[Event4Life]

Apparently she was bred by an ex border, who had two registered (imported) IG's. How this dog got dumped is still a bit beyond me, but hearsay is there was a b/f involved. Her owner did say she gets lots of comments asking if she's a Whippet. I have not asked if she is registered, as I'm not interested in showing so really do not care that much. As far as I'm concerned a good dog is a good dog, but it is interesting to know.

I do have a name, but I'm keeping it to myself until I know for sure she's coming home.

Bluey, you're iggy is adorable! This dogs face definitely reminds me of yours, has a similar neck too, but build is a lot "stockier" than yours.

Oh and on the housebroken thing: I don't think I'm being very clear as tbh I'm a bit confused with the story myself, but from what I gather she has been at this farm since puppyhood, which was when she was dumped. This couple wanted to breed IGs but then ended up breaking up, and poor girlie was a product of that.

[IdahoRider]

There is a big difference between an Italian Greyhound and a Greyhound. Many, many pounds worth of difference.

I fostered an Italian Greyhound and other than being totally stressed that she would snap one of those twig-like legs jumping off the furniture, I found the dog to be awesome. She was fairly quiet, very clean and a real sweet dog. She did not like cold, wet weather at all and would not not potty in the snow. Plus, she loved being dressed in pretty sweaters and coats!

The dog I fostered was almost as small as my big house cat, and I never worried about prey drive being a problem. The cat weighed more, if I remember correctly.

I think an Italian Greyhound would make a fantastic apartment pet. Actually, considering how laid back they are, a Greyhound would make a great apartment pet. They love to spend most of their day sleeping on the couch and seem to do well with a couple of brisk walks on leash.
Sheilah

[Bluey]

Yes, the bit of the body that shows in that picture, as it shows there, doesn't really has the more extreme, lean iggy body.

Then, we know what pictures can do, lie big time.

Whatever she is, she has such a sweet face, who can not like that, especially if she has already taken up with you so nicely, right?

[2tempe]

UH Bluey - about the picture where she's climbing the bookcase??????????

So now I have to ask: Anyone know how these dogs do w/ invisible fence? I've heard the sighthounds can be problematic. But I do love the greyhounds/whippets type.

[Bluey]

UH Bluey - about the picture where she's climbing the bookcase??????????

So now I have to ask: Anyone know how these dogs do w/ invisible fence? I've heard the sighthounds can be problematic. But I do love the greyhounds/whippets type.

You see that toy we thought was hidden up there?
Guess that it was not hidden well enough, she did know where it was.
That is that one weasel attached to a ball that, when you turn it on, it rolls around flipping and flopping.
Our dog loved that toy, too much, we had to get it away from her after a while, she obsessed too much about it.

She really was a very calm and extremely gentle dog and always right by you, even when outside, checking fences or doing any other farm chores.

She lived to 17, happy and healthy to the end.

[jen-s]

E4L--If you have to take her back, I'll ride along so you'll have company. Problem solved!

[Event4Life]

E4L--If you have to take her back, I'll ride along so you'll have company. Problem solved!

hahaha stop being such an enabler!! Cannot wait until my parents hurry up and get home. You want to come along on the way there too?? PS - check your fb messages!

[Bicoastal]

Moving out of the parents and into a home of your own, it is really difficult and expensive to rent with a dog. Can you afford your own unit or will you need roommates? That is an extra hurdle beyond the usual narrow list of rental properties that accept dogs, the non-refundable pet deposit (usually one month's rent), the monthly pet fee, the mandatory pro carpet cleaning and de-fleaing required at move out, etc. Expensive! You also have neighbors, stairs, elevators, potty areas, 24/7 leash walks, etc to worry about.

Can ya tell I've been doing this awhile?

If you get a trial, arrange for her to be alone/crated for as long as would happen during your work day + commute - minus parents' help (if you plan on moving out during the lifetime of this dog).

Then ask: Is she housebroken? Does she need pee pads? Does she make noise or get destructive?

She'll probably burrow and demand uber plush resting spots. Be ready to share your bed AND covers .

[jen-s]

hahaha stop being such an enabler!! Cannot wait until my parents hurry up and get home. You want to come along on the way there too?? PS - check your fb messages!

Honey--I'm a good COTH pupil!

And, yes of course I wanna go with you to pick up!

[Bluey]

Moving out of the parents and into a home of your own, it is really difficult and expensive to rent with a dog. Can you afford your own unit or will you need roommates? That is an extra hurdle beyond the usual narrow list of rental properties that accept dogs, the non-refundable pet deposit (usually one month's rent), the monthly pet fee, the mandatory pro carpet cleaning and de-fleaing required at move out, etc. Expensive! You also have neighbors, stairs, elevators, potty areas, 24/7 leash walks, etc to worry about.

Can ya tell I've been doing this awhile?

If you get a trial, arrange for her to be alone/crated for as long as would happen during your work day + commute - minus parents' help (if you plan on moving out during the lifetime of this dog).

Then ask: Is she housebroken? Does she need pee pads? Does she make noise or get destructive?

She'll probably burrow and demand uber plush resting spots. Be ready to share your bed AND covers .

Yeah, yeah, all that, but remember, if watching her run around makes your heart sing and she gives good hugs, that is ... priceless.

[The Shadow]

Yeah, yeah, all that, but remember, if watching her run around makes your heart sing and she gives good hugs, that is ... priceless.

So true! And IGs are the best snugglers.

[Alagirl]

Moving out of the parents and into a home of your own, it is really difficult and expensive to rent with a dog. Can you afford your own unit or will you need roommates? That is an extra hurdle beyond the usual narrow list of rental properties that accept dogs, the non-refundable pet deposit (usually one month's rent), the monthly pet fee, the mandatory pro carpet cleaning and de-fleaing required at move out, etc. Expensive! You also have neighbors, stairs, elevators, potty areas, 24/7 leash walks, etc to worry about.

Can ya tell I've been doing this awhile?

If you get a trial, arrange for her to be alone/crated for as long as would happen during your work day + commute - minus parents' help (if you plan on moving out during the lifetime of this dog).

Then ask: Is she housebroken? Does she need pee pads? Does she make noise or get destructive?

She'll probably burrow and demand uber plush resting spots. Be ready to share your bed AND covers .

well, life with pets is expensive.
the food, the vet visits, the toys, the cleanup...I could safe tons of money if I didn't have to buy all that kitty litter and Tuna...

[fivehorses]

So alagirl, you are a cat lady? I know you don't have horses, so you do have cats? Just interesting.

[Event4Life]

Moving out of the parents and into a home of your own, it is really difficult and expensive to rent with a dog. Can you afford your own unit or will you need roommates? That is an extra hurdle beyond the usual narrow list of rental properties that accept dogs, the non-refundable pet deposit (usually one month's rent), the monthly pet fee, the mandatory pro carpet cleaning and de-fleaing required at move out, etc. Expensive! You also have neighbors, stairs, elevators, potty areas, 24/7 leash walks, etc to worry about.

Can ya tell I've been doing this awhile?

If you get a trial, arrange for her to be alone/crated for as long as would happen during your work day + commute - minus parents' help (if you plan on moving out during the lifetime of this dog).

Then ask: Is she housebroken? Does she need pee pads? Does she make noise or get destructive?

She'll probably burrow and demand uber plush resting spots. Be ready to share your bed AND covers .

You are writing what has been running through my mind since the offer was made. Yes, I will be living alone. I have done my time with roommates, and can afford rent on a studio or one bedroom as long as I am not too fussy about location. I actually went to check out the area today, and there are plenty of deals to be had where I'd want to live. I've only come across one apartment block that does not allow pets, and the allowance for small pets is manageable. I'll be working as well as going to grad school too, so will not be completely without income, and I've been saving since living at home.

She is housebroken, shouldn't need pee pads, doesn't make noise or get destructive. She is her breed (whichever it is) through and through - she'd rather be curled up on the sheepskin blanket inside than at the barn/outside (main reason I have this opportunity!).

And Bluey, YES all of that has been running through my head too.

Unrelated, but I also found an AWESOME AMAZING BARN!!! AHHH! Now I just need to finish my application, take my tests, and get accepted onto the program. Pressure's on!

[tallyho392]

and just to wgh in on the enabling side...........

you've got a lot on your plate...............de-stressing at the end of the day by snuggling or going for a walk with your lovey pup may be the perfect fix for the chaos that life can sometimes become............

i thnk i would have lost it, several times over, if not for the comfort i get from my pets.......

and by the way, she IS gorgeous.....for some reason ,i always think of them as being a solid color.......but, i see she has "terrier pattern" markings......lol.......my favorite kind, since i have a bunch of terriers!

good luck.........!!

[The Shadow]

Did you get the iglet?

[Event4Life]

Did you get the iglet?

I'm going to give the owner a call this week. I've decided to wait and find out if I'm moving in January. If so; I'll wait until then to pick her up (this is not a problem luckily). If not, I'll go get her after my exams at the beginning of November! It just seemed mean to get her in Nov, find out I'm moving in Jan, then move again. 3 moves in that many months seems like a lot, so it seems more sensible to wait.

[Milocalwinnings]

Being a college student (undergrad) with a dog, I will caution that it can be stressful and expensive, but so totally worth it.

Something to think about: Scheduling. If you will be in grad school and working, how much time are you going to have? Will you be able to get home to walk the dog in the middle of the day? Even as an undergrad, my schedule is sometimes crazy and I'm having to rush home just to let my boy out and then rush back to campus. Thank god he is very well housebroken and would rather hold it for 14 hours than go in the house (not that I leave him for 14 hours, but it's happened once).

Finances: I, like you, said I was in a position financially to finally own a dog. And I was. For routine / small emergencies. I had no problem paying for his food ($50/month), routine vet bills, etc. In the past 3 weeks, however, we have had several good size vet bills that have really put a strain on things. I went through my emergency fund and had to take out a credit card (with a very low limit). Now I'm worrying about trying to pay the card off as fast as possible, how I will afford any more big vet bills in the next couple months, etc. I have been living off of hot pockets and putting $15 worth of gas in my truck at a time just to try and put everything towards the vet bills. It's definitely stressful.

Care when you're away: I have roommates and they are rarely able to help me care for my dog when I have to go out of town (and he's EASY- just walk 2-3 x a day and feed him). Luckily I have some good friends who I can trust to let him out. I board on long breaks, but at $25-$30 a day, it adds up and gets expensive.

Long term goals: I'm commissioning into the Army when I graduate in 7 months. I'll go to training anywhere from a few months to a year after graduation and then from there who knows. I purposely looked for a senior dog so that I wouldn't have a 10 year committment. I also know that my parents are willing to watch him while I am away for training. However, I know that for my situation, a young dog was not a good choice for me and my lifestyle. Just something to keep in mind.

I love having a dog despite the financial and time challenges . But it is a challenge and is stressful at times. It's not for everyone.

[Event4Life]

Being a college student (undergrad) with a dog, I will caution that it can be stressful and expensive, but so totally worth it.

Something to think about: Scheduling. If you will be in grad school and working, how much time are you going to have? Will you be able to get home to walk the dog in the middle of the day? Even as an undergrad, my schedule is sometimes crazy and I'm having to rush home just to let my boy out and then rush back to campus. Thank god he is very well housebroken and would rather hold it for 14 hours than go in the house (not that I leave him for 14 hours, but it's happened once).

Finances: I, like you, said I was in a position financially to finally own a dog. And I was. For routine / small emergencies. I had no problem paying for his food ($50/month), routine vet bills, etc. In the past 3 weeks, however, we have had several good size vet bills that have really put a strain on things. I went through my emergency fund and had to take out a credit card (with a very low limit). Now I'm worrying about trying to pay the card off as fast as possible, how I will afford any more big vet bills in the next couple months, etc. I have been living off of hot pockets and putting $15 worth of gas in my truck at a time just to try and put everything towards the vet bills. It's definitely stressful.

Care when you're away: I have roommates and they are rarely able to help me care for my dog when I have to go out of town (and he's EASY- just walk 2-3 x a day and feed him). Luckily I have some good friends who I can trust to let him out. I board on long breaks, but at $25-$30 a day, it adds up and gets expensive.

Long term goals: I'm commissioning into the Army when I graduate in 7 months. I'll go to training anywhere from a few months to a year after graduation and then from there who knows. I purposely looked for a senior dog so that I wouldn't have a 10 year committment. I also know that my parents are willing to watch him while I am away for training. However, I know that for my situation, a young dog was not a good choice for me and my lifestyle. Just something to keep in mind.

I love having a dog despite the financial and time challenges . But it is a challenge and is stressful at times. It's not for everyone.

Thanks so much for taking the time to write all that out, it is great to hear from another student perspective everything I need to take into consideration .

As far as vet care goes, do you have insurance? If so, how much has that helped you out with the bigger emergency? It's something I still need to look into, as we've never had insurance on any of our family pets.

For when I go away, I'm assuming I won't know anyone who can take care of her, so she would either go to my parent's or I'd find a kennel/pay someone to spend time with her, feed her & let her out a few times a day.

Scheduling wise I will always have a lunch break, and I don't plan on being more than 10 minutes drive from campus, hopefully longer. Work wise I work shifts and they are very rarely more than 5 hours, so I don't foresee long days where I wont be able to get home at all, even when grad school starts.

[TB7]

So now I have to ask: Anyone know how these dogs do w/ invisible fence? I've heard the sighthounds can be problematic. But I do love the greyhounds/whippets type.

The answer I recommend is: NEVER EVER use invisible fence with a sight hound. The reason it's "problematic" is that if the dog runs full speed at something on the other side, they're going to run straight past the electric jolt/high noise without feeling much. Makes it easy to run away. Or if they try to get back IN, they keep getting jolted/high pitched noises in their collar.

If you leave a sight hound out that's been bred for utilizing their capacity for high speeds (Greys, whippets), either don't let them out alone unsupervised (I would never recommend retired racing greys/whippets being left off leash outside in an area NOT fenced in, doesn't matter how well trained they are. If they see something that triggers the need to run, you're not going to be able to catch that 40mph dog.) or fence in your yard with fencing.

We kept our first grey on leash any time she was outside and she was THE most laid back dog ever. Afraid of our 4 cats and definitely disliked exercise! Barked maybe 3 times in her whole life. We now have 2 greys and fenced in the yard since they like to do laps when they are let out.

I do remember going to greyhound reunions with our first grey and the ONLY dogs who barked were IGs. We rolled our eyes at them. Drama queens.

That said, one of our new greys thinks she's actually a jack russell terrier - the other decided she WAS the 40mph couch potato as advertised.

Do keep in mind that you should invest in a coat (preferably with a waterproof cover) for winters if where you live gets cold. Greys/Whippets/IGs have about 5% body fat and NEED the extra coverage for warmth!