Home invasion issues are one of the reasons Italian Greyhounds turn to Rescue. When I got my first Italian Greyhound almost a decade ago, he was so good I had no idea Iggy’s other parents were pulling their hair out with accidents around the house. However, when I got involved with IG Rescue and adopted a male Iggy, I experienced the frustration that many other Italian Greyhound owners face.

Over the years I have found information to help tame Italian Greyhounds and wanted to share it with other Iggy parents.

For example, think about how long it takes to potty train a human child: several years. A toy dog ​​will develop more slowly than a larger dog like a Great Dane and we must be patient. Puppies really do need to go to the bathroom every two to four hours for up to six to nine months. If you are not available 24/7 for your dog, then you will need to find a dog sitter who will come and walk your Iggy while you are at work. An alternative would be a good doggy daycare that has separate areas for large and small dogs.

Many people preach that using a crate is the end and end of house training because dogs “don’t get dirty in the same area they sleep or eat.” This, however, is not really true because if a dog has to go, he will have no choice but to dirty the crate. This is not the dogs fault. Mother nature dictates when your pups’ bodies mature. Also, as pet parents, it is our responsibility to provide opportunities for our puppies to go to the bathroom when they need to urinate or defecate.

An alternative to just a box is to provide an exercise pen (X-Pen) with a potty box, potty papers, or potty pads around the box. Keep an eye on your pup and take him outside after meals or confine him to the X-pen. Your hound will soon begin to understand which areas are appropriate for potty training. Don’t scold or hit your sensitive Iggy during home training because it will only make things worse.

I’ve found that it’s best not to give your dog full access to your home until you know he or she understands what’s appropriate and will go on papers or outside. Let’s face it: Italian Greyhounds do NOT like bad weather and I know that during inclement weather my IGs can have an accident indoors. It’s easier to keep your house clean if your dog is also box trained.

If there are accidents, remember that your ITALIAN GREYHOUND is not bad or poorly trained. We also do not want to go out when it is very cold or when it rains. You CAN tame your Italian Greyhound with patience and love. I have and so have many other Italian Greyhound owners.