Thinking of making your dog happy by giving him a bone to gnaw on? Here are some things to know about these treats!

1. Cooked bones are a danger!

Never feed cooked bones to your dog. Indeed, cooking makes the bones brittle, which risks puncturing your dog’s stomach or intestines, causing pain and even bleeding that can be fatal. Also, avoid small fragile bones like rabbit bones. If your dog can dog eat bones, it’s best to rush him to the vet.

2. Bones in the BARF Diet

Some owners offer their dogs a natural diet, based on raw meat, offal, and fleshy bones. It is important to give your dog bones in this type of diet because they provide essential minerals. However, you should not give just any type of bone: only fleshy bones adapted to the size of your dog (necks and chicken wings for small dogs, thighs for larger ones). Avoid supporting bones, which are too big and too strong.

3. Watch out for skin bones!

You can easily find skin bones on the market that promise good oral hygiene and an entertaining occupation for your dog. Unfortunately, these bones are of poor quality, and a lot of chemicals are added to the manufacturing process. In addition, these bones are very hard and risk causing intestinal obstruction if your dog swallows a large piece. They are therefore to be avoided.

4. What to do for your oral health?

It is important to monitor the good condition of your dog’s teeth. For his health, he needs to gnaw and you can find dried nerves or horns in specialized shops that will occupy him without putting him in danger. Chewing for a long time will limit the appearance of dental plaque and provide a healthy occupation for your companion.

If you want to give your dog a real bone, offer him a chicken neck or wing with the meat wrapped around it, or a raw marrow bone. To avoid any accident, supervise it while it gnaws it.

5. Leave your dog with his treasure!

Some owners are amazed at how aggressively their dog reacts when chewing on a bone. This does not mean that this dog has a behavior problem, but that he is protecting his resource. Indeed, bone is a rare treat, so it is a real pleasure for the dog. It is therefore important to leave your dog alone as long as he gnaws his bone. Remove him if there is a danger, by exchanging him for an appetizing delicacy (a piece of chicken or cheese…).

Surprised by his height. This Miniature Italian Greyhound, also known as the Little Italian Greyhound, Italian Greyhound, Dwarf Italian Greyhound, Piccolo Italian Greyhound, or Italian Greyhound is the smallest in the world. Agile, social, and mischievous, he will conquer the whole family.

The smallest of the greyhound dogs, it is capable of reaching 60 kilometers per hour, which makes it the fastest of the dwarf dogs. If we add to this that they are affectionate, sensitive and tender, docile and intelligent, they have everything to be pets that their owners fall in love with when they arrive at their home.

Everything you should know about the Italian Greyhound

With the little Italian greyhound, everything is an advantage. With soft and tight hair that barely sheds, it will hardly give you any work in that sense, it does not produce any odor and has a calm temperament, not being demanding at all.

Despite having a delicate and refined nature with thin bones, his good health is one of his best letters of introduction and one more point in favor of this peculiar breed.

Source

Some maintain that the ancestors of the Italian greyhound were already known more than five thousand years ago in Ancient Egypt, where they were those pets that delighted the pharaohs as they ran around the court.

Subsequently and for many centuries it was a highly appreciated breed throughout Europe. At the end of the 19th century, its definitive dwarfing is located when the whippet, a fairly small greyhound, began to see its popularity increase. To the extent that both breeds were intended not to be confused, cynologists did not give up their efforts until the size of the Italian greyhound was reduced, leaving it as we know it today.

Characteristics and physical traits

With a weight ranging from 4 to 5 kilos, and a height at the withers of 32 to 38 centimeters, the Italian greyhound piccolo has a compact and slender body and an elongated head and muzzle…

Temper

Friendly, submissive, affectionate, and pleasant, they greatly enjoy jumping, running, climbing, and jumping. It is a very sensitive breed that you have to pay attention to, so as not to stress it too much by yelling at it or with other similar behaviors. This means that it is not particularly suitable for sharing games with the little ones in the house, since it is a very clean, silent, discreet, and, above all, very calm pet.

His extreme emotional sensitivity leads him to love his owner very much, so he will follow him everywhere. That is why you have to be careful not to step on it since the common thing is that its owner when turning around, has it on his heels. As their bones are fragile, even more so when they are puppies, extreme precautions are recommended.´

They need high doses of attention and affection which, if they don’t get it, can lead them to become depressed and even aggressive. It would not be strange that if the little Italian greyhound does not feel loved enough, it begins to relieve itself at home as a way of attracting attention.

Some specimens find it a little more difficult to adapt and avoid going outside to relieve themselves in case of cold, wind, or rain, which can make it more difficult for them to get used to “doing their things” outside so you must be firm and determined. For this reason, some people choose to teach them to do them in a litter box, like cats.

They are very intelligent but not all are obedient. They tend to be reserved with strangers, becoming possessive of their owners. Not all of them make good watchdogs because while some Italian Greyhounds will alert you to the presence of strangers with their bricks, others will not.

At Petyzoo, a curiosity about these little greyhounds has called us a lot; and it is that they are kleptomaniacs, that is, they tend to appropriate other people’s belongings, so you must keep those things that you do not want to lose.

One of the traits that will fascinate you the most in these little ones will be their tremendous joy in youth, which will be accompanied by extreme activity. You will be surprised to see that he can jump up on a table in a single jump or jump into the face of an adult as a greeting.

They are elegant and distinguished and those who do not consider themselves sufficiently cared for tend to become shy. It is the ideal companion for houses with a serene environment.

Relationship with other pets

If he knows how to socialize from a puppy, we are dealing with a breed that will not present behavioral problems with the rest of the pets in the house. However, its small size makes it recommended that it be associated with dogs of its size or similar, since other larger breeds could harm them, even without having that purpose, given the fragility of its tiny anatomy.

For the rest, they presume to get along with other dogs and cats, with whom they like to lie on the sofa or watch them through the window. Called a bit manipulative by some, this sweet, charming and somewhat comical little guy likes to make things easy for you.

Relationship with children

We have already indicated that the Italian greyhound is neither due to its physical characteristics, which make it more fragile than other pets nor due to its susceptible and calm character, the best option for a busy household with children. Despite this, it does not mean that they cannot maintain a good relationship with the little ones in the house, as long as the parents have accustomed their children to treating the little greyhound with respect, care and affection.

On the other side of the coin, they are a great option for older people, since their need for affection can be fully met with these people, who have a lot of time and are often open to the possibility of throwing themselves into their pets, of who will become the perfect complement.

If necessary, it will not hesitate for a moment to use its extraordinary courage if it feels that its owner is in danger, even compromising its safety if it is necessary.

basic care

This toy dog, called Italian greyhound or greyhound due to the great popularity they enjoy in Italy, is not used for hunting as is done with its larger congeners, being a companion dog that does not require too much care. A series of basic guidelines will be enough to keep these little ones healthy and happy, which will be a very rewarding job for you.

Feeding

Undoubtedly, one of the fundamental aspects for your pet to enjoy a formidable appearance and health is to feed it correctly. Like most breeds, their specimens do not present special difficulties in terms of their diet.

The important thing is to familiarize him with a quality dry food brand, one of those specially indicated for toy dogs, establishing his daily needs in Kcal. as a maintenance ration in 390, since its weight does not usually exceed 5 kilos.

Because this animal perfectly adapts to life in a small city apartment, these values ​​will only be modified in females that are going through the gestation and lactation periods. In specimens with very intense physical activity, the daily needs in Kcal increase.

Hygiene

Its simple care makes it suitable for owners without previous experience with pets, since the simplicity of its hygiene does not bring with it any type of complication. This does not prevent it from being a scrupulous breed that likes to show off its cleanliness wherever it goes.

Dental hygiene

In the same way that occurs with most miniature dogs, the Italian Greyhound Piccolo is prone to the formation of bacterial plaque and the accumulation of tartar on its teeth, which causes, among other problems, unpleasant bad breath.

Accustom him from a puppy to a good brushing of teeth once or twice a week, with a special toothpaste for dogs, which should not be meat-flavored to avoid licking his lips and making it even more difficult for you to brush his small teeth. If you do it regularly from an early age, as time goes by, and even if it is not an activity to his liking, he will let himself brush his teeth normally.

Another good idea is to reward those actions that you are carrying out correctly with those cookies or bones that are found in the market and that are special for ending tartar.

bath and drying

If we assume that it is a dog that does not smell, it will be enough to bathe it and trim its nails once a month to keep it properly groomed. Think that it is a dog that has the advantage that it barely smells or loses hair, so it is hypoallergenic and especially recommended for those with allergies to dog hair.

Once you have bathed him, you must dry him perfectly because his extreme sensitivity to cold could make him sick, if this is not done. Make sure you remove all the excess water with a towel and then apply a blow dryer, always away from her body and at a temperature that is not too hot, so as not to risk burning her delicate skin. The idea is that you do not go outside until it is completely dry.

Brushed

You will keep its fur in perfect condition just by rubbing it with a silky cloth, getting it to shine quickly. Its coat is therefore very easy to maintain.

After brushing and whenever it’s winter, they’ll be willing for you to wrap them up in a sweater or coat of those special ones for toy dogs, flirtatious and very funny, with which they’ll be prepared to take their daily walk in the street whenever the weather is good.

Vaccines and antiparasitic treatments

Needless to say, it is important to submit your pet to the vaccination schedule that the veterinarian predetermines. The normal thing will be that, when you adopt it, it comes equipped with a vaccination record that indicates which doses it has on and which ones it is missing.

In the same way, this professional will indicate what are the preventive treatments against parasites that usually affect them, especially in the summer season, such as fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms, and that consist of pipettes and antiparasitic collars.

Another of the main ills that you have to avoid for your puppy is the contagion of Leishmaniasis, a serious disease that can wreak real havoc on their health and that is combated through vaccination or wearing a collar that repels the mosquito. sandfly, causing it.

More common diseases

This breed, which in principle is quite healthy and has few congenital problems, has, like any other, a special predisposition to suffer from a series of specific health problems, such as the following:

Epilepsy

luxating patella

Limb fractures during its growth stage (because its skeleton is very delicate until it reaches a year and a half, so it is not difficult for it to break one of its long legs)

Hereditary defects in vision (vitreous degeneration)

Periodontal disease

Hypothyroidism (autoimmune thyroid disease)

Hip dysplasia

Avoid as far as possible that the little one you are going to adopt suffers any of them in the future, it happens because you request, whenever possible, the medical history of their parents to verify that they are not affected by a series of ailments that are transmitted genetically and therefore it is more than likely that your puppy will suffer at some point in his life.

On the other hand, the Italian greyhound is so cold that it is easy to get sick from the cold, so you have to try to protect it from the weather and never leave it outdoors during the coldest hours of the day, much less for the night.

how to train it

This bright, vivacious, affectionate and extremely intelligent little boy is ready to adapt one hundred percent to life in his adopted home. To the extent that he loves the company of his family, he is not adapted to living in a doghouse located in the garden, but rather he has to do it inside the house.

Easy to train and quick to learn, they are proud of it, showing joy, bravery and bravery everywhere. We have already indicated that they can live comfortably installed in an apartment but, if you have a small house with a well-fenced garden, which will keep them safe from possible accidents due to running loose, their happiness will never end. If so, try to have direct access to the said garden through a door.

His intelligence will mean that he is always watching you and waiting to be rewarded if he considers that he deserves it. In the learning season, establishing a reward system will come in handy.

It is important to watch his mischievous wit and his innate talent for getting on two legs to reach the places that are of interest to him, for which he will not hesitate to take tremendous leaps.

Since this little one is very sensitive to the cold, the ideal thing is to prepare a warm basket or bed for him, which is away from drafts and in which he has a light blanket, since you will see that he enjoys covering himself with it even when is hot.

at the time of the ride

These active little dogs require a certain amount of daily exercise, even more so while they are young. You have to keep in mind that they usually act like puppies until they reach the age of 2 to 4 years. They love long walks and in safe conditions, it is wonderful for them that you allow them to have a run.

Whenever you give them a choice between walking on grass or the concrete of a sidewalk, they will opt for concrete. It is not recommended that you remove the leash while walking because they detect odors 300 meters away and tend to be tempted to chase everything they consider prey such as rabbits, ferrets, cats, squirrels, etc. to exhaustion.

They can keep you company in short runs, but they have a predilection for walks and playing with other dogs, better if they are not too big because this reduces the risk of accidents.

Also, they can get scared and at that moment they tend to jump. On the other hand, the impressive speed that they can reach means that if they run you cannot catch up with them, which is a bonus of danger and they will not distinguish between doing it in a field or on a road full of cars.

His tendency to be shy must be stopped from an early age when he needs to socialize, so whenever you take him for a walk you should avoid the temptation to pick him up and try to get him closer to other pets. Let him browse and learn to behave naturally in the presence of other dogs.

Above all, take advantage of the sun and good temperatures to take it outside because you think it is important to preserve it on cold and rainy days. After all, it hates bad weather.

As your companion dog, it is convenient that you get this little guy used to also accompany you on your car journeys. Something that you have to avoid is using the car only to take him to the vet because in this case, he will associate it with a visit that he will most likely not like.

We owners like to eat well: varied, good and preferably in company. Although food is mainly a necessary necessity of life, we link emotions to it. What about our four-legged friends? They eat the same kibble every day – something we would hate. Should we mix dog food?

“Isn’t it boring that our dog eats the same thing every day?” our customers sometimes ask. Our short answer: no, dogs don’t find that boring they love eating the same kibble day in, and day out and they do well on it. We, therefore, do not recommend frequently alternating dry dog ​​food, because that can cause intestinal problems and diarrhea.

WHAT DO DOGS PREFER TO EAT: VARIED OR GOOD?

The most important thing is that your four-legged friend gets the nutrition he or she needs because that helps a dog to be balanced and healthy. That is why you should order dog food that suits your animal and that consists of the right ingredients of good quality. Your buddy gets everything he needs from good dog food. Your dog’s body adapts to the food. The digestive system is used to the dog food and knows exactly how to optimally absorb the nutrients.

A DOG ALSO HAS TASTE BUDS: MAKE DOG FOOD TASTIER?

Dogs have taste buds just like us. But: dogs have fewer taste receptors (and find smell more important than taste). That means he won’t get tired of eating the same thing every day. Most dogs like to get the same thing every meal – as long as the dog food is tasty. Because no matter how good the quality and how nutritious the chunks are, dogs simply like certain things much better than others. So feel free to treat your dog to something new. How about oil for dog food to make dog food tastier? Or a tasty snack as an extra?

Here you will find oil for dry dog food (with health benefits) and dog snacks.

ALWAYS THE SAME DOG FOOD OR CAN YOU VARY?

There is no harm in varying dog food from time to time. For taste or because your dog’s needs change. Dog food consists of (animal) proteins, with different amino acid and fatty acid profiles, minerals, and vitamins. Duck meat, for example, contains a lot of B vitamins, vitamin K and a relatively high amount of selenium, phosphorus, and iron. Beef contains a relatively large amount of iron, zinc, and selenium. Salmon has other health benefits, thanks to Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids vitamins A, B1, B2, plenty of B3, B6, and B12, and vitamin D. Salmon meat is rich in potassium, selenium, folic acid, and copper. Salmon also contains a relatively large amount of magnesium, just like mackerel and other fatty fish. And did you know that your dog can eat happily? Turkey meat contains a lot of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin, the happiness hormone, in the body.

MIXING DOG FOOD?

You can mix dry dog ​​food if you are sure that your dog can handle it and is not sensitive to any new protein source you add and if you do not mix different brands. If you want to mix – you don’t have to for the taste – do so with two flavors of the same brand. If you alternate (too much) between different brands of dog food, you may saddle your dog with intestinal complaints, constipation, or diarrhea.

Do you want to mix dry dog ​​food because you want to switch to another brand of food? Very good that you act if the current food is no longer the very best that you can give your dog. We explain step by step how to switch to different dog food.

DOES YOUR DOG NOT WANT TO EAT (ANY MORE)?

Your dog has been eating his kibble with great taste for years and suddenly he turns his nose up at it. What could be going on, you ask? Does your dog not eat for a day, but does he still drink? Then you don’t have to worry immediately. But if your dog refuses to eat for days, it’s time to ring the bell. (Earlier if he doesn’t drink either – always call your vet.) The causes vary: your dog may be overeating, feeling unwell, having dental problems, feeling tense, and eating less due to stress. Or your dog ate something wrong, which is why he is now constipated. Call the vet immediately if you are constipated! Or, indeed: he no longer likes his kibble. You test the latter by wetting the dry chunks a bit. This way smell and taste are better released and that stimulates your dog’s appetite.