If you are looking to add an Italian Greyhound (also known as an “IG”) to your family, you’ve come to the right place! We are going to guide you to the best places to get an Italian Greyhound.
RESPONSIBLE Breeders
A responsible breeder’s primary concern is the health and well‐being of dogs they produce. They do careful genetic research and heath testing before breeding a litter. IGs have a very limited gene pool so this is very important. Many genetic issues won’t show up for 2‐6 years so heath testing and knowledge are required to minimize the chances of a dog developing PRA, idiopathic epilepsy, luxating patellas, etc.
A Responsible Breeder WILL:
- Prioritize the health of their sires and dams to ensure they produce healthy pups.
- Do careful genetic research, heath and temperament testing before breeding a litter and will show you the results of testing. (i.e., DNA results from UC Davis for PRA-1, primary closed angle glaucoma, FEH, and genetic diversity).
- Make sure the puppies are socialized so they will be well-adjusted and confident in the real world.
- Make sure the puppies grow up in a household that sets them up with a great foundation so that they can go out and be a wonderful companion and representative of our breed.
- They will go through a rigorous application process in order to carefully select a loving and responsible home.
- They will be breeding for the betterment of the breed and will be actively showing their dogs to be certain of breeding to the breed standard.
- They care about dogs of their breeding and want buyers to keep in touch with them, especially if a health issue arises.
- Always require that the dog is returned to them if the owner cannot keep it.
- Always have a mandatory spaying/neutering of pet-quality animals.
A Responsible Breeder WILL NOT:
- Advertise to ship anywhere.
- Sell dogs less than 8 weeks of age. Ideally the breeder will keep the puppy until it is 10-12 weeks old.
- Breed the dam every season.
- Let the dogs live outside or any unsuitable condition.
- Breed dogs without any titles. Breeding solely for “pet quality” means breeding for money rather than for the betterment of the breed.
- Always have puppies for sale, sometimes three or more litters at a time.
- Advertise “rare” colors, sizes, or other traits. These traits are often not in accordance with breed standards and can lead to health or behavior problems.
- Breed dogs before the age of two years.
Red Flags
Irresponsible Breeders or Puppy Scammers?
Things to Watch Out for:
- Just because they are an AKC breeder does not make them a responsible breeder.
- Check with heath testing registries (OFA) to see if their dogs really are health tested and make sure to see the testing results of the parents. A well check visit at a veterinarian will not ensure you will have a healthy dog down the line.
- If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is. Beware of all the internet scammers on social media. The internet has been a boom to irresponsible breeders as a profitable outlet for puppy sales. They can be very deceptive in their advertising, presenting themselves as caring breeders, lying about heath testing, saying they take dogs back or will help you re‐home them. Offers of a year long health guarantee are meaningless when it comes to genetic issues that don’t show up for 2‐6 years. Even when they know their dogs produce genetic problems, they can get away with continuing to breed because the puppies won’t show the problem until the guarantee is expired. Many now are active in showing their dogs to give the inexperienced buyer the impression of responsibility. You must do your research!
Italian Greyhound Breeder Referrals
Below is the link to the Italian Greyhound Club of America Member Breeder Referrals. Like rescue you will most likely not be getting a puppy immediately but if you are interested in getting a puppy or a retired show dog this is the place to start.
Italian Greyhound Rescue
Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation Inc. is an 501c3 nonprofit organization, they are an all-volunteer organization that foster these dogs in their homes, they are not a kennel or shelter. Their foster dogs are health and temperament evaluated, the dogs are loved and treated as their own dogs. All dogs are taken for a veterinary check-up and when necessary, vaccinations are updated, neutered/spayed and its teeth are cleaned. Each Italian Greyhound is evaluated so that it can be placed in a home suitable to both the dog and the new owner.