WHAT I AM FEEDING MY DOGS
PURINA PROPLAN PUPPY, BILJAC PUPPY SELECT, OCCASIONAL PEDIGREE CHOPPED CANNED FOR FLAVOR
WHAT I FEED PUPPIES
Puppies don't eat much at a time but they like to eat often. I leave dry Biljac in front of them all the time and then feed two meals a day of Purina Proplan puppy kibble softened to make it chewy but not soggy, and mixed with my homemade dog food mixture or pedigree canned food, just enough to make it tasty.
Many will eat kibble plain especially if I add warm broth or pan drippings to it.
WHAT I FEED ADULTS
Most adults are good eaters and I feed twice a day. In addition to the Proplan Puppy which I feed regardless of age, I may vary it with Purina Proplan Sport which is also high in fat and protein and therefore calories.
I moisten the kibble just like I do the puppy food. An estimated amount would be about 1/2 cup twice a day, and then see how your dog is looking. Feed more if he looks thin, feed less if he is fat.
PLEASE don't let your ig get fat. You should be able to feel but not see ribs and see a few vertebrae on the topline. If your dog is fat, EXERCISE WONT HELP. Just feed him LESS FOOD. Of course he looks hungry-he's a DOG!
TREATS AND BONES
Italian Greyhounds do fine with rawhide treats. They chew everything very thoroughly and are not likely to swallow large objects the way other breeds will. Choose rawhide that is made in America and does not have a chemical smell. Sam's Club is a good place to look, also Chewy. If it looks like bacon and smells like playdough, dont feed it to your dog!
I advise feeding single ingredient snacks and treats like this freeze dried liver from Sam's Club, or simply buy some chicken breasts, boil or bake them , cut in chunks and freeze. Pull a chunk out any time you want to train or reward your dog.
BONES are good for your dog. I feed chicken bones, pork neck bones, ham bones, beef bones. I cook them first. Bones help keep your dog's teeth clean and healthy.
HOW PUPPIES ARE SOCIALIZED AT MARCHWIND
THE 2 THINGS THAT MAKE A GREAT PUPPY ARE GREAT PARENTS AND EARLY SOCIALIZATION
STARTING WITH DAY 2 OR 3, I BEGIN EARLY NEURAL STIMULATION WHICH IS PERFORMED DAILY FOR 16 DAYS. IT INCLUDES HANDLING THE FEET, HOLDING THE PUPPY UPRIGHT, THEN UPSIDE DOWN, THEN HORIZONTALLY, EACH POSITION FOR 4 SECONDS.
HOW THE PUPPY IS HELD IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE PUPPY MUST FEEL SECURE AS THEIR BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT YOU WILL DROP THEM. I WRAP THE PUPPY AROUND MY WRIST AND HOLD THE BACK OF THE PUPPY FIRMLY WHENEVER I HANDLE THEM.
MY PROTOCOL #2 EXTENDS FROM DAY 17 UNTIL THE LITTER IS TRANSFERRED FROM THE QUIET OF THE NURSERY TO THE NOISE AND BEDLAM OF THE KENNEL AT 4 1/2 TO 5 WEEKS OLD.
PROTOCOL 2 IS MORE FLEXIBLE AND OFTEN DEPENDS ON PUPPY RESPONSE. I START WITH HOLDING THE PUPPY A DISTANCE FROM MY FACE SO THAT HE CAN SEE ME AND TRY TO GET EYE CONTACT. THEN I PUT THE PUPPY ON A TABLE AND HAND FEED HIM CANNED FOOD WHICH IS VERY YUMMY . FOR EXTRA FEARFUL PUPPIES I MAY REPEATEDLY PICK HIM UP, PUT HIM DOWN, PICK HIM UP AGAIN, ETC OR JUST PACK HIM AROUND UNDER MY ARM.
ONCE THE LITTER IS TRANSFERRED TO THE MAIN KENNEL BUILDING, DAILY PUPPY KINDERGARTEN BEGINS. PUPPIES ARE GROUPED BY AGE AND SIZE AND GET A CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE BUILDING, PLAY WITH TOYS, GET TREATS OF MEAT AND BONES AND OF COURSE GET TO PLAY WITH PEOPLE. BY 6 WEEKS OLD THEY ARE ALL MICROCHIPPED
ON NICE DAYS I LOAD THE PUPPIES UP IN MY SHOW TROLLEY AND TRANSPORT THEM TO THE FRONT YARD PUPPY PEN WHERE THEY EXPERIENCE ROAD NOISE, CARS AND ANY COMPANY. THEY GET TO PLAY IN GRASS, DIG HOLES, PLAY WITH TOYS, AND INTERACT WITH OTHER LITTERS.
THEY ARE ALSO GETTING USED TO GOING POTTY OUTSIDE WHICH THEY ALL DO AS SOON AS THEY GET IN THE PEN.
MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PUPPIES LIKE PEOPLE, FEEL SECURE AROUND PEOPLE, ARE ADAPTIBLE TO NEW ENVIRONMENTS, ARE FREINDLY AND SELF CONFIDANT.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ITALIAN GREYHOUNDS
HOUSE SET UP
- HOUSEBREAKING starts immediately.
- Always have a potty pad in the room where your ig is, especially when they are puppies.
- All rugs look like potty pads to puppies.
- If the puppy can't jump up on beds or furniture without assistance, then dont leave him up there alone. Keep your hands on him.
- Be careful about progressive climbing, then jumping off the high end. Dogs have no concept of height.
- Slippery floors can be hazardous.
- If your puppy can get his head through, he can probably get his body through. Be careful of balconies and decks.
- Exercise is important and optimally your ig will have some access to unrestricted off lead exercise. Ig play groups are great but be careful of play with bigger dogs.
HOW TO HOLD YOUR IG PUPPY
- Your puppy is wiggly and unpredictable. The best way to hold him is to tuck him against your body, cradling his chest, and hold onto the front and back of one shoulder. With your other hand, hold the front of his neck/chest.
- To cut his nails, hold the puppy top and bottom against your body with the puppy facing front. Put your hand between his hind legs to separate one from the other. If the puppy is still very anxious about the process, have a second person distract him by holding and petting his head. The third person grinds the nails. I prefer a dremel or nail grinder to a nail clipper.
NUTRITION
Feed a balanced small-breed kibble like
Bil-Jac, Purina Proplan, Royal Canin, etc. These are called super premium foods, and cannot be found in a supermarket. In addition I feed cooked fresh meat, lots of chicken, bones and all. A raw diet that is balanced and commercially available is fine, but don't just feed your dog hunks of raw meat and think its a good diet. You can always ask your favorite Artificial Intelligence if something is good for your dog or not.
Keep your dog lean and in good weight. You should be able to feel but not see ribs.
Its controversial whether you should feed a calcium supplement or not. Its not necessary if your dog is being fed chicken and other bones and chicken is actually higher in calcium than red meat.
ALWAYS PROVIDE FRESH WATER
WHEN TO SPAY/NEUTER YOUR IG
Delay neuter/spay until 12-18 months old for optimum bone development especially in a breed known for leg breaks. If a male is simply out of control, 8 months old is minimum for neutering. Usually they settle down with age .
When a female comes in heat, she will only bleed for a few days. Just keep her away from intact males for 4 weeks starting on the day you see the first blood, and you will be safe.
If your male has a retained testicle, you can easily wait 18 months to 2 years to neuter him. The risk of testicular cancer is low in a young dog. Dogs with one testicle can still produce puppies.
DO CONSIDER PET HEALTH INSURANCE.
A broken leg can cost $3000-$5000. Please text me the xray and let me help guide you in the treatment.
ANESTHESIA
Italian Greyhounds are sensitive to the respiratory depressant effects of narcotics and tranquilizers. That is, they stop breathing at low doses. Be sure your vet is monitoring your dog's oxygen and can reverse the drug she is using quickly.