Customer Reviews

Italian Greyhound: A Complete and Reliable Handbook (Complete Handbook)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a veterinary hospital manager and owner of a 5 yr old IG, I am always looking for new material on the breed. I adore my IG, but she definitely has some "issues" that separate her from other breeds. This book does not mention the horrific difficulty owners have trying to potty train their IGs; this is by far the major reason that they are surrendered! The book says that they can be trained to go outdoors in the cold....I say "good luck!" This book says that they aren't fragile, but IGs are known to break their long, thin legs without doing anything out of the ordinary - mine has broken the same leg twice just jumping off the bed (which she does multiple times per day). The book mentions they have special dental needs, which is true, but it does not indicate just how costly this can be. IGs may be sweet, but they are also prone to neurosis. The fact that the book does not mention any of the above issues is irresponsible in my book;this is not an easy breed to own and it is important not to mislead readers BEFORE they go out and get a pup.
I was even more upset that not once did this book discuss spay/neuter of your pup, nor did it mention rescue organizations as an option for adopting an IG. Almost every state has an IG rescue group (for all of the dogs given up due to behavioral issues, potty training, etc). As far as spay/neuter, I know several male IGs that were neutered later in life and have to wear a sock velcroed around their middle because they mark everything in sight. It is careless to write a book that does not discuss sterilization at a young age - if nothing else than for health reasons such as mammary and prostate cancer.
As wonderful as they are, I consider IGs to be "special needs" dogs - not once is this portrayed in the book.

I bought this book after I had decided I was interested in Italian Greyhounds. It was pretty good, has lots of information if you plan on purchasing an Italian Greyhound puppy, however, there are a few statements made in this book that I disagreed with.

One statement was on the fact that you should buy an Italian Greyhound puppy instead of an adult because "you can train it the way you want to." He did not bring up the topic of the Italian Greyhound Club of America rescue.

The author seemed rather one-sided and wrote only on how he did things, not other possiblities. For instance--crate training. He did not mention that Italian Greyhounds can be litter box trained as well, or even go into that subject.

The book was whoppingly based on his experience, while I appreciate that, what works for one owner does not work for another, and I was looking for more research, which I did not find.

Also, there were no "further resources" for further information on Italian Greyhounds, such as the Italian Greyhound Post, IGCA, or other resources.

It is still a pretty good book if you are interested in the basic information of the breed, such as breeding and show standards, and there are some nice pictures, but I don't think it's worth the cover price.

This is the first book that I have read soley dedecated to the Italian Greyhound (IG). The book had lots of photos. The book was very informative into the personality of the IG. I also enjoyed the info on the care of the IG. If your considering a IG or you have one this is a very informative book for you to have.

I found this book to be very helpful as a new owner of an Italian Greyhound Puppy. It has good information pertaining to the breed and many tips on raising your Italian Greyhound. It is well worth the money and a good resource for the future years as your dog grows. The infomation is the most important part of the book but it is also illustrated with beautiful pictures. I would recommend it to anyone who has or is considering an IG for a pet or already owns one. My IG "Gus" would also give it 5 doggie treats.

This was probably the first book we read before getting our IG, and we found it very helpful. If you talk to a responsible breeder about IG's, they should tell you what you need to know about them. Also, one search on the internet and it will bring up the IGCA. We have several books related to IG's and this book is just fine. IG's definitely aren't the breed for everyone. And they aren't very hard to potty train, you just have to be willing to teach them.

This is a good starting point for anyone interested in the breed however I do not feel it is worth the cover price. Like many other books of this nature that discuss basic breed specifics, it discusses Italian Greyhounds in a general optimistic way using glossy pages with lots of cute pictures. I would encorage any prospective owner to continue their research using other sources and not just this one.

I am very pleased with both the product and the service I received with this purchase.

This is a great book. It's geared a little bit more towards showing your dog, but it has some great information in it for those who have Italian Greyhounds.

This book has a very beautiful cover with great photos. It is very similar to the other IG book I bought at the same time "Italian Greyhound (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)by Dino Mazzanti" . And they are almost hard to tell apart. Great if you are new to the breed, it reads quick, I wish it was longer. Out of the 2 I bought, this one seems a bit more practical.

There are very few books available for the Italian Greyhound owner - this is a very valuable book as these are very special and unique dogs. A good reference book, having wonderful photos as well.