[nagdu] Italian greyhound guide dog?

Wed Sep 8 02:20:45 UTC 2010

When I saw that he is claiming an Italian Greyhound to be his guide
dog, the first thing I thought is "If an IG, why not a teacup poodle
or chihuahua?" I don't think so!

IGs are extremely delicate, highly energetic dogs. They are very
personable and smart, yes, but at only a foot tall and ten to fifteen
pounds, they are toy breeds and tiny things for sure. I would be
afraid of the leather harness rubbing their skin to scabs. I knew a
breeder of IGs who told me that you could only brush an IG with a soft
brush because their skin is very fragile. This is true of full-size
greyhounds also. This breeder also created and sold special collars
for greyhounds and italian greyhounds, because the collars you get at
the store for dogs rub sores into greyhounds' necks. A harness would
be pure torture to an IG (The special collars he made were leather on
the outside, padded with thick fleece. The leather part of the collar
was very thin, and it had an ultra-thin buckle and tag/leash clip.
This was because the weight can leave welts in a greyhound's neck).

There are so many things that make me shudder at the thought of an
Italian Greyhound in harness. I'll list them.. I will call these the
top five reasons IGs can't be guide dogs...
.
1) As I said above, the harness would leave sores and welts.
2)2) IGS are extremely fragile dogs. Not only is their skin fragile,
but they are prone to bruised bones and sprained joints.
3) Extreme weather can send an IG to the emergency vet, whether it is
snow or rain, extreme cold or extreme heat. Do you want to give that
poor dog hypothermia, heat exhaustion or sun burn, or pneumonia? You
will, if you take him/her in extreme weather conditions! IGs are fair
weather dogs only.
4) IGs, like their larger counterparts, are very energetic dogs, bred
for racing and hunting for fast prey such as rabbits. A greyhound
needs a large amount of exercise every day, and I doubt that as a
guide dog, the dog would get enough exercise to stay fit unless the
handler is a cross-country or track runner.
5) IGs are tiny at only about a foot tall and 10 to 15 pounds.

If the dog were a diabetic-alert dog only, I could see it, but only if
the handler took the dog to the racetrack or dog park regularly,
several times a day, and only if the dog was put in a special
greyhound collar with an ultra-light leash, and was dressed for the
weather with raincoat, sweater, or cool-off vest as needed.

I find the idea of an Italian Greyhound, as you must have surmised
from this message, absolutely and totally ridiculous, and I would fear
for the dog's well-being

On 9/7/10, Rovig, Lorraine <LRovig at nfb.org> wrote:
> FYI,
> By entering Pawsible Service Dog School I found the following about the
> training school in Australia on the first Google.  I bet the links to
> each page will work better if you Google it too, but here is what what
> on page 1:
>
> Mary Lou's Public Profile
> Program Director, All is Pawsible Service Dog School
> www.plaxo.com/directory/profile/55836109032/7dfcb51d/Mary/LouService Dog
> for Riley
>
> All is Pawsible came out the other night to finish our registration into
> their school. Three service dogs in tow and the kids went crazy! They
> loved it!
> servicedogforriley.blogspot.com * Cached pagePawsible Solution Dog
> Service
>
> About Pawsible Solution Dog Service. Pawsible Solution Dog ... of
> helping owners exercise and train their dogs of all ... Pet Care - Pet
> Services - School
> www.hotfrog.com.au/Companies/Pawsible-Solution-Dog-Service * Cached page
>
> It's PAWSible: The PupLife Interview With Dog Trainer Beth ...
> More on this page
> Does your dog or puppy listen to you? Do you want to learn how to
> communicate effectively with your dog? If so, we've got some great news
> for you! We recently had the opportunity to talk with Beth
> Ostrowski-Parks, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, author, and owner
> of It's PAWSible! Dog Training Center in Westhampton, Massachusetts.
> Popular links
> Dog Tips
> Free Newsletter
> Shop By Occasion
> Shop By Breed
> F.A.Q
> Go to the pageShare
> ... owner of It's PAWSible! Dog ... your training school, day camp
> program and most recently your outstanding at-home DVD dog training
> course. First of all ... so I tailor my services ...
> www.puplife.com/pages/its-pawsible-the-puplife-interview-with-dog-traine
> r-beth... *
>
> Cached pagePawsible Solution Dog Service - Bayside Dog Walking &
> Training
> Pawsible Solution Dog Service was set up by Linda Murphy with the
> purpose of helping owners exercise and train their dogs of all ages and
> breeds using ... Driving School Canberra, ...
> www.communityguide.com.au/.../site/animalspets/petcareservices/brightone
> astdogwalking * Cached page
>
> Autism Service Dogs 4 Paws for Ability
> June 4, 2008 Service dog denied to school. June 3, 2008 Service dogs
> join the fight ... death grip on her, with Noelle safely tethered to her
> service dog, Reagan, fun is had by all.
> www.4pawsforability.org/autismdogs.html * Cached pageOregon Humane
> Society -
>
> Pet Training - Behavior & Training
> * After School Clubs * Tours & Field Trips * Summer Camp ... purposes
> only and does not endorse any products or services ... Dogs from area
> shelters get a $15 discount on most classes
> www.oregonhumane.org/pet_training/behavior_training.asp * Cached page
>
> Courthouse News Service
> Sep 07, 2010 * He and Enzo went through 2 years of training at the All
> is Pawsible Service Dog School. Compton demands punitive damages for
> assault and battery and wants the Vadens ...
> www.courthousenews.com/2010/09/07/30131.htm * Cached page
>
> Pawsible Solution Dog Service, Australia Business Directory in ...
> Pawsible Solution Dog Service,Pets,Dog Training business that list in
> Australia Business Directory ... Custom Made Furniture Canberra Dentist
> Manly West Driving School Melbourne ...
> www.street-directory.com.au/sd_new/business/13267223/pawsible-solution-d
> og-service.html * Cached page
>
> 4 Paws for Ability: enriching people with disabilities by training ...
> Saeger Middle School Appoints Service Dogs to Staff of Paraprofessionals
> ... group, I thought all I would ever hear was parents complain about
> their
> www.4pawsforability.org * Cached page
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
> Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 1:03 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Italian greyhound guide dog?
>
> Tracy,
>
> Yeah, the image of the IG guide is, er, fairly amusing.  Didn't the
> article
> mention that it is also a diabetic alert dog?  It would be easy to fit
> places, though.  /smile/  I would entertain myself wondering at the
> choice
> of breed, there, except that this would ensure that the next time I step
> out
> the door I will be confronted and lectured about how poodles can't be
> guide
> dogs...  /lol/  Well, that hasn't happened for a while, but maybe the
> poodles can't be guide dogs club is just saving up for a special
> occasion?
> /smile/
>
> Odd, I know there are other guide and service dog users around here,
> because
> people will tell me about them, but I honestly have no idea who they
> are,
> since even if we pass each other, we don't know we're there.  Wonder if
> I've
> passesd this guy around town and just didn't have a clue.  It feels
> strange
> somehow.  Probably because of my rural background where everybody knows
> everything about everybody, including their car, horse, dogs, you name
> it.
> /smile/
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Tracy Carcione
> Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 8:07 AM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nagdu] Italian greyhound guide dog?
>
> The article Ginger posted about the guy getting beat up when he tried to
> bring his guide dog into a store said the guide dog is an Italian
> greyhound.  Really?  IGs are toy dogs--pretty small and fairly delicate.
>
> If the guide dog is really an IG, hey, bring on the King Charles
> spaniel,
> the cocker spaniel, the corgi!  Think of all the extra foot room I'd get
> in a taxi or plane!  Of course, the harness handle would have to be a
> yard
> long...
> Got that Ginger?  Next time I'm back at TSE, I'll volunteer to be the
> test
> subject for the Corgi Seeing Eye dog.
> Tracy
>
>
>
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