Texas Italian Greyhounds

FAQs

• How long have you been breeding?
  We started breeding and showing (Jr. showmanship) in 1979. I am a retired political science professor so the dogs get my full attention.
  
  Where are you located?
  We're about 150 miles southeast of San Antonio, TX on the US-Mexican line.
  
  Are the puppies registered?
  Yes, unless otherwise noted all puppies are sold with a full AKC registration. If they have a bad bite, one testicle,  etc... we will limit registration. Those puppies are sold as pet only and would have a limited registration. They should be spayed/neutered to insure the defect wouldn't be passed on to the offspring.
  
  How old are they when they can be spayed/neutered?
  My vet can neuter a male that is over 8 weeks old, at the buyer's expense, but the females have to wait until they are older (about 6 months old) to be spayed.
  
  How do I register the puppy?
  I will have the sex and color of your puppy on the front of the application, I will write ROCKN' in the first six blocks. You will fill out the rest of the name. Print a unique name (preferably a song title or lyrics), using one letter per box. Skip a box between words. You ALWAYS want to make a copy of the registration before sending it in. You can also register your new family member online with AKC. Better yet, do all this online.
  
  How old do the puppies have to be?
  Over 8 weeks, but if the puppy is going to be shipped, I prefer that it is 9 weeks.
  
  Will the puppy have all it's shots and dewormed?
  It will have all the puppy shots and be dewormed, but you should take the shot record to the vet to schedule a booster and a rabies shot later. He will have his first heartworm protection, which you will have to continue if you are in an
  area that heartworms have been found. Ask your vet to provide you with medicine for his protection.
  
  What do I get with my new puppy?
  You will get the registration paper, pedigree on both parents, shot, deworming and heartworm records, sample of Purina Pro-Plan Select puppy food and health guarantee. All puppies are microchipped. Puppies will be sent with one of their
  favorite toys. You may want to purchase a donut bed, brushes, leashes and other products when getting your new puppy.
  
  Are there any health problems?
  No matter how long you breed--nobody can produce perfect dogs!!! The puppy is seen by the vet before you get him (for a health certificate, when shipped) to insure you that your puppy is in good health. If you have a congenital defect that shows up in the first two years from date of birth, be sure to contact me.
  
  Do you do genetic testing on your Italian Greyhounds?
  Health tests are done on the adults prior to breeding, including the CERF test, to insure that we are raising the  healthiest puppies possible. CERF testing can only be performed by a board certified opthalmologist. This doesn't mean that a puppy can't have any health problems, because they could be normal and still be a carrier. If you do have problems, please contact us so we may be able to trace where it came from. The parents are OFA (for hips and patellas). These tests are a big plus. We are top notch breeders and have our dogs tested!
  
  What are the actual tests?
  • Hip Dysplasia/Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • CERF evaluation at 36 months, and annual testing to age 10
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis

  (No amount of testing can guarantee a genetically perfect dog free of health problems. No breeder can guarantee this. We do the very maximum of testing.)
  
  What if for some reason, I can't keep the puppy?
  If you know of someone that will give him a good home, you will furnish me with their address and phone number. If you  prefer to ship the puppy back it will be done at the buyers expense and we will fine a good home for him/her. The buyer has already agreed not to put the puppy in a shelter or rescue, but will find a good home for him/her or return the puppy to us.
  
  Do you ship?
  Yes, we do ship, usually on out of Laredo, TX to the nearest major airport to you. I make all the arrangements with the airlines and then let you know the day, flight number, time, etc... The puppies are sent out priority and you will have them in just a few hours. Continental Airlines is about the only airline that a breeder can depend on.
  
  Who pays for the shipping?
  The new owner, which is usually $180 but could run as much as $200.00. We buy the shipping crate and pay for the health exam and certificate.
  
  What kind of crate?
  It is a nice plastic crate, ($38 from Wakl-Mart) with a baked on enamel door, that you will be able to use for the puppy even as an adult.
  
  Do you ask for a deposit?
  The deposit is $200.00, which is applies toward the purchase price. If for some reason you chose against a particular the puppy, you will don't lose the deposit. It will be applied to the price of the puppy you eventually chose.
  
  When is the balance for the puppy due?
  When the puppy is 8 weeks old. If you change your mind or can't get the puppy, after he/she is 8 weeks old, only 1/2 of  the price of the puppy is refunded. There are no exceptions!
  
  What form of payment do you require?
  Fastest and safest is www.paypal.com (Visa/MasterCard). I've received 43 bogus money orders in the last 5 years and haven't been fooled by one yet.  The "dog mafia" is particularly active in this breed. You can send a check or money order if you like but there is a waiting period of 2 weeks before the puppy can be shipped.
  
  What are microchips?
  They are tiny (about the size of a grain of rice) computerized chips which have an unalterable, permanent ID number programmed into a bio-compatible device. When the chip is implanted deep SQ or shallow IM between the shoulder blades  at a 45 degree angle so it does not migrate from the injection site. This one step procedure is similar to a routine  vaccination. It does not require any anesthesia, sedation, or stitches. Microchipping is approved and strongly  encouraged by the AKC. So if the puppy is ever lost or STOLEN, he or she can be traced back to you. Scanners have been made available to every humane society, animal shelter and animal control agency. In addition, many veterinary offices now have scanners available to check those strays that come in. We don't charge for the microchip.

  
  Will the puppy be show quality?
  There's no way I can tell if the puppy will be show quality until they are several months old. I only show my Italian  Greyhounds to demonstrate their superior conformation. With numerous generations of show ring success, each puppy that leaves this home has the genetic potential to be show dog.  We don't breed pets, some of our show dogs become great pets.  Particularly attractive pets!
  
  Do they get along with other pets?
  Yes, but introduce them slowly and make sure they are supervised until they are conformable with each other.
  
  Do they do better as pairs or is one OK?
  One is OK, but the advantage to a pair is that they have each other to play and sleep with when they are left alone.
  
  Which makes the better pet - male or female?
  A lot of people think that a male is dominate and more aggressive, but not so when he has been neutered, as long as it is done early. The male won't have the desire to run across the road to breed the neighbor's dog or even lift his leg
  if it is done early enough. The Italian Greyhound males are usually more outgoing, loyal and affectionate than the females which seem to be more independent. The IG males seem to do better with strangers and children, too. If they grow up with children I think either sex is good.
  
  Are they good with children?
  Yes, a dog can be a child's best friend, as long as the child plays with the puppy carefully and with respect. Don't  let children put the puppy on high places like a sofa, bed, etc. until he is able to jump up and down on his own. Be  sure to show the children how to hold him correctly. If you have small children, teach them to play with the puppy on the floor and not to carry him around. All puppies from my home have been handled thoroughly by my 5 year old niece, Jessica; she is our quality control inspector. She test drives the puppies often.
  
  What kind of training will the puppy need?
  It is always good to enroll the puppy in a puppy kindergarten class which is usually after he is 4 months old. He will learn the basic obedience and a simple "down".
  
  What are you feeding the puppy?
  I recommend Purina Pro-Plan Select, until he is 1 year old and then change to the Adult. For the first couple of days, if they don't want to eat, give him chicken or lamb.... a hamburger-rice mixture is good. Put a little lemon in the
  water, to neutralize it for the first 3 or 4 days until he gets used to the water. Taste the water to make sure you don't add too much lemon and make it bitter, otherwise they won't drink it. This keeps him from getting diarrhea. If
  he does have a little blood in his stool, don't worry as long as it is a bright red and it is a small amount. This can be caused by stress when changing to his new home.
  
  How much should I feed him and when should I feed him?
  As soon as he gets up, he will probably have to pee, then let him eat all he wants for about 15 minutes and then again early evening. For those that are home during the day, you may choose a noon feeding. Don't leave the food down all the time when you are training him. He will need to relieve himself about 15 - 20 minutes after he eats and it's hard to train him if he is eating all day long.
  
  What method of housebreaking do you recommend?
  It will depend on your lifestyle. If you work away from home, you may choose to paper train, use the pee pads or litter box vs. the direct outside training. It seems that the first three choices have faster results, especially when it is
  cold or raining out. The most important thing is to be consistent!!! And, of course, be patient!!! Use treats to praise him, when he does a good job. All puppies are litter box trained here using Purina Second Nature Dog Litter. If
  you are using this method, DON'T give them very much room in the pen you are using until they can get use to where they need to go. DO NOT let them have the run of the house and expect him to know where to go.
  
  How long do they live?
  About 12 - 14 years (or even longer) when fed a good diet and gets proper exercise. Be sure to have the vet check his teeth every year, when he gets his yearly booster and if tarter is building up, have them cleaned. You know how you feel if you have a bad tooth. Dogs are like people...take care of them and they will look and feel great!!
   

  How much space do they require?
  They are a toy breed and don't require a lot of room; an apartment of a small home is fine, but they will enjoy running in a fenced in yard or taking a walk on a nice day. Start with one small area and then advance them to a small
  room, increasing their area, one room at a time. The BIGGEST mistake is giving a new puppy to much room. It is better to prevent mistakes rather than correct mistakes!
  
  What kind of toys do they like?
  We buy a lot of baby toys at the Wal-Mart. Just remember they have a small mouth as a puppy, so you need to get toys that they will be able to pick up and run around with. They love a play gym across their exercise pen. I tie
  a lot of the rattle toys on the side of the pen with the plastic zip close ties. As far as a dog toy, they love the fake fur toys that squeak.
  
  How often to you update the pictures on the website?
  We try to update the pictures and weigh them every two weeks so you can see how much your puppy has grown. It's amazing to see how much they grow... It's the next best thing to being here......