When you’re thinking about getting a new dog, it’s important to do your research and make sure that the dog breed you choose is suitable for your home and lifestyle. While some people immediately spring for a pedigree or purebred dog, there’s much to be said for mixed breeds.
A mixed-breed dog, assuming the two breeds that it’s descended from are compatible, can actually make a perfect fit in your home. It gives you the chance to combine different breed traits to match your lifestyle and family. It can also help out with common health issues which might be experienced by one breed in particular.
Let’s check out what an Italian Greyhound Poodle mix is all about.
A Bit About Italian Greyhounds
Italian Greyhounds are the smallest sighthound breed. They look exactly like the standard Greyhound, but much shorter. They still have a chase instinct and are incredibly fast. However, they don’t need much exercise and tend to burn energy very quickly.
They are an incredibly affectionate breed and they’re a great option for homes with young children. However, due to their chase instinct, it’s not a good idea to have an Italian Greyhound in a home with cats or other animals.
They are relatively easy to train, with their eager-to-please attitudes and their smooth coats mean that you won’t be faced with too much hair on your sofa.
A Bit About Poodles
Poodles are an exceptionally healthy breed with minimal common health issues. They have a long lifespan, sometimes reaching up to 18 years. They are friendly and affectionate companions, but they are also very intelligent and know their own minds.
Research has shown that Poodles are actually one of the most intelligent dog breeds, so they are very easy to train. However, as with most breeds, when they reach the teenage stage, they tend to act up. Because of their independent nature, this often means that they are hard to get back in line.
They can also be barky dogs. This is just to protect their owners and is rarely due to aggression. But it is a trait that can be off-putting if you live close to your neighbors.
They are a great dog for convenience though. They don’t need too much exercise, though they do love a good run, a couple of short walks per day will be enough. And they are also hypoallergenic and don’t shed. This means that your house won’t constantly be covered in fur. They’re a perfect breed for those with allergies.
However, the one problem with Poodles is that they don’t really get along with other pets, small children, or even other dogs in some circumstances.
Italian Greyhound Poodle Mix
Mix breeding can work really well. The only issue is that there’s absolutely no guarantee which genes your dog will get. If you pick two different-sized dogs, for example, you might not know how big your dog will get until it’s an adult.
However, with the Italian Greyhound Poodle mix, this isn’t much of an issue. The Italian Greyhound is a small breed that is usually mixed with a Miniature or Toy Poodle. This means that you can predict how big they’ll be. The two combined are known as a Pootalian.
The breed is a new breed, only developed in the U.S. in the early 2000s. This means a lot of the breeding is trial and error. However, it has been an incredibly successful breed with rare health issues, a long life expectancy, and a great temperament.
Appearance
The Iggy Poodle mix is a small breed reaching up to 15 inches at the shoulder. It’s a relatively new mix that combines the stature and slim physique of the Italian Greyhound with a pointed face and floppy ears.
The coat is a mixture of the two breeds, with a wiry feel and naturally curly appearance.
They’re the perfect dog for a smaller home, weighing up to 10 lbs. in adulthood.
Temperament and Behavior
While the Pootalian takes a lot of the physical features of the Italian Greyhound, it takes much of its personality from the Poodle.
Poodles aren’t the best dogs for small children. Although they can be affectionate, they are incredibly independent and don’t take kindly to people pulling on their tails or ears. This trait has been passed to the Iggy-Poodle.
With this and the chase instinct adopted from the Italian Greyhound, it’s best to avoid homes with small children or other pets. They are most suitable for mature or elderly families.
They are a loving breed and love to cuddle up and enjoy their time with you. However, they are known to be incredibly intelligent. Both the Italian Greyhound and Poodle are high on the intelligence scale. Despite their loving nature, they do have their own minds and will be independent. This could cause issues with training. They may understand what you’re saving perfectly, but might just disagree and do their own thing.
Diet
It’s a good idea to keep the Pootalian on a dry diet, with the occasional treat. They consume around 1 cup of food daily, which should be provided in two sittings once they reach adulthood.
As a puppy, it’s likely to be more food, more often – so be prepared for that. They are quite cheap to feed, at around $30 – $45 per month.
Exercise
Italian Greyhounds are known for speed due to their physique and traits passed down from the original Greyhound breeds. However, they aren’t equipped for stamina and quickly run out of steam.
Poodles do like exercise, but similarly, their shorter legs mean that they can’t run for long periods of time. This combination makes for the perfect easy-walking breed. They need around 1 hour of exercise per day, usually split into a couple of half-hour walks.
As long as they have an open space to run around during the walk, such as a park or field, then they will burn off their energy quickly. They will then spend the remainder of the day sleeping it off.
For this reason, they don’t need to live in a huge house. They make great apartment dogs who sit and cuddle up with you on the sofa for hours.
Training
Pootalians are easy to train in comparison to other breeds. They are very intelligent and pick up commands quite quickly. However, they can be stubborn and like to do things their own way. This might mean that, although they understand you, they don’t want to do what you ask.
The breed tends to take on more of the Poodle element in regard to personality. They don’t have the eager-to-please mindset that the Italian Greyhound has. They are more eager to please themselves.
Grooming
The Italian Greyhound Poodle mix is a very easy breed to maintain. The Poodle is hypoallergenic, meaning that the Pootalian shed very little and is a good breed for people with allergies, though it isn’t technically classified as hypoallergenic.
Because their fur is long, you will need to brush them a couple of times per week to ensure no knots or tangles. But overall, they don’t need much care or maintenance.
The Iggy Poodle mix comes in multiple colors, just like their Italian Greyhound counterparts. However, the most common are black, white, and fawn colors, which are the most popular poodle colors. They are also available in gray, brown, and brindle if they get more genes from the Greyhound parent.
Health
The mix between an Iggy and a Poddle is a healthy breed between 13 and 16 years old. So, you’re in it for the long haul if you decide to go with them. There are just a few common health issues that you need to look out for.
Patellar Luxation
Patellar Luxation is where the kneecaps move outside the normal femoral groove. This can cause pain and discomfort for your dog. While a dog can live with the condition, you should still visit a vet regularly to determine its severity. Your dog may need an operation to correct the knee or be on constant medication to relieve the pain.
You will notice this more as your dog ages. They may start to limp or whimper when walking.
Mitral Valve Failure
Mitral Valve Failure is a form of heart failure where one of the valves doesn’t function as normally. This is a common issue in Poodles and has been picked up in Pootalians too.
The early symptoms of this are usually fatigue and dizziness. With the correct medication, your dog could live up to 2 years with this condition once it’s developed. However, some dogs have the gene and go through life asymptomatic, meaning it’s there, but it doesn’t negatively affect them until they’re older.
Conclusion
The Pootalian is the perfect pet. If it’s the convenience you’re looking for, then you’ve nailed it. They don’t need much exercise or much space to run around. They don’t cost much to feed. And their coats are easy to maintain. The ideal choice for a busy family.
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