While Italian Greyhounds are small and low-maintenance in the grooming stakes, they’re high maintenance in almost all other respects!
Here’s a handy list of the essential kit that you will need if you are bringing an Italian Greyhound into your home:
Food & Water
- Bowls for food and water – preferably raised off the floor
- A good quality complete food – dry / wet / raw or freeze-dried
- Feeders such as Lickimats and Kongs are also fun for your dog
- Dog Treats
Bedding
- Dog Bed – most Italian Greyhounds love to burrow under blankets and a Snuggle Bed / Burrow Bed is usualy ideal with a sticthed in pocket for them to burrow into and stay warm.
- Dog Blanket – a smallish one that is easy to transport and move about the house and take with you when out and about
- Dog Crate (preferably a wire crate or Vari-Kennel style) with a suitable supoprtive mattress inside – an IG should never be confined to a crate but for long periods of time but it cna be helpful to crate train your dogs, especially as crates the safest way to travel your Italian Greyhound in a car
Exercise & Fun
- Sighthound collar (wide at the front of the neck and narrow at the back) or Italian Greyhound specific harness
- Dog lead – avoid flexi leads which ca be lethal for dogs that take off at a million miles an hour
- ID Tag (engraved with your name, address & mobile phone number)
- GPS Tracker – not an essential but a very nice to have! Don’;’t rely on “Air Tags” – a full service GPS tracker is required if your dog goes AWOL!
- Poop bags
- A selection of soft-play toys
IG Wardrobe
- A warm jumper or onesie for cold weather when outdoors
- Waterproof raincoat
Please note – IGs are not dolls! They need to be kept warm when outside in cold weather but as a general rule it is much better for them to be naturally naked when indoors – it’s better for their skin and their (natural) coats.
Grooming & Maintenance
- Canine nail clippers or dremmel
- Small canine toothbrush or child’s toothbrush
- Canine toothpaste
- Gentle canine shampoo
Veterinary Care & Cover
- Register with a vet – even if there is nothing wrong with your dog
- Pet Insurance Policy – essential in this current world of ever increasing veterinary costs – check the clauses relating to orthopedic surgery in particular and try to ensure your dog’s veterinary care for at least £6,000 per illness per annum
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