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We have added quite a few pictures of our two latest litters. Both litters were whelped in January 2005.

This was Willow's second litter and Skeeta's third. Willow had two lovely fawn males and two striking red females. Skeeta whelped her litter two weeks later. All fawn and very similar in colour size and markings. She had three females and two males. The temperament of all nine puppies is delightful.

If you have any questions or have not seen (and played with) an Iggy please feel free to contact us to arrange a time to visit. We are only to happy to talk (at length J) about this lovely breed.

General breed information

BREED HISTORY:

The IG goes back a long way in history as does the large Greyhound, probably originating at least 2,000 years ago in the areas that are now the countries of Greece and Turkey. Bones indicating a dog of this type have been found in archaeological sites.

The breed became popular in Southern Europe during the Middle Ages. Many were depicted in Italian paintings and sculpture. It is for this reason, and not because of its origin, that the little hound became known as the Italian Greyhound.

The IG (or Iggy/Iggie) has always been a favourite of royalty and the aristocracy. Many paintings show historical figures such as Princess Anne of Denmark, Queen Victoria and Catherine the Great of Russia with their beloved IGs.

SIZE:

32-38cm at the shoulders. The average weight is 2.7-4.5kg. Larger ones (around 40-45cm tall) are fairly common and make great pets.

GROOMING:

This is minimal, but teeth and toenails need regular attention. The coat is so short and fine that a bath is rarely necessary. Gum disease is common so their teeth need regular attention and brushing.

ACTIVITY AND ATTENTION:

They are adaptive and responsive to the energy level of their owners. The amount of time not used for bathing and grooming is required tenfold for attention and love. IGs can be almost needy in their desire for affection. Their attention span can be short if they're bored. They are not as fragile as they appear. Ours love to run around with Australian Kelpies and Samoyeds.

CAUTIONS:

House Training: This breed is notoriously difficult to house train. It is possible but requires a consistency and persistency of effort on your part for the first few months.

Health problems: As with all breeds, there are several health problems which are found with this breed. You can find lots of information about these on the web.

PREFERRED ENVIRONMENT:

At home on the couch. These dogs love running around outdoors, but they are not a dog that can be left out alone in the backyard.