Two Years with Siggy: Lessons in Love, Drama, and Keeping Legs Intact
Raising an Italian Greyhound has many more benefits than challenges.
Sigrid, ‘Siggy’ as she is now known, my family’s Italian Greyhound, was 8 weeks old when we first brought her home. It was like welcoming a tiny, high-speed porcelain doll into our life—adorable, fragile, and one wrong move away from disaster.
I knew Italian Greyhounds had delicate legs, but I didn’t realize just how much of my first year with Siggy would revolve around preventing her from turning into a four-legged Humpty Dumpty.
Along the way, I learned a lot—
- About their need for strong legs
- Their Oscar-worthy dramatics
- Their obsession with their humans.
Here’s what the last two years have taught me about raising an Italian Greyhound.
Year One: Operation “Bubble Wrap”
Iggies are notorious for breaking their legs as puppies.
They’re like little ballerinas with zero spatial awareness. They don’t just jump off furniture—they launch themselves like they’re trying to escape gravity altogether. And their bones? Basically breadsticks.
My job in Year One? Keep Siggy from self-destructing.
Pro Tips for Surviving Year One Without a Vet Bill That Makes You Cry:
- No high jumps! (Your furniture is now a fortress of strategically placed pillows.)
- Carpet saves lives. Hardwood floors + zoomies = bad news.
- Gentle play only. Roughhousing is an injury waiting to happen.
- Always a harness, never a collar. Their necks are as delicate as their legs.
Who Knew Tug-of-War Was Leg Day?
Here’s something no one told me: Tug-of-war is actually an amazing way to strengthen an Italian Greyhound’s legs.
Since running and jumping too much as a puppy could put her at risk, I needed a safe way to build muscle.
Tug-of-war turned out to be the perfect solution—it helps with balance, coordination, and leg strength, all while keeping those fragile bones safe.
Siggy took to it immediately. Well, okay, not immediately. At first, she stared at the Elephant toy like I had personally offended her. But after a few tries, she got into it—and now she’s got a mean tug game.
Her favorites? Her Elephant and Stingray toys. She’s already on Elephant Number Two (R.I.P. Elephant Number One).
The Iggy Scream: Not for the Faint of Heart
If you’ve never heard an Italian Greyhound cry, you’re in for a horrifying surprise. It’s not a whimper.
It’s not even a regular dog yelp, it’s a full-blown, end-of-the-world, “HOW DARE YOU?” siren that will make your heart drop into your stomach.
The first time Siggy let out The Scream, I thought she had snapped a leg. Nope. I had just (almost) stepped on her foot.
Have you ever done that dance when you feel them under your feet, and you make sure you don’t put the weight down?
Iggies don’t just express themselves. They declare their emotions in full volume. Some triggers for this melodramatic display include:
- The welcome home greeting.
- Not getting a bite of whatever I’m eating
- Me moving slightly while she’s sleeping
- A breeze that she wasn’t expecting
The dramatics? Next level. The upside? They love hard.
Velcro Dog Syndrome: They Love You, and They Will Prove It
If you want personal space, an Italian Greyhound is not the breed for you.
Siggy is basically my shadow with a heartbeat. She follows me everywhere. If I’m on the couch, she’s on me. If I get up, she’s immediately on high alert—because what if I’m going somewhere without her? (Unacceptable.) or, better yet, what If I’m going into the kitchen? That’s where the treats are.
They bond hard with their people. It’s not just affection—it’s full-on devotion. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Two Years Later: What I’ve Learned
- Italian Greyhounds are more fragile than they think. Keeping them safe the first year is a full-time job.
- Tug-of-war = leg day for Iggies. Who knew?
- The scream will never not scare me.
- They will love you harder than any other breed.
- They will treat you like a Popsicle – Lick, lick, lick!
Would I do it all over again? In a heartbeat.
Siggy may be dramatic, noisy, and ridiculously clingy, but she’s also one of the best things that ever happened to us.
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