BelCanto
Italian Greyhounds
Robert & Patricia Anders
A Little About Us and A Little About IGs
We have been raising, training and showing Italian Greyhounds since 1997. Our dogs have taken us places that we never dreamed we would see...the Toy Group ring at Westminster Kennel Club Show in Madison Square Garden in 2006, Brazil and Colombia, and dogs shows from California to Florida to New York!
Breeding Italian Greyhounds has brought us great joy and many wonderful memories... finishing our first Bred By Exhibitor champion, raising pups in the kitchen of three different houses in three different cities over the years, having to buy a bigger bed so that everyone would fit, Breeding Italian Greyhounds has also brought us some sad times as well. Nothing is ever perfect forever, after all.
We have made many friends and lost friends too, but the dogs have always been a constant reminder of why we undertook this crazy way of life nearly 13 years ago.
The Italian Greyhound is a very special dog. The internet is full of information about Italian Greyhounds and some of it is very useful. Some of it is absolutely incorrect or misleading. They are not for everyone for a variety of reasons. Please don't buy an IG impulsively, without a lot of research and a lot of one-on-one time with some IGs in person.
The Italian Greyhound is a wonderful companion who wants to be with thier owner as much as possible. If you want to go out and run a couple of miles, they will join you. If you want to sit on the sofa and watch a movie, then pull out a blanket for them to snuggle under right next to you. They love attention of any kind.
They require a great deal of supervision during the first few years. They are inquisitive and fearless and can get into trouble very quickly if they are not closely supervised. Accidents involving leaping from places where they shouldn't be in the first place are a primary cause of leg breaks and the expensive repair that follows.
Please talk to several breeders who are involved in showing IGs before buying an IG. Most of these breeders are going to be breeding IGs who have proven to be healthy and sound in body and temperament. As convenient as it may seem to order a pet on the internet, you may have to live with the unexpected consequences of not taking the time to meet the breeder of your pet and seeing where and how it was raised and what the parents of your dog are like.
Italian Greyhounds require little grooming, but do need to be brushed and have teeth cared for routinely, along with nail trimming on a frequent basis. They need exercise daily, premium quality dog food, and time to run and play in a safe fenced area. They need to be trained with patience and positive reenforcement. Yelling, hitting and punishment are not acceptable ways of dealing with Italian Greyhounds, or any dog, for that matter.
We are always happy to answer questions about our dogs and IGs in general.
