemade concoction of added nutrients and fish oil, I swear sometimes you make me think that it's the end of the world until you rub your walnut head on my thigh"

- proceeds to kiss iggy forehead and scratches the back of iggy's ears-

I am so close to renaming her to ~~Violence~~ 🤣 , the amount of sturdy chew toys she has destroyed and the amount of corners and walls she has chewed in anxiety though she has many rotating alternatives of kongs and stuffies.

P.S. she recently destroyed her blankets and bed, so I took them away for mending and she decided I was the next best thing to a 24/7 cushion 😮‍💨🫪

hello, I recently got the velcro dog of my dreams and I absolutely loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her.
she was the shyest of the bunch and the breeder mentioned she gets picked at by her littermates and tends to be quiet.

the more I wanted her in my home (I have one other doggo) so I could discover what's she actually like. I don't believe most Iggys are quiet since they vocalize in a variety of vocal ranges 😂.

so, italian greyhounds are pretty rare in my country, so i don’t have many local references for what everyday life with one is like outside of dog shows, and I'm kinda lost at what to expect from the breed.

for context: most “rare” pedigree dogs here are owned by show enthusiasts or kennels. because of that, most local social media content focuses on conformation, competitions, or breeding rather than what it’s actually like to live with an italian greyhound day to day with family and other dogs.

these are the points I know so far, am I going to be okay as an Iggy owner? am I missing anything? 😭 lmk ty!

• their snoot goes EVERYWHERE
• howls like an old lady and a husky when in need of attention
• barks like a chihuahua when meeting unfamiliar or person they dislike
• sighs and whines like a human toddler when they can't get into the kitchen with you because there's a baby gate.
• are velcro dogs that love being skin to skin to their people
• very affectionate but often in subtle ways / stalking you everywhere and by your ankles 9/10 times unless in deep REM sleep
• sensitive to tone and respond best to positive reinforcement (and then pee in happiness)
• intelligent but not a people pleasing breed, hyper-curious, and OFTEN stubborn
• loves snooting and rerranging any blankets on site for warmth/nesting
• an F1 race car for 15-20 minutes and then a log for 4 hours straight
• wakes up in between naps to give hoomans cuddles and face licks before going back to sleep
• fragile bones, especially as puppies
• thin skin that’s prone to scratches and minor injuries
prone to dental disease, so regular teeth brushing is important
• potty training can take longer than average but if food motivated it can be easier
• will eat anything and everything / say goodbye to quiet meal times
• chews on everything on site even if redirected with another toy or treat to play with
• benefit from routine and consistency, but again very STUBBORN
• generally clean and lazy dogs with little dog odor (dorito smelling ears are a bonus)
• can develop separation anxiety if not taught independence and dislike your boyfriend for being the secondary caretaker while you are away for 10 minutes
• thrive on companionship and usually want to be involved in everything you do even if it means judging you doing house chores and pushing you around with front paws (for attention)

here's a pic of my 4 month old baby girl of a hellhound!

getting a deep sniff at my iggy's little head like my life depends on it

4 month old chaos and hell breaking loose

need emotional support as a 1st time iggy parent