Burglary problems are one of the reasons Italian Greyhounds turn to ransom. When I got my first Italian Greyhound almost a decade ago, it was so good that I had no idea Iggy’s other parents were accident-pulling their hair 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 Italian Greyhounds break down the house and wanted to share it with other Iggy parents.

For example, think about how long it takes to teach a child to go to the toilet: several years. A toy dog ​​will develop more slowly than a larger dog like a Great Dane and we must be patient. Puppies really 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 doggie daycare that has separate areas for large and small dogs.

Many people preach that using a crate is the end of everything and house training because dogs “don’t get dirty in the same area where they sleep or eat.” However, this is not really true because if a dog must leave, they will have no choice but to dirty the crate. This is not the dogs’ fault. Mother nature dictates when the body of her cubs matures. Also, as the pet’s parent, it is our responsibility to provide opportunities for our puppies to go to the bathroom when they need to urinate or poop.

An alternative to just a box is to provide an exercise pen (X-Pen) with a potty box, papers, or potty pads around the box. Observe your puppy and take him outside after meals or confine him to the X-pen. Your dog will soon begin to understand the proper areas to go to the bathroom. Don’t scold or hit your sensitive Iggy during house training because it will only make things worse.

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

If there are accidents, remember that your Italian Greyhound is not bad or untrained. We do not want to go out in very cold weather or for it to rain either. You CAN break your Italian Greyhound with patience and love. I have done it and so have many other Italian Greyhound owners.