I have not had one - only the full size versions - but they really are small toy dogs. I know that hasn't answered your question, sorry!
I imagine just like the full size that they are very susceptible to heat and cold.
If so, are they really as hard to house-train as they are reputed to be?
Wife is very keen on one.
Does anyone know of any reputable breeders in the UK?
Thanks. :)
I have not had one - only the full size versions - but they really are small toy dogs. I know that hasn't answered your question, sorry!
I imagine just like the full size that they are very susceptible to heat and cold.
Italian? No - but we've a couple of whippets. Lovely dogs, and house-training was no issue at all. The advice we had (which we used with both dogs) was to crate train from Day 1, then the house-training builds on the puppy's natural desire not to foul its own sleeping quarters.
As with any sighthound breed, the real time and effort training wise was on impulse control and recall, to try and damp down the prey reponse a little. Once a sighthound has "target lock" and is running, it essentially becomes impossible to distract or recall, so the trick is to get in ahead of the charge!
They’re pretty but strike me as rather petite and delicate.
I’ll share one thought if I may? If you’re thinking that you really like the look of sighthounds but would prefer a smaller dog because it might be less demanding of exercise and or space.
I keep klieb tal fenek, known outside Malta as pharaoh hounds. Think of an all-terrain greyhound with amazing pricked-up ears and you will get the idea. My little pack of four take as much or as little exercise as they get, and are happy. In winter in Malta they will walk for miles but our summers are too hot and even the tarmac and rocks can burn their feet so they loaf about and look for shade. They think they are lapdogs and can make themselves very compact when they fold themselves up, which is a good thing when they venture onto the humans’ bed for a cuddle. They are demanding of attention because they are so intelligent and affectionate, but are actually very easy to keep and live with. I know a couple of people who keep full size greyhounds and they say similar things.
Aye, as a former sighthound owner (a lurcher and a Borzoi) if you're not constantly scanning the horizon and can snap them out of the pursuit within the first three strides - your wallet or pet insurance can be in for a pounding. Once locked and loaded anything between them and the "prey" simply does not exist, be it a road, cars, fences etc. Be very careful where you let them off the leash.
Ooohh I want a borzoi - my dream dog and so rare. Only ever seen two I think.
Neighbour had one. Very highly strung and difficult to manage.
Was a shock to me as I almost rehomed one to bring back from Toronto a year before when we lived there.
Thought I'd got off lightly.
I'd consider a grey/blue whippet instead.
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if you want a smaller 'greyhound' just get a whippet (it will prob be alot cheaper too) , my parents had a whippet when younger and it was a great dog - very placid though like most dogs it got greedy when older and my parents didnt help matters as you would think they were feeding a bull mastiff- in the end it looked like a potato with toothpick legs.
Yep, exactly. we got our Lurcher at 4 months with prey drive already high. He’s now coming up to 6years old. Rabbits and Cats are his favourite and there’s nothing we can do when he goes. Target Acquired. He nearly always gets the rabbit. 50 50 on cat if it get get up over walls/fences or hedges that are too high for him to scale. But he still tries. Loads of flesh nicks with hedges. Seagulls on the beach is another target too.
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You could go half way between a whippet and a greyhound and get a scruffy lurcher, this is Alf, lovely temperament, great with kids and daft as a brush.
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If you want a rarer sighthound that’s much more laid back than a borzoi I commend these. Same prey drive as the other breeds though. They are quite rare outside Malta but if you’re interested I could help source one here.
Yes I have considered pharaoh and Ibizan, both lovely and will be a consideration when I get another.
Thank you very much for the offer, appreciated but it will probably be another 18 months or so when I retire.
I’m somewhat surprised by these sighthound/lurcher comments regarding “prey lock” but then other than my own lurcher, I have no other experience with them.
Mine just wants to play with everything. Other dogs, the peacocks at my fathers home, ferrets. You name it hand she sees it as a playing partner. She’s coming up on four year old this year and she’s always been this way.
Thanks for all the comments so far - much appreciated! :)
I'm open-minded as to breed - it's the wife that has a fixation for Italian greyhounds, but I'll see if I can convince her.
It needs to be a smallish dog though, so not sure how big Whippets, Pharaoh Hounds or Borzois are?
We had whippets growing up and they're perfect in my eyes.
Italian greyhounds look so fragile you couldn't imagine them chasing down a wet rag, never mind a wily squirrel - more toy than dog.
I should point out that we didn't actively take the whippets squirrel hunting, but if they saw one there wasn't a lot you could do. I should also add that the squirrel always won.
Whippets are the next size up, pharaoh normal dog size, borzois huge.
My greyhound unfortunately did a swan once (damaged its wing), made the local news, lucky we were not prosecuted.
I wasn’t there. My ex foolishly gave the lead to my young daughter.
Last edited by markbannister; 15th April 2021 at 21:00.
What about Basenjis?
Nice looking dogs but know nowt about ‘em.
This thread reminds me of the time I went to an animal sanctuary that was unusual as it only contained one dog and lots of watches!
It was a Shih Tz-uk
Their life expectancy (7 to 10 years) will break your heart. We lost our at 9, the years flew by so quickly
In terms of being a dog - he was probably the worst one we've ever had. But what a character he was, he could sulk for England if he didn't get his own way. Undoubtedly the mutt I miss the most............. and a great deal of the reason why I wouldn't have another.
If I was after a sight hound I'd get an ex racing greyhound.
Plenty around and great pets (with the obvious sight hound caveats).
Life expectancy wise Pharaohs should be good for 11-13 years. No dog ever lives long enough but the bigger breeds will break your heart sooner.
Both my greyhounds went 13-14 years.
This was Zora on her sofa, jet black apart from her feet when she was younger.
Last edited by markbannister; 16th April 2021 at 15:32.
That gives me an excuse to post a pic of James, my senior KTF. He’s a rescue, and was around 8 when he came home with me 18months ago. The best therapy dog I’ve ever had and so affectionate. I hope he gets to spend a few years with me.