Italian Greyhound vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison

Italian Greyhound vs English Coonhound - Breed ComparisonItalian Greyhound is originated from Italy but English Coonhound is originated from United States. Italian Greyhound may grow 31 cm / 12 inches shorter than English Coonhound. Italian Greyhound may weigh 23 kg / 50 pounds lesser than English Coonhound. Italian Greyhound may live 3 years more than English Coonhound. Both Italian Greyhound and English Coonhound has almost same litter size. Both Italian Greyhound and English Coonhound requires Low maintenance.

History

italian greyhound - historyThe 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.

english coonhound - historyThe interesting thing about the English Coonhound is that he originated in the United States, in the southern states. It is also called the American English Coonhound and recognized as such by the AKC. Its ancestry however is British coming from the hunting hounds- the Foxhounds- that were brought to the United States from England in the 17th and 18th centuries and were the base for the Virginia Hounds. These hounds came from dogs that were imported for George Washington, Thomas Walker and Robert Brooke. These Virginia Hounds were then developed into the English Coonhound.

A dog was needed that could handle the rougher terrain of the United States and hunt American Red Fox and racoons. Interestingly it was England, through the UKC, that first recognized the breed in 1905, labeling it the English Fox and Coonhound. The AKC recognized it in 2011.

Development of this group of hounds continued when the Treeing Walker Coonhound was split off as its own breed in 1945, and the Bluetick Coonhound followed in 1946. The English Coonhound can tree a prey or corner it until the hunter arrives. They hunt in packs or they can work one on one with the hunter. Either way they excel at finding and holding their prey “at bay”.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Italy
United States
Height Male:
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
56 - 69 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
53 - 64 cm
20 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
18 - 30 kg
39 - 67 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
16 - 28 kg
35 - 62 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
11 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 4
4 - 6
Size:
Small dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
IG, Iggy
American English Coonhound; Redtick Coonhound
Colors Available:
grey, tan, Fawn, chocolate and black., reddish
bluetick, redtick, and a tricolor tick pattern
Coat:
Short and smooth
short, harsh
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Loving, Loyal, Quiet, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

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.

english coonhound puppy - descriptionThe English Coonhound is a medium sized dog with a domed head and a deep chest. His build is very athletic. He has dark eye and low-hung ears. The coats of the English Coonhound are extremely variable. For the most part there are three distinct types – the Redtick, the Tricolor and the Bluetick. They can be in any of these categories and have ticking of any color. The most predominate of this group is the Red. So, predominate is the red that the breed is often called the Redtick Coonhound by many.

Characteristics

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.

english coonhound dog - characteristicsThe English Coonhound is quiet when at home and loud when hunting. They love to cuddle up on a couch and they are great pets. However, they still have a very high prey drive and need a lot of exercise as previously mentioned. They love kids and will be very loyal, hoping to please you all the time. They are curious and if left alone can be destructive. They can also be stubborn and strong willed, and they will howl when caged. If you are going to crate them, train them to it from 3 months on.

Health Problems

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.

english coonhound puppies - health problemsThe English Coonhound is an exceptionally hardy breed. The only serious situation they regularly face is Bloat. Bloat appears when the dog eats a large meal too fast after exercising or eats too large a meal before exercising. What happens in bloat is the stomach is distended and the intestine can wrap around vital organs and kill the dog.

Breeders do test for elbow and hip dysplasia but the is not a lot of this in the breed.

Caring The Pet

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.

Feeding

english coonhound dogs - caringWhen feeding your English Coonhound be aware that this athlete loves to eat. You have to keep him from growing obese as his tendency to overeat is high. He uses a lot of energy on the hunt so if he is a hunting dog perhaps he needs more calories. Be careful when and how you feed him so that he won’t get bloat.

Health issues

As previously mentioned the American English Coonhound is a very hearty breed and its most serious issue is Bloat. However, they also have long, floppy ears.

Exercise and games

Because they were bred to hunt they need a lot of daily exercise. Jogging, brisk walking, or playing at t dog park are good activities for him. If they don’t get enough energy they become high strung and can engage in destructive behavior. Don’t let them off leash as they might wander off after any scent they capture. They love to chase a ball and you’ll wear out before they do. He might be good at lure chasing.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pomeranian vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  2. Maltese vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  3. Pug vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  4. Maltipoo vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  5. Papillon vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  6. Japanese Chin vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  7. Miniature English Bulldog vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  8. Italian Greyhound vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  9. Italian Greyhound vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  10. Italian Greyhound vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  11. Italian Greyhound vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  12. Italian Greyhound vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  13. Italian Greyhound vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Italian Greyhound vs Dorgi - Breed Comparison
  15. Italian Greyhound vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  16. Italian Greyhound vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  17. Italian Greyhound vs Dorkie - Breed Comparison
  18. Italian Greyhound vs German Spitz (Klein) - Breed Comparison
  19. Italian Greyhound vs Doxiepoo - Breed Comparison
  20. Italian Greyhound vs Bospin - Breed Comparison
  21. Italian Greyhound vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  22. Italian Greyhound vs Damchi - Breed Comparison
  23. Italian Greyhound vs Cyprus Poodle - Breed Comparison
  24. Italian Greyhound vs Doxiepom - Breed Comparison
  25. Jug vs Italian Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  26. Pharaoh Hound vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  27. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  28. Hungarian Vizsla vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  29. Redbone Coonhound vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  30. Norwegian Elkhound vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  31. Santal Hound vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  32. English Coonhound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  33. English Coonhound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  34. English Coonhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  35. English Coonhound vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  36. English Coonhound vs Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  37. English Coonhound vs Bavarian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison
  38. English Coonhound vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  39. English Coonhound vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison
  40. English Coonhound vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison
  41. English Coonhound vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison
  42. English Coonhound vs Basset Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  43. English Coonhound vs Chippiparai - Breed Comparison
  44. English Coonhound vs Beago - Breed Comparison
  45. English Coonhound vs Chinese Chongqing Dog - Breed Comparison
  46. English Coonhound vs Combai - Breed Comparison
  47. English Coonhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  48. English Coonhound vs Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound - Breed Comparison
  49. English Coonhound vs Briquet Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison
  50. English Coonhound vs Cirneco dell'Etna - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds