Italian Greyhound Puppy Checklist: What to Do Before and After Bringing One Home

Before the Puppy Arrives

Fracture Prevention Setup: Do This Before Pickup Day

Install Ramps and Steps Before the Puppy Arrives

Italian Greyhound leg fractures most commonly occur when the dog jumps off furniture — sofas, beds, car seats. Before your puppy comes home, install dog ramps or steps at every piece of furniture the dog will be allowed on. The ramp or steps must be in place before the puppy arrives, not added after the first close call. Establish the habit of using ramps and steps from day one.

If you do not want to install ramps, the alternative is to not allow the dog on furniture — but this requires consistent enforcement from everyone in the household. A rule applied 90% of the time is not sufficient for a breed where a single jump can mean a $3,000–$5,000 fracture repair.

Harness — Not a Collar — From Day One

Italian Greyhounds have slender necks and are prone to tracheal collapse and neck injuries if walked on a collar. Always use a properly fitted harness for walks and outings. The harness should be snug enough that the dog cannot back out of it (IGs can be escape artists from poorly fitted harnesses), but not tight enough to restrict movement. Never clip a leash to the collar of an Italian Greyhound — use the harness D-ring only.

Gear Checklist

• Properly fitted small dog harness (measure the dog before ordering)
• Dog ramps or steps for all furniture and the car
• Light fleece sweater and heavier winter coat (multiple needed for different temperatures)
• Small crate with soft bedding
• Baby gates to restrict access to stairs and rooms until the puppy is older
• Dog toothbrush and dog-safe enzymatic toothpaste — starts week one
• Quality small-breed puppy food
• Small food and water bowls
• Enzymatic cleaner
• ID tag and microchip registration
• Pet insurance enrolled before first vet visit

First Weeks at Home

First Vet Visit and Critical Early Habits

First Vet Appointment (Within 72 Hours of Pickup)

• Full physical exam and vaccine review
• Set vaccination and deworming schedule
• Confirm harness fit is correct for the dog's size and structure
• Discuss spay/neuter timing — for IGs, some vets recommend waiting until 12–18 months for skeletal maturity
• Ask about dental care protocol and timeline for first professional cleaning
• Discuss fracture prevention and what activity restrictions are appropriate for growing puppies
• Confirm heartworm, flea, and tick prevention

Start Tooth Brushing on Day One

Begin tooth brushing immediately — ideally the first evening home. Use a finger brush and a tiny amount of dog-safe enzymatic toothpaste. Touch the puppy's lips, then teeth, then gums in short sessions, rewarding generously throughout. Do this every single day. A puppy that learns tooth brushing is a normal part of daily life accepts it as an adult. A dog introduced to it for the first time at age 3 often resists intensely. This daily habit will save your dog from significant pain and save you significant money in dental care costs over its lifetime.

Ongoing Safety and Management

Rules for Living With an Italian Greyhound

Activity Restrictions for Puppies

Italian Greyhound puppies are fast, impulsive, and completely unaware of their own fragility. Common sense restrictions that apply until the dog is at least 12–18 months old:

• No jumping on or off furniture without ramps — enforce consistently
• Supervise all interactions with children and larger dogs — an excited larger dog can accidentally fracture a leg
• No rough play with dogs more than twice the IG's weight
• Walk only on a harness, never a collar
• Avoid hard landings — watch for slippery floors without rugs in the path to furniture

Cold Weather Management

Have the appropriate clothing ready before temperatures drop. An Italian Greyhound without a coat in cold weather is uncomfortable and will refuse to go outdoors to eliminate — which creates its own problems. Keep a light fleece for 50–60°F temperatures, a heavier insulated coat for below 45°F, and for very cold climates, consider an indoor sweater as well. The dog is not being coddled — this is appropriate care for a breed that physically cannot thermoregulate well in the cold.

Dental Care for Life

Build tooth brushing into the daily routine alongside the dog's feeding. It takes 60 seconds. Skip it consistently and you will face chronic dental disease, multiple tooth extractions, and the health complications of periodontal bacteria entering the bloodstream. The daily habit is far less disruptive than the alternative.