Italian Greyhound vs English Foxhound - Breed Comparison

Italian Greyhound vs English Foxhound - Breed ComparisonEnglish Foxhound is originated from United Kingdom but Italian Greyhound is originated from Italy. English Foxhound may grow 26 cm / 11 inches higher than Italian Greyhound. English Foxhound may weigh 25 kg / 56 pounds more than Italian Greyhound. Both English Foxhound and Italian Greyhound has almost same life span. English Foxhound may have more litter size than Italian Greyhound. Both English Foxhound and Italian Greyhound requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Toy dog
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United Kingdom
Italy
Height Male:
58 - 64 cm
22 - 26 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Height Female:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
29 - 32 kg
63 - 71 pounds
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
Weight Female:
27 - 31 kg
59 - 69 pounds
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 13 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 7
1 - 4
Size:
Medium
Small
Other Names:
Foxhound
IG, Iggy
Colors Available:
tricolor coat of black, white and tan
grey, tan, Fawn, chocolate and black., reddish
Coat:
short, hard, dense, glossy
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

english foxhoundThe English Foxhound was found in Great Britain as far back as the late 1700’s. They were bred to be scent hounds and hunt the fox by following his smell. It was a crossing of several different types of hounds that produced the English Foxhound. This included the Greyhound, the Bulldog and the Fox Terrier. It was perceived that there were not a lot of deer left in the United Kingdom to be hunted for both sport and food. So, a new dog would be needed instead for the Staghound and Deerhound.

The Foxhound was developed as a pack animal bred to chase the fox followed by hunters on horses. The Foxhound was bred with incredible stamina, a great ability to follow scents, track prey, and act as a watchdog as well. This breed are pack animals. They hunt in packs and prefer to live in packs. A solitary English Foxhound is probably not a happy Foxhound. The English Foxhound is stockier and slower than his cousin the American Foxhound. The English Foxhound is recognized by the AKC and UKC. In 2012 the International Foxhound Association was developed to promote the English Foxhound.

italian greyhoundThe Italian Greyhound is an ancient breed, a purebred originating in Italy but with evidence to suggest it was also to be found in Turkey and Greece.

It's a small breed dog that became popular with Italian royalty in the 16th century. Over the centuries, the dog's appearance has remain unchanged, although breeders tried to make it even smaller, leading to problems with the health of the dog.

Towards the end of the 1800s, it was fortunate that breed fanciers implemented breeding programs to restore the dog's look's and strength. The American Kennel Club registered the Italian Greyhound in 1886. Today the dog is a wonderful companion dog.

Description

english foxhound puppy - descriptionThe English Foxhound is a superb athlete who can run for hours without a break. He has muscular, sturdy and straight legs with round paws. His chest is deep, and his back is level. Their head is wide, and the muzzle is long with 16 inches in the front of the ears. The nose is long, and those ears are set low. They can be many colors as long as it is a “hound” color of tan, tricolor, black and white, or red.

italian greyhound puppy - descriptionThe sweet Italian Greyhound is much like the regular Greyhound, just smaller but every bit as sleek, elegant and fine-boned. He stands at between 33 and 38cm at the withers and weighs just 3 to 7kg. He is slender and elegant.

He has long, fine-boned legs and his short, smooth coat makes him easy to groom too. The coat comes in a number of colors such as fawn, tan, grey, reddish, chocolate and black.

Temperament.

Described as sweet, intelligent and playful, the Italian Greyhound adapts easily to life in the city or to country life.

He is easy to train too, and even though he is small and amicable, it is still a good idea to have him trained and socialized as he is just a simple pleasure to have around then. He just loves the company of his human family and becomes a gentle friend to other dogs, to children in the home and to the elderly.

He is a frail toy dog, and he needs to be constantly watched over that he isn’t handled roughly by disrespectful children or from bigger pets. He is an active breed and will love to be played with and join you on your walks. Even though he is such a frail, fragile looking dog, he has a feisty, stubborn, defiant side to him and that is why training and socialization becomes important. He will be reserved around strangers.

Characteristics

english foxhound dog - characteristicsThe English Foxhound gets along with other dogs and like people. He was bred to be a pack animal, not a loner. He will get along with most any other animal and children as well. However, they are not often kept as pets because their prey drive and pursuit drive are so strong that nothing else matters. The chase is what life is all about for this breed. They are hardwired for it. They are not easy to train because they are constantly distracted by smells and movements that could send them off on the chase.

Keep them on a lease when walking them so they don’t go wandering or running of. They love to run, and they love to talk – bay actually. They might slow down somewhere around 8-10 years old. They need a strong owner and a lot of exercise to be happy.

italian greyhound dog - characteristicsIf you’re looking for a sweet, gentle canine friend, the Italian Greyhound promises to be just that. They just crave human companionship and are eager to please.

He isn’t the ideal playmate for children, simply because he is frail and can get hurt easily in rough play.

Small he may be, but he is intelligent and alert, and he will bark to warn you of strangers. They are essentially indoor dogs, and when you bring one of them into your home, you’ll be rewarded with a devoted, loving and loyal canine friend.

Health Problems

english foxhound puppies - health problemsOverall a healthy and hearty breed, they are prone to hip dysplasia and renal disease.

Hip Dysplasia

Degenerative and debilitating at worse. In mild forms cause lameness and arthritis.

Renal Disease

Kidney disease – for some reason the kidneys cannot clear out toxins like urea and creatine

italian greyhound puppies - health problemsYour small Italian Greyhound isn’t a sickly dog breed, and in fact, with the right care, he can live to be between 10 to 14 years of age.

As with any dog breed however, there will be some more common conditions to watch for in the Italian Greyhound. Some of these are epilepsy, hyperthyroidism and periodontal disease.

Epilepsy:

There are different types and causes of seizures, and there are actually no definitive tests for epilepsy. One seizure isn’t enough to make a diagnosis and more than one seizure is usually recorded before a diagnosis can be made and treatment prescribed.

These treatments don’t cure Epilepsy but rather control the symptoms and keep the dog seizure-free so that they can have a normal life.

Seizures are not all the same – some are life-threatening and advice from the internet can’t be looked upon as adequate. With a dangerous disease such as epilepsy, excellent and qualified veterinary help will be required.

Periodontal Disease:

Gum disease can be terrible for your pet. Apart from bone loss and loss of teeth, your pet will experience pain. Periodontal disease may well be common in dogs, but it can be prevented.

Once an animal has eaten food, particles of food, saliva and bacteria form plaque over the teeth and this doesn’t only cause damage to the teeth but to the entire immune system.

This disease can cause inflamed gums and loss of teeth. It is important to brush your pet’s teeth with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste.

The truth is, periodontal disease can cause more problems than just tooth pain which is bad enough. Dogs with gum inflammation may be at higher risk for heart- and kidney disease too. If you’re worried about your dog, take him in to your vet for an oral examination and teeth cleaning.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

english foxhound dogs - caringThe English Foxhound is a high energy dog that needs a high quality dog food. He should be fed about 2.5 -3 cups a day in two meals of dry food. Because he is a deep chested dog, beware of bloat and don’t feed large meals, particularly before or after strenuous exercise.

Health issues

In addition to the issues presented above, the English Foxhound is prone to:

Epilepsy

Seizures are caused by epilepsy, but they can be treated, and the dog can have a quality life.

Bloat

When the stomach becomes distended or twisted. Can result in death if not treated immediately.

Ears

The English Foxhound’s long, floppy ears are prone to infection and allergies. Inspect and clean them regularly.

Exercise and games

The English Foxhound is an easygoing canine, but he has an incredible energy level and needs a lot of exercise every day. In fact, if you are not going to hunt then don’t get a Foxhound. It is not fair to the dog. Of course, if you have acres of land and are into agility, tracking, coursing and rally then this might be the dog for you. But if the English Foxhound does not get enough daily exercise, he will not be a good house pet. This dog was bred to run for miles. You cant keep him cooped up in your house.

Grooming:

italian greyhound dogs - caringThe Italian Greyhound has a short, smooth, satin-type coat which is easy to maintain. Gently brush him once or twice a week, being careful not to press down hard as he has frail, bambi-like legs.

He also sheds little, making him a low maintenance breed. Because of the short coat, take particular care of him in the Winter and don’t allow him to become overly cold.

Diet:

Your Italian Greyhound will require a diet rich in nutritional value, and if your particular dog is quite active you will need to feed him about 450 calories a day and sometimes more.

Each dog is an individual and will have different dietary needs. If you feed your pet a top quality commercially manufactured food, read the packaging for guidance on food portion sizes.

Speak to your vet if you are unsure how to feed your dog so that his food and the amounts you feed him contribute to his good health. He must always have access to fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English Foxhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  5. English Foxhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. English Foxhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. English Foxhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. English Foxhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. English Foxhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. English Foxhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
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  26. Italian Greyhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Italian Greyhound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Italian Greyhound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Italian Greyhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Italian Greyhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Italian Greyhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Italian Greyhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Italian Greyhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Italian Greyhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Italian Greyhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Italian Greyhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Italian Greyhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Italian Greyhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Italian Greyhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Italian Greyhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Italian Greyhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Italian Greyhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Italian Greyhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Italian Greyhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Italian Greyhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Italian Greyhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Italian Greyhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Italian Greyhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Italian Greyhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Italian Greyhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison