Consider Micro-chipping Your Italian Greyhound

Iggies will pursue anything that moves, if they are in the mood to do so. While this is not a problem, usually, in a well fenced in backyard, indoors or on a leash, it is definitely a problem for an Iggy off leash in open space.

Spend any time at all with a IG rescue and you will hear sad stories of a terrified Iggy who managed to bolt and not find his or her way back home, which by the way if often the case. 

Spoiled sight hounds such as Iggies usually have no "street smarts" and cannot find their way back home once they have bolted.

While it is infinitely preferable to not have your Iggy on the loose and lost, it is always better to be safe than completely sorry.

Micro-chipping your Iggy increases the chances you will be reunited with your four legged family member. Often, the lost Iggy is returned to his or her family through a simple phone call. The individual who found the lost Iggy can simply call the micro-chip company and provide the chip number. The company will get in contact with the owner and Iggy and human can be quickly reunited.

If the Iggy does not have a tag indicating micro-chipping has been done, a quick trip to the vet by the human who found the Iggy, or the rescue if the Iggy is turned over to a rescue, will provide the needed information to reunite the four legged family member with its humans.

If you are interested in having your Iggy micro-chipped or learning more about the process, discuss it with your family vet who will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Just One Reason I Love Italian Greyhounds (Iggys)!

Dogs in general are great. There is much to like about dogs when comparing them to people. But that is a discussion for another time.

Of all the breeds of dog why do I like Italian Greyhounds so much? Simple. These delightful little dogs are wonderful companions. 

My beloved Alec waited for me to get home so he could follow me around. Regardless of where I took up occupancy at home, little Alec had a place to sleep if he could not convince me of his need to occupy my lap or be held while he took his nap. Can you think of a single person who desires to be in your company this much?

Mind you, this can get to be a bit much. Iggys will follow you into the bathroom, interrupt human activity you would prefer not to be interrupted (ahem) and even make a good faith effort to follow you into the shower.

There are times when you would prefer to be alone with your thoughts and your faithful Iggy simply has other ideas.

Yet these inconveniences are worth it when weighing the value of these small dogs desire to be your companion and in your company. Most of the time after being held and petted for a few minutes they are content to sleep next to you or in your lap (I did say most of the time). Even better from the Iggy's view point is a nice nap under a blanket with its human.

If you don't own a dog, or are not currently in the possession of an Italian Greyhound, but are looking for a dog who needs to be a companion, you might want to look into being adopted by an Italian Greyhound. You will never lack for companionship again.

The Iggy Rules According to Alec and Berkeley (and a few others)

Alec and Berkeley are typical Italian Greyhounds. Being the good Iggies that they are, these two have gone to great lengths in order to insure their humans, the Sivils family, have been well trained in the "rules." The "rules" are to be obeyed at all times and without question.  The rules are:

1) If I want it, it is mine. This includes any item formerly owned by a human in the family.

2) Humans were designed to be used as couches with automated scratching devices attached.

3) The scratching devices are to be used at all times when I recline unless I decide otherwise.

4) Food is to be shared, sort of. Humans share with Iggies. Iggies are not allowed to share with humans.

5) It is always nap time.

6) Unless it is play time.

7) The Iggy always determines what time it is.

8) My comfort is your number one priority. 

9) Cars are meant to take Iggies for rides, but never to the vet.

10) Furniture, in addition to being used for taking comfortable naps, is also meant to be used as an Iggy obstacle course.

11) Blankets are meant to sleep under, for Iggies that is. Humans are allowed by permission of the Iggy.

12) If the temperature is above 72 degrees it is too hot for an Iggy.

13) If the temperature is below 72 degrees it is too cold for an Iggy.

14) Only say the word "treat" if you mean it!

15) Iggies are happier when they have a human of their own for a companion.

A Tribute to Little Alec

It is with great sadness that I post that my tiny companion, Alec, passed away suddenly yesterday, September 16th, as the result of what the vet called a "spontaneous pneumothorax," or a small hole in his lung that allowed air to fill his chest cavity and prevented him from breathing properly. After several procedures lasting several hours, it became evident tiny Alec, as tough and scrappy a dog as there ever was, would not be able to overcome his condition. And so with great sadness but a determination he would not suffer, the decision was made to humanely put Alec to sleep.

I shall miss my tiny companion.

Each morning as I left for work I had to pick up my little sight hound and toss him on the stairs and dart out the front door. Alec responded to his human abandoning him by howling for 3-5 minutes before settling down on the 8th stair to await my return.

I have no doubt Alec moved about during the day but without fail, when I walked up to the front door and peered through the window, Alec could be standing on the 8th stair, carefully balancing on his back two legs with his tail wagging!

Upon opening the door I would always be greeted by our other two dogs, a Biggie Iggie named Berkeley and our mix, Angel. Alec would always muscle his way to me and jump as high as he could demanding to be picked up. I shall miss Alec's daily greeting upon my return.

As I type this I am reminded of Alec's normal location when I have to work on my computer. Alec sat in my lap either sound asleep or standing and peering at the computer screen.

Despite being an older Iggy, Alec on a good day was as full of mischief as a puppy. When caught Alec displayed the time honored ability of every Iggy to look innocent, even when standing in the middle of the garbage he had just overturned.

Perhaps what I will miss most is waking up in the morning and feeling Alec resting comfortably under my right arm with his chin resting on my shoulder and his big Iggy eyes watching me, waiting for me to get up and let him and his canine companions outside.

Here's to Alec and all the Iggies like him who make our lives so much better for having our tiny companions share life with us.

Alec and his little friend and one of our former fosters, Lucky.

Mom Never Had a Chance - Berkeley's Arrival

When my wife Lisa's little Maltese/Pekinese mix, Sammy, crossed the Rainbow Bridge, Lisa understandably missed her tiny companion. None of the family had ever seen an Italian Greyhound before a visit to PetSmart to get some dog food for our remaining two dogs.

It was "Adopt a Pet" day from a local rescue and two of the dogs up for adoption was a female Iggy with her mix puppy, a cute little male.  Everyone was fascinated with the mother and her sleek appearance.

What interested Lisa was the fact that Italian Greyhounds don't shed! They do, but an Iggy's hair is so short it is hard to see.

As time passed, the kids and I became more and more convinced Mom needed a new companion. Remembering Lisa's interest in the Italian Greyhound at PetSmart, I did some research on the breed. It sounded like a perfect fit for my wife.

The kids agreed with me and so we went through the "vetting process" to adopt an Italian Greyhound from the local Iggy Rescue. After being approved, we had to finally tell Lisa what her Christmas present would be that year. She was less than thrilled.

Things got worse as each Iggy that was brought by to see if she liked it did nothing to get her to warm up to the idea of a new little companion. Finally, with Christmas Day looming, a beautiful fawn colored male became available in the Dallas area. No problem except we live in the Greater Houston Area.

We made the drive to Dallas, spent the night in a hotel, and met with Berkeley's foster mom in her home. At this point Lisa just wanted to go back home and was willing to take Berkeley with her just to return home.

Berkeley had other plans in mind for Lisa. Taking and immediate liking to Lisa, Berkeley ran around his foster mom's house barking and taking running leaps into Lisa's lap. When pausing to catch his breath, Berkeley would "kiss" Lisa's ears, all to the delight of Berk's foster mom. She informed Lisa Berkeley had never warmed up to any other potential adopters, so if Lisa wanted to adopt him, Berkeley was all hers.

Our youngest daughter Emily was with us and just loved Berkeley's playful attitude and was all for adopting him on the spot. I just wanted to get what was seeming to become more and more of a bad idea with each passing day behind us before my wife put her foot down and said no to adopting another dog.

Lisa, mainly wanting to return home, stated if Emily liked Berkeley, we would keep him, so the deal was done.

Half-way home, with Berkeley riding in his crate, Emily announced she need to have a bathroom stop. Pulling over to a rest area, I took Emily while Lisa walked Berkeley. Upon our return, Emily and I climbed into our family van with Berkeley while Lisa used the lady's room.

Berkeley was preparing to enter phase two of his plan to snare his new Mom's heart. Refusing to go back in his crate, Berk settled down in the passenger seat to wait for Lisa's return.

None to happy to see Berkeley out of his crate as she climbed into her seat, Berkeley slipped into Lisa's lap, rolled over on his back and began to rub his cheek on my wife's chest. It took that little con artist all of three seconds for Lisa to decide Berkeley needed to be held instead of riding the rest of the way home in the crate. 

As we drove down Interstate 45, I glanced over with a little concern at my new competition I had inadvertently arranged for my wife to adopt. Berkeley was resting comfortably in Lisa's lap and glanced over in my direction and it was at that moment I realized we were in the presence of a master con artist. I will forever believe that Iggy winked at me!

Late that night, after introducing Berkeley to our two other mixed breed dogs, one of whom laid down the various laws according to Nardy, the alpha of our trio, it was time for all the weary humans, dogs and an Iggy to go to sleep.

Lisa had already announced Berkeley could sleep on the floor or in his crate. She had no intentions of allowing the rumored habit of Iggies sleeping with their humans take root. It made little difference to her that Nardy slept on the end of our bed and Angel slept under the bed, Berkeley would not have the luxury of sleeping anywhere near our bed.

It was then that Berkeley revealed his true mastery of the art of conning a human into doing what he wanted. Within two minutes of the lights being turned out, Berkeley quietly climbed on to our bed, slowly walked up to my wife, and politely tapped her twice on her shoulder. Lisa rolled over only to see Berkeley's tail vanish under the blankets as he emitted the most pathetic sound I have heard coming from a dog.

With in seconds Momma's new baby was curled up and getting hugged and petted by his helpless victim, my wife. As Lisa carefully got comfortable again, Berkeley rested comfortably with his head on her pillow, all warm and snug under the blankets. Once again that dog looked over at me, and winked, this time with a big smile on his face.

My poor wife never had a chance.