What to prepare for Italian Greyhound puppy

This is a checklist of essential items you should prepare before getting your Italian Greyhound puppy from the breeder's home.

Living

1. Comfortable, washable beds and blankets. It’s better to have more than one resting area. Your Italian Greyhound most probably will follow you around the house and try to be as close as possible, and they adore cozy blankets. In our house we have dog places with blankets in every room.
   

2. A crate if you’re planning to crate train your pup, to be used as a cozy den area. Take the biggest possible crate that you can fit into your living room or the room you spend most time in. It should be big enough to put a bed, pad, bowl with water and some toys.
   

3. House training pads for dogs. There are disposable and reusable (washable) pads for dogs, choose any you like.
   

4. Puppy-safe house cleaning sprays to clean accidents in the house. The best choice is an enzymatic spray that truly removes odor not just hides it.

Eating

1. Food and water bowls. Take any you like.

2. The food that your dog is familiar with – ask your breeder what the dog has been eating. If you take a puppy from us we provide some amount of food for the first time.

3. The food you’d like your dog to gradually switch to, if that’s relevant. Your breeder can tell you more about getting your dog used to a different food, and about diet in general.

4. Treats for training, appropriate for your dog’s size and age. The best way is to try different treats and choose those your dog likes most.

Playing

1. Toys for keeping your Italian Greyhound entertained, for playing together and to help teething puppies. They need to be safe. Most of all Italian Greyhounds like soft toys with squiskers inside.

2. You may buy feeding enrichment toys such as food puzzles and slow feeders. Any toys need to be robust and the right size for your dog so they can’t be swallowed.

3. You may also buy interactive dog toys with treat dispensers, puzzle components, or hidden compartments that can keep your Italian Greyhound mentally stimulated.

Walking

1. Special sighthound collar. Italian Greyhounds need a wider collar than most breeds of dogs. The wide part of the sighthound collar will fit under the dog's throat and any pulling on the lead will not cut off his breath and arterial blood flow. If you take a puppy from us we provide a sighthound collar of the right size.

2. We don't like dog harnesses. In our opinion, they all restrict Italian Greyhound's movements. An appropriate collar is all your Italian Greyhound needs.

3. Dog tag. Your name, phone, and address must be on the collar or tag.

4. A lead. Any design you like. The most comfortable length of the lead for walks in the city in our opinion is 1,2-1,5 meters.

5. Poo bags. Buy many and put them into all pockets as well as treats.

6. Puppy-specific car restraint or car crate. It’s important that, when you take your dog in the car, they should be safely restrained, either inside a crate or by wearing a harness that attaches to a seat belt.

Clothes

1. Warm dog coat if you’re getting your pup in cold autumn-winter time.

2. Warm t-shirt or jumpsuit for warmer but windy/rainy times.

3. Never buy clothes for Italian Greyhound without trying them. The vast majority of clothes you see in pet shops will not fit your Italian Greyhound because of its special body shape. Look for shops that sell clothes specifically for sighthounds. If you take a puppy from us we provide special clothes for Italian Greyhounds.