Italian Greyhuahua: Mixed Breed Info, Pictures, Care & More

Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Fumipets

Italian Greyhuahua

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Height	10-14 inches
Weight	8-15 pounds
Lifespan	12-20 years
Colors	Varied
Suitable for	Active owners with plenty of time
Temperament	Aloof, hyperactive, intelligent

A Chihuahua and an Italian Greyhound were crossed to create the Italian Greyhuahua. Due to the scarcity of Italian Greyhounds in the United States, these hybrids are typically uncommon. These canines are basically over-the-top Chihuahuas. They are a little more wary of humans and other animals since they are more sensitive than their Italian Greyhound parent. They are readily able to understand instructions thanks to their intelligence, but they are also more prone to make mistakes. To be content, they need mental challenge.

Additionally, they have a lot more energy than a Chihuahua. For these reasons, they are often described as “more” Chihuahuas.

Although they resemble Chihuahuas, they often have the graceful profile of the Italian Greyhound. They may naturally acquire any attribute from any parent as they are hybrids. Even dogs from the same litter may vary widely. While some may resemble their Chihuahua parent, some may resemble Italian Greyhounds more. When acquiring one of these canines for adoption, you never know what you’re going to receive.

3 Little-Known Facts About Italian Greyhuahua

1. Training them may be difficult.

These dogs are often highly bright, but it doesn’t always guarantee that training them will be simple. They often pick up on orders very fast, but that doesn’t guarantee that they will obey them. Don’t be fooled by their cleverness; they are exceedingly obstinate.

2. Italian Greyhuahuas don’t act like they’re small.

These dogs often have tremendous personalities, much as Chihuahuas do. They often act much larger than they really are because they are unaware of how little they are. They are without a doubt personalities dogs.

3. These dogs come in many different colors.

The fact that both of their parents are multicolored indicates that their pups are also multicolored. Even within the same litter, this is accurate.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Italian Greyhuahua

These dogs are hesitant and distant. They dislike strangers and usually hide or behave violently in their presence. Early socializing is essential to boosting their self-esteem, which may help them overcome some of their innate aloofness. They are easily scared because of their tiny stature, which might result in violence. They will often learn to trust others if you expose them to a wide variety of individuals while they are young.

They do have a tendency to be rather playful with their families. They form strong relationships with only one or two individuals, which may make them unfit for families. This dog is probably not the greatest choice for you if you want a dog to develop close relationships with everyone in your household. They have a warm relationship with “their” people. However, they make great alert dogs and are very dedicated to their owners.

To flourish, they need a lot of cerebral stimulation. They need frequent amusement since they are educated. Despite being little canines, they have a tendency to do damage if left alone. There are several great solutions for this, including obedience training, dog sports, and puzzle toys. To stop destructive tendencies, it is essential to regularly provide these dogs mental stimulation.

These canines often fall midway between the chihuahua’s boldness and the italian greyhound’s submission. The genes they inherit and the way they were reared both affect how humble they are.

Regular interaction with these pets is essential. They are people-oriented and thrive on interaction with others. They need attention and playing on a daily basis because of this. They aren’t the greatest dog to leave alone for long periods of time each day. Some people are prone to separation anxiety, particularly if they develop strong bonds with only one individual. To avoid these issues when they become older, you’ll need to educate them how to be alone while they’re younger.

Do These Dogs Make Good Family Pets?

Depending on the family, yes. Although they don’t need need to exercise for extended periods of time, they are a little more energetic than many other dogs. Short periods of playing are often preferable. These dogs are best suited for families that are at least somewhat active since they are less likely to spend the day lounging on the sofa.

They often form close relationships with only one or two individuals. Thus they may not be ideal for bigger families that want the dog to give everyone equal attention. They are fantastic for families with one or two older kids, but not for those with many boisterous kids.

Tiny children who misuse them may easily hurt themselves because of their small size. Due to their dread of harm, they also often exhibit greater fear of small children. Violence motivated by fear may result from this. For this reason, we do not advise them for households with younger children.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

They can get along with other pets if socialized early. Typically, they don’t have a very strong prey drive. They will often stop chasing cats if you socialize them with them from an early age. Of course, as this dog is a hybrid, there will be some variation in how intense their instinct to pursue is. Cats and some people may never get along.

This dog may have some anxiety around bigger dogs. This often results in biting and other violent actions. To give them the confidence to hang out with other dogs, it is crucial to socialize them early on with other trustworthy dogs. They will often be alright if they come to understand that other dogs won’t harm them.

Things to Know When Owning an Italian Greyhuahua

Food & Diet Requirements

There are no specific nutritional needs for these dogs. They don’t eat a lot since they are little. Because their dog doesn’t consume as much of it, this fact makes it simpler for the majority of pet owners to buy more costly, higher-quality meals.

We advise eating dishes with a lot of meat. Inquire about recipes that have meat as the first ingredient. As long as they are labeled, whole meat and meat dishes are preferred. As literal “meat meal” is the same as mystery meat, you shouldn’t offer it to your dog. However, “chicken meal” is often a good choice.

In the absence of a particular grain allergy in your dog, grain-free diets are not required. Foods without grains don’t often have more meat. Instead, a low-quality vegetable, such as peas or potatoes, is substituted for the grain. Vegetables may provide nourishment when consumed in moderation, but when consumed in excess, they can become unnecessary.

While the food that these dogs consume need not be different from that of a typical dog, the manner in which they are fed must. They may be much smaller than the majority of other dogs, which implies that they consume less food. Their stomachs are too small to accommodate a lot of food. What they do eat is swiftly broken down. Their blood sugar will begin to fall when they are not eating. If the dog is not promptly fed again, this may cause hypoglycemia and ultimately result in death. Dogs often begin to seem drowsy and may even appear little confused. They can then start experiencing convulsions and lose consciousness. They won’t wake up eventually.

This breed’s tiniest canines need feeding at least twice daily, and more often while they are pups. Although it is still preferable to feed them twice a day, the bigger dogs most likely don’t need to bother about anything. You shouldn’t adopt these dogs if you don’t have the time to feed them often throughout the day, or at the very least, you should get a timed feeder.

Exercise

Italian Greyhuahuas seem to be a little more lively than typical Chihuahuas due to their sighthound heritage. This does not imply that they need vigorous activity, however. Small workout sessions are often the greatest because of their size. Frequently, a brief stroll in the morning and a fast walk at night are sufficient. If they look restless when you are home throughout the day, take them for another stroll.

They may be exercised in various ways too, like most breeds. They like playing all kinds of games, particularly ones that involve chasing after objects. Many are sophisticated enough for canine sport, but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll obey your commands when you give them. They won’t likely place in any competitions, but they might enjoy practicing for an activity like agility.

Play more challenging games that require movement. If you conceal a little distance from where the dog is waiting, hide-and-seek may be a mental and physical test for them. To play this game at the beginning, you may require two players. The dog will eventually learn to remain motionless while you conceal as they learn the rules, however.

Training

The socializing of this dog is the most crucial aspect of its training. They often exhibit apprehension around strangers, kids, and other canines. The strongest defense against this is early exposure to a wide variety of people and animals. This breed almost always benefits from puppy courses, not because they are particularly difficult to train but rather because they need to socialize with other dogs in a secure setting.

These dogs are fortunately tiny, making it easy to carry them about. Take them anywhere you can starting after their puppy vaccines are finished. Put them in intriguing circumstances with fresh people and animals. Visit the park with them. Visit a family and bring your well-behaved pets. They won’t be as frightened as adults thanks to this.

These canines might be challenging to teach in terms of obedience. Many people will pick up the directives during training and then vehemently object to being obeyed elsewhere. They often excel while training but seem to have forgotten everything once they get home. The secret is to train them in a variety of settings. It’s often challenging to hold their interest. They may also be quite obstinate.

Their diminutive stature makes toilet training challenging. Not because they are intrinsically troublesome, but rather because they need to go outdoors more often. As pups, they can need to use the restroom as often as every 30 minutes due to their tiny bladders. When their pups are young, many parents utilize puppy pads or some alternate method.

Grooming

These dogs don’t need a lot of grooming since both of their parents have very short hair. Although the Italian Greyhuahua sheds, it does so significantly less than some other breeds. To get rid of hair, grime, and debris, they should be brushed with a slicker brush at least once a week. The dog’s natural oils, which are beneficial for the health and development of its hair, will also be distributed throughout the brushing session.

These dogs often don’t shed excessively at particular periods of the year, in contrast to certain breeds. There is no “shedding season” for them. Therefore, the majority will shed over the year.

Dogs shouldn’t be bathed unless absolutely necessary. An excessive amount of bathing can remove the oils from their coat and make it simpler for them to become filthy. Instead, wait to wash them until after they roll in dirt or other unpleasant substances. They most likely need a bath if they are obviously soiled.

We advise utilizing a sensitive-skin shampoo when it’s time to take a bath to be on the safe side. A bath might exacerbate the skin and hair issues that some of these dogs are prone to. After the wash, you may apply different treatments to help the skin of your dog feel a little bit softer.

A trip to the groomer is not necessary unless you feel uncomfortable trimming your dog’s nails. They will need regular nail trimming. With the right tools, you can accomplish this at yourself, but many people would prefer to have a groomer take care of it. For dogs that merely need nail trimming, several groomers offer inexpensive walk-in services.

Additionally, pay attention to your dog’s ears. They are not susceptible to infection, although they may become unclean and get an infection. Use a moist cotton ball to clean them if they are soiled.

Health and Conditions

These mixed-breed dogs are in good health. Because they acquire features from a bigger gene pool, they are less likely to inherit specific genetic disorders from their parents. However, merely because of their tiny stature, they are more susceptible to several diseases.

One of these issues is low blood sugar levels. When your dog’s blood sugar drops too low, this happens. Smaller dogs of this breed are more affected by this. They can’t hold a lot of food in their small tummies. Their blood sugar will start to fall after all of their meal has been digested. They will start showing signs of low blood sugar if they are not fed once more soon after. If the dog is not fed and revived, this situation may result in death.

Another condition that these dogs are predisposed to be patellar luxation. The kneecap is dislocated in this situation. When a dog bends and unbends its leg, the patella (kneecap) often moves around in a groove on the femur. The groove and kneecap may not always line up properly, which might result in kneecap dislocation. If you don’t fix it, your dog will find it unpleasant to walk and it might lead to further injury. The kneecap may bump against objects, causing muscular tissue injury.

Although this illness is inherited, trauma may also be the cause of it. A physical injury might knock their kneecap out of position, but it could simply just fall out of place for no apparent reason.

Serious Conditions:

Patellar luxation

Tracheal collapse

Molera

Hypoglycemia

Minor Conditions:

Skin diseases

Male vs Female

In this breed, there is no discernible difference between the sexes. Men of this hybrid breed often have nothing in common with other males since they are so different. Simply because these canines vary so greatly, it would be difficult to identify broad distinctions between sexes.

Conclusion

Italian Greyhuahuas are an uncommon mixed breed. Due to their extensive gene pool, they differ widely. With these dogs, like with other hybrids, you never really know what you’re getting. They need to socialize since they are often a little uneasy and distant among strangers. If introduced to other pets while they are young, they can get along with them. Some are incompatible with cats because they have strong prey drives. But some get along with them just well.

The high level of intellect in these canines means that they demand a lot of mental stimulation. Despite their relatively high intellect, they may not always be simple to train.

Families with plenty of free time are the main target audience for this dog. They focus on people and want a lot of attention. They are inappropriate for working families that are gone for a significant portion of the day.

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