There are thousands of dog breeds out there, and it’s sometimes impossible to pick between them. Do you go for a tiny fluffy pooch or a muscular guard dog with a loving heart? One solution is to select a combination of two breeds, and the Italian Greyhound Min Pin mix is a good option.
Mixed breeding is a great way to get a dog with the appearance and temperament combinations you love and will perfectly suit your family. Mixing two breeds can also help to eradicate certain health issues experienced by one of the breeds.
A Bit About Italian Greyhounds
The Italian Greyhound is the perfect miniature version of the standard Greyhound. They have the speed and agility of their larger counterparts but also love to snuggle up on the sofa with you.
They love to play and have bags of energy, and are also known for being loving and loyal. These cuddly companions get on great with children, immediately making them best friends.
However, their easy attachment can make it difficult to adjust when left alone. This can occasionally lead to separation anxiety and issues with destructive behavior.
For this reason, they’re good for families who will be around the home a lot to keep them company. They also work well around other dogs.
Despite being bred specifically as a toy breed, they have inherited some of their sighthound traits, meaning they still have a very active chase instinct.
You shouldn’t keep an Italian Greyhound in a home with other pets. While they will get along with other dogs, anything smaller than themselves could be in danger.
A Bit About Miniature Pinschers
Miniature Pinschers are now a toy category favorite. However, they were previously used to working as ratters. Their job was to catch vermin.
They are small but mighty in their personality and know exactly what they want. They have strong shoulders and chests, slender legs, and sinister pointy ears.
Min Pins reach around 12.5 inches at the shoulder as an adult and come in a traditional rust or red color, or the black and rust color trademarked by their larger cousins, the Doberman Pinscher.
They are known for their affectionate nature once you get to know them and can become very protective of their family, taking the traits of their watchdog heritage to alert you to danger.
They are also energetic and require lots of stimulation and play to keep them entertained.
These tiny dogs have issues with change and can be quite upset with changes to routines or getting used to new people. This can cause aggressive behavior toward small animals or children that play rough.
The behavior has earned them a reputation for being snappy dogs. However, they can be sweet and caring once they get to know you.
Italian Greyhound Min Pin Mix
The Italian Grey Min Pin mix is a crossbreed between the Italian Greyhound and the Miniature Pinscher. It is a perfect combination of these two popular breeds. With similar heights and personalities, they make amazing companions for families or for owners of small homes.
Appearance
Because the two breeds are so similar in height, you can guarantee that your mix will be around 12 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh between 12 and 15 lbs.
Coat
Both the Miniature Pinscher and the Italian Greyhound have very short fur. The Iggy coat is incredibly smooth and velvety, whereas the Min Pin has slightly coarse hair.
However, these traits mean you can guarantee a short coat on your Iggy-Min Pin mix.
They come in all different colors, including black, tan, red, fawn, gray, brindle, white, and cream, and can even combine these colors.
The most common colors are red, rust-colored coats, or the signature black and tan colors of the Min Pin, depending on which genes are dominant.
Grooming
The Iggy-Min Pin does shed, so they aren’t classed as hypoallergenic. However, their short, smooth coats make them very low maintenance in the grooming department.
You should take a soft brush once a week and brush away any dirt or grime. They will also require a bath perhaps once per month.
Bathing them too often could damage the oils in their fur, making them more prone to skin conditions, which is something to be mindful of.
Temperament & Behavior
The Iggy Min Pin mix are great for a smaller home as they don’t need much space at all. They can be a little skittish and reluctant to accept change, so it is important that you have a nice relaxed home and a set routine.
They’re known for being an amazing companion for the elderly, as they only require a few short walks per day and they love to cuddle up and be pampered.
They also work well for people with a busy lifestyle, due to their low maintenance, but it’s suggested that they don’t live in a home with small children, as they can become skittish or defensive when startled.
The Italian Greyhound Min Pin mix also struggles to come to terms with other dogs being in the home, especially if they happen to be there first. They are fiercely territorial and can work with other dogs if they’ve been together from a young age.
But, unless you have a particularly placid Italian Grey Min Pin, you may struggle to get another dog later on. This is a huge consideration if you’d love to grow your furry family in the future.
Their sighthound nature left over from their Italian Greyhound parent also gives them a keen chase instinct. This means you shouldn’t risk having an Iggy Min Pin mix in a home with small animals.
Diet
Due to their size, a small breed kibble is best for your mixed breed. They can get a little picky with food, so it’s a good idea to keep changing the flavors to keep them interested.
Raw food isn’t recommended for this small breed as too much rich food can cause issues with digestion. Their stomachs are only tiny.
Exercise
Your Italian Greyhound Min Pin mix will likely be highly intelligent and needs plenty of stimulation. They tend to inherit some Greyhound traits in that they are up for sudden bursts of speed but can become easily tired.
However, their Pinscher genes mean they can quickly recover and be up for running around and playing again.
For this reason, having short, regular walks throughout the day is a good idea, combined with a large outdoor area at home and plenty of fun toys and activities to pass the time.
The average walking time is around 1 hour per day or up to 11 miles per week. If you’re looking for a dog to keep you active and healthy, then the Italian Grey Min Pin is the one for you.
Due to their inherent chase instincts, they will feel compelled to chase birds, squirrels, and rabbits while on a walk. It’s a good idea to watch them near the water. They may feel the urge to chase ducks or other birds, and they aren’t great swimmers and can easily feel the cold.
As they get distracted easily by small things that scurry, it’s also essential that your backyard play area is enclosed with a high fence. They can jump much higher than you’d expect.
Training
Italian Greyhounds aren’t really known for their intelligence. However, they do have an inherent need to please you. This means that, while they may be easily distracted and struggle to process information sometimes, they will keep trying until they get it right.
For them, your praise and a favorite toy work even better than food rewards. It’s a good idea to do your training in small sections. This allows them to nail and digest a command before moving on.
Miniature Pinschers are a little higher up on the intelligence scale. However, they can be a handful and aren’t for a new dog owner. If they don’t like something, they will tell you so, and they are usually more concerned with pleasing themselves than pleasing you.
If allowed, they will develop ‘small dog syndrome’ and try to rule the roost, even showing aggressive tendencies and barking at people they don’t know.
Combining these two temperaments can make judging their training ability a little difficult. If your Italian Grey Min Pin adopts more genes from the Greyhound parent, they may be eager to please, but not that quick on the uptake.
Taking more genes from the Min Pin side might mean they take it upon themselves to do their own thing. It might take a while to get them to agree to your training.
Overall, whichever way you look at it, the Italian Grey Min Pin is not an easy breed for first-time trainers. You will need to be patient and constantly review previous training. Greyhounds are notoriously slow at potty training too.
This is because their initial reason for breeding required them to be kennel dogs rather than house pets. You should prepare for many little accidents before you get it right.
Health
The Italian Greyhound Miniature Pinscher Mix is a fairly healthy breed. Their similar parent breeds make them a great combination that doesn’t cause any extra health problems.
They can live up to an average of 12-14 years, so you have plenty of time to get to know and love your new best friend.
However, there are a few common issues that you should be aware of.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy subjects your dog to fits and seizures, usually triggered by external stimulation, lighting, or other unknown causes.
During a seizure, your dog will likely shake uncontrollably and be unresponsive. Each fit can last up to 2 minutes. Afterward, they will appear drowsy and disoriented.
Once diagnosed, epilepsy can be managed by constant medication. But it is a condition your dog will have for the rest of their lives.
Cataracts & Eye Defects
Miniature Pinschers are prone to eye issues, including early-onset cataracts. These can be treated and removed if caught early and your dog can live a perfectly normal life.
It’s something to be aware of when you take your furry friend for regular checkups.
Skin Diseases
Italian Greyhounds have a very fine coat. Due to their breeding, their single-layered fine coat helps them to run faster, as they are more aerodynamic. However, this can cause issues with hot or cold weather.
They get cold very easily, meaning that their skin can become chapped and broken if they get wet and aren’t dried properly.
They are also massively affected by sunburn, so they must wear a thin coat if they’re outside for too long.
Italian Greyhounds can also be prone to a gene that causes alopecia, meaning they have patches of skin that lose their fur. This gradually gets worse throughout their lifetime but doesn’t hinder them medically. They will simply need a thicker jumper.
If your Italian Grey Min Pin inherits the genes from their Iggy background, they may struggle with certain skin defects. Shampooing and skin treatments can help with this.
Patellar Luxation or Dislocation of the Joints
Both breeds are descended from larger dogs with thin legs and large, strong hips to help with speed and agility.
This can occasionally cause issues with hip and elbow dislocation as they age, just because the joints can’t support their weight as they used to.
A vet can resolve dislocation, but they may require an operation in severe cases. After it has occurred, their joints will be more sensitive and susceptible to a repeat occurrence.
Summary
Italian Greyhound Miniature Pinscher Mixes are amazing dogs if you know all their little quirks. You could give one of these fine little dogs a good home if you have no other pets or small children.
Remember, they like to be the boss, so you’ll need to change their perspective as a priority.
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