Dainty Acres Italian Greyhounds

08/31/2024

I attended my Italian Greyhound "Judges Education Seminar" today in Colorado Springs. It was very good. Earlier this month I dug into the Italian Greyhound Club of America's website and studied the judges resources for a homework assignment at Eric's Module 5 Workshop. Those resources, The Judges Education Seminar, were used in today's seminar. What was nice is Kim Brinker (IGCA Judges Education Coordinator) presented those resources and some additional diagrams that are getting added this year.
I was told that it has been many years since the last Judges Seminar, and some Judges were rewarding some incorrect conformation. This class today was packed with Judges, IGCA members, mentors and some National exhibitors like myself. It was nice to see there is someone representing our breed to Judges judging our breed. Not only that, but Judges have IGCA approved mentors that the Judges can call for verbal clarification. These resources were written for those judging, but they are invaluable for breeders and handlers who want to raise the bar in their breeding program. I was pleased to see that I have done a pretty good job picking my show prospects and breeding partners.

08/29/2024

Module 4: Foot Placement
"Pay attention to the foot pattern and footfall." Eric Salas

I did an interesting study of the foot placement at the trot for the Module 4 homework assignment back in June. It got me thinking about the foot, my breed standard and the breed characteristics of the Italian Greyhound.
My IG Breed Standard says the Italian Greyhound foot should be, "Harefoot with well-arched toes." The reason for those well arched toes and harefoot conformation is because they need to be faster than the varmit they are chasing. The feet need to be able to grab ground, well muscled limbs need to thrust, and shoulder needs to be free. All this while being able to turn on a dime while in-chase. The Judges Seminar goes into more detail and says, "The two middle toes are longer than the outside toes."
Then I got thinking about the toes and the toenails. Grooming our dogs includes keeping the nails at the right length, but what is the right length for the Italian Greyhound in the presentation mode at a show? Lilian Barber in her article "The Basics of Judging the Italian Greyhound" said, "Nails should be short, but not trimmed all the way to the quick as is customary in other breeds."
https://youtu.be/CRGb6Xb6yyU

Module 4: Foot Placement "Pay attention to the foot pattern and footfall." Eric SalasI did an interesting study of the foot placement at the trot for the Mod...

08/27/2024

Module 3: "Breed Character, attributes, coat, and work ethic; 98% of people showing miss all this." Eric Salas

My breed is short coated and as a Sighthound it is important to keep the feelers on the face so he can do the job he was bred to do. Most my competition trims up the face, but I don't think it is right if I am presenting a Sighthound. Every 2 months I rub their coat down with the beer and egg coat conditioner. Every 2 weeks they get the vinegar and citric acid spray. When it comes time for a show, The last spray is 4 days out, then I just wet rag them the night before the show. Coat, teeth and toes, in that order. The day of the show I rub them with my Aragon Hair Creme strictly for the smell.

08/26/2024

08/23/2024

Module 5: "Practice on the stuffed dog, and alone. Get it right and then do it on your dog. The true problem is the dogs needs are not being met". Eric Salas

Dana Taylor here on Day 2 without the dogs and practicing on the Zebra instead. I had some real specific head-straight questions for Eric during our Module 5 class this weekend. I have small dogs with very narrow and tapered muzzles. Here I am slow walking my hand in the Head-Straight position Eric demonstrated on Saturday. I have been doing the Head-Straight my way for 6 years, so this will take some time to re-wire!
The homework assignment was to write a breed standard script and practice saying it while doing the table exam. On video of course.🫤

08/22/2024

Module 4: Stage 4 - The Table Stack
"Get control of the head, and that is control of the whole dog." Eric Salas

I am letting my dog be part of the table stack here in our training room. At home, they jump up on the table themselves, but at a show I will put them on it. I am respecting my dog by letting him participate with me in the table stack. He knows to walk to the far corner and stand waiting for a treat. I am not worried about perfect placement of the feet, just trying to get him to put his left front paw in the Judges corner. Every morning before we go on our walk, my husband pretends to be the Judge at the exam table. They are pretty use to his treats after the exam!

https://youtu.be/KSR5C3gBaas

Module 4: Stage 4 - The Table Stack"Get control of the head, and that is control of the whole dog." Eric SalasI am letting my dog be part of the table stack ...

08/21/2024

Module 2: "Play with Purpose"
"Begin and End with Play With Purpose". Eric Salas

Notes to self: I'm happy with my lead communication and hand signs. After my Step-Step-Stay I am looking down at my toes. I've been practicing squaring up my toes for 5 years, I should be able to do this and trust where my toes are by now. I have that on my list of things to work on!
Question: Should I be shaking the lead to do the Step-Step-Stay?
I did not make eye contact, but I would like to see my chin up a little more, so I don't get caught if she is sneeky.
https://youtu.be/_E2WgQHlkwU

Module 2: "Play with Purpose""Begin and End with Play With Purpose". Eric SalasNotes to self: I'm happy with my lead communication and hand signs. After my ...

08/20/2024

"Step-Step-Stand" and "Watch-It"
Notes to Self: Chin up, use peripheral. Smile and talk to Redmond. Get infront of dog, and then walk backwards, slow energy down to step step stand. Toss bait to land 4 feet infront of Redmond. Turn body and point my toes toward the bait.

"Step-Step-Stand" and "Watch-It"Notes to Self: Chin up, use peripheral. Smile and talk to Redmond. Get infront of dog, and then walk backwards, slow energy d...

08/19/2024

Module 3 - Homework assignment:
"In depth knowledge of your breed beyond the standard" Eric Salas

The Italian Greyhound is recognized as a pure bred toy dog all over the world. There are registries in England, Italy, Canada, Mexico and Europe that all posess a breed standard for the Italian Greyhound of their country.
Many breed characteristics are the same, but there are some differences that matter if you are breeding or showing in another country. For example, in the US (AKC), a dog will be disqualified if brindle or tan markings. This was in line with the refinement of the Whippet and Miniature Pincher. If these breed characteristics of the miniature pincher or whippet show up in an Italian Greyhound, it is not the breed character of the Italian Greyhound and they do not qualify as registered breeding stock. The United Kingdom (UKC), CKC (Canada), will also disqualify a dog if they are brindle or tan in markings. Italy, Mexico and Europe, (ICF and FCI), do not allow any multi colored coats like we do in the US and Canada. They dont mention brindle or tan markings because they lump all multi-colored coats as a disqualification. However, white markings on the chest and feet is acceptable, but not the full chrome like we see here in the US and Canada.
Over all body and type are consistent among the registries all over the world. Preferences vary, for example, Mexico and Europe, the dogs are leggier and encourage a stronger topline slope. US and Canada it is common to see a softer topline s curve with heavier bone in the leg.
My AKC Italian Greyhound Breed Standard is one page long and vague compared to some of the other countries. The best resources for me to read are the Judging Seminar resources from my Italian Greyhound Club's website here in the US. It has lovely illustrations, explanations and even the names and phone numbers of experts in my breed.

Module 3 - Homework assignment:"In depth knowledge of your breed beyond the standard" Eric SalasThe Italian Greyhound is recognized as a pure bred toy dog al...

08/18/2024

Module 1 - Play With Purpose: "FUN is the Priority not the Task" Eric Salas

When I am thinking, the frown comes down. When we are playing, everyone is smiling. The crate, head-straight to the In-Gate is our opening act, then we are adding some circus stuff to keep it interesting. The "dancing" is helping with her fitness too!
https://youtu.be/-fas5x2_ppk

Module 1 - Play With Purpose: "FUN is the Priority not the Task" Eric SalasWhen I am thinking, the frown comes down. When we are playing, everyone is smili...

08/17/2024

Module 4: Entering the Ring
Stage 1 - "There are 5 seconds to a minute before you go into the ring. Ask the dog to do something." Eric Salas

Still practicing the
which is Stage 0, 1 and 2 of the Show Ring Experience.
I zapped my dog only once this time with my eye contact. Lucky for me he wasn't looking at me. We've been working on our "bait catch" and "Dance" tricks. My assignment was to use the word "power" and these are my tricks so I can show off my dog's power. They love these tricks as I turn their "tagging" into "dancing". Win win!
https://youtu.be/g8IPRU23a1w

Module 4: Entering the RingStage 1 - "There are 5 seconds to a minute before you go into the ring. Ask the dog to do something." Eric Salas ...

08/07/2024

Every morning I have a squirrel that comes to the bird feeder to terrorize the feeder and tease my Italian Greyhounds. Redmond will watch that squirrel in the comfort of his Kennel, and when it finally comes down the trunk, Redmond will blast out the doggie door after it.

What is the Breed Function of the Italian Greyhound Eyes?
The Italian Greyhound, for the last 5,000 years has hunted small prey inside the palace as well as outside. They were bred to hunt, entertain and be an adaptable companion for royalty. Their tiny size puts them in the Toy Group here in the US, but they are actually a Sighthound. The design of the eye is specialized to hunting small prey. The shape, color, location and lid need to be set to best help the dog see movement afar and during the chase in challenging light settings.

What is the Correct Form of the Italian Greyhound Eye?
The AKC has a manual for every pure bred dog, complete with a clear list of parts including a description of the eyes. The AKC Breed Standard explains the eyes of an Italian Greyhound as, "...dark, bright, intelligent, medium in size." The Italian Greyhound Club of America offers a more detailed guide, and they say, "A pleasing expression ... appears loving and intelligent" and then goes into detail on what is not correct. For example, very light eyes, blue and yellow eyes are not correct.
What is my Responsibility as a Breeder?
The color and form of the eye is esthetically important but the function of the eye is even more important if the dog is to see. If the eyes are correct but they can't see, then the function is compromised and they can't do their job. There are some genetic eye diseases that Italian Greyhounds are prone to. In the show ring, there is no way for a Judge to know if they are placing a dog that has or is a carrier of a genetic eye disease. Genetic testing is a great way for a breeder to identify if their dog carries any genetic diseases.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an eye disease that a dog inherits from their parents and it causes early blindness. Other diseases like Cataracts and Glaucoma are also common in Italian Greyhounds. Routine veterinary exams and genetic testing can help an owner and breeder find out if there are any problems lurking. My responsibility as a breeder is to pick healthy partners for my breeding program and pick health industry professionals who understand these diseases and the tests that best identify them. All my pups will one day be someone's pet, a few will make it to the show ring, but only a special pup will be selected for our Dainty Acres breeding program.

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By Dana Taylor, owner, handler and small hobby breeder of Italian Greyhounds at her Dainty Acres Kennel in Spring Branch Texas

08/02/2024

What is the Correct Function of a Sight Hound's Ears?
Ears are an important part of the sight hound, and the Italian Greyhound is a special hunter, who for 5,000 years did his hunting indoors as well as outdoors. His ears need to prick up to hone the audio of his prey, but also colapsable to fold back for aerodynamics and protection from brush. He can, duck, turn, and spin all while running full speed. Those ears need to direct him and tuck out of the way. The set, thickness of the leather, size, shape and location of the fold all matter for the form to match the function of the ear.

What Does a Correct Set of Italian Greyhound Ears Look Like?
The American Kennel Club says ears should be, "small, fine in texture; thrown back and folded except when alerted, then carried folded at right angles to the head."
The ICGCA Judging Education Seminar goes into detail on what is not correct, "Erect or button ears severely penalized... Feel for glue or scarring on the ears. Heavy ear leather may not fold properly into a correct rose ear. Erect and button ears still are a problem in the breed and are considered a Severe Fault."

Showing, winning and collecting points will help my dog to rise to the top based on the structure narrative in my breed standard and the IGCA Judging notes. But is his breed function or breed character quality enough to breed?

What is my Responsibility as a Breeder? My first responsibility is to preserve the breed in an ethical and humane way. Breed Character is the reason and essence of the breed and should be considered when picking a breeding pair. For sure, all my pups will be someone's pet, a few of my pups may show. But only a special pup will be picked to be a breeding partner here at Dainty Acres Italian Greyhounds .

07/31/2024

We jumped on the Texas Death March and got ring time with some fantastic Judges in San Antonio and Houston!
Bexar Co KC (Fri am) - Judge Karen McFarlane
Alamo Area Toy Dog Club (Fri pm) - Judge Dr Azalea Alvarez
Bexar Co KC (Sat)- Judge Christie Martinez
Bexar Co KC (Sun) - Judge Polly Smith
IGCGH Specialty (Wed) - Judge Joao Machado
Houston KC (Thurs) - Judge Angela Pickett
Houston KC (Fri) - Judge Nancy Liebes
Beaumont KC (Sat) - Judge Douglas Johnson
Next stop... ❄️ 🏔 ❄️

07/27/2024

Enjoying a weekend off from the show circuit!

07/24/2024

My ❤️ boy. Thank you Ringside Hounds for this candid shot!!!

07/22/2024

Saturday July 20, 2024
Today was a really big day for us at Dainty Acres and the other winners in Saturday's Beaumont Kennel Club show. In the ring we had 4 Class Dog's, 7 Class B's and 10 Specials we presented to Judge Douglas Johnson today. Every one of the entries in Houston this week were beautiful and worthy of the win.
Breed went to FIORÉ VIVA PHOENIX RISING AT GRISGRIS as well as her win as Winners B and Best of Winners. Opposite S*x went to GCH INFINITI MORDECAI'S LET'S GET IT ON, Select Dog went to CH DAINTY'S BIG RED and Select B went to CH ALURA GOODY TWO SHOES AT TAPDOGS as well as her win as BOBOH. And Winners Dog went to TUNCAP'S DOUBLE ENTRY.
Congratulations Terry Mayers, Kimberly Frennier, Dana Taylor, Trenna Howard and Russell Tuncap.
https://youtu.be/BYqv-WYNAe4

Saturday July 20, 2024Today was a really big day for us at Dainty Acres and the other winners in Saturday's Beaumont Kennel Club show. In the ring we had 4 ...

07/19/2024

Our little Italian Greyhounds did great again at the Houston Kennel Club, and today we all were under Judge Nancy Liebes.
Congratulations to the winners today, Winners Dog went TUNCAP'S DOUBLE ENTRY, Winners B and Best of Winners to RUSCELLI STORYTELLER. Breed was GCH INFINITI MORDECAI'S LET'S GET IT ON and the two Selects want to CH SKIDI'S JESSE JAMES and CH KC'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS. OS, BOBOH went to CH CH ALURA GOODY TWO SHOES AT TAPDOGS.
Congratulations to Russell Tuncap, Megan Rosalie Pangborn, Kim Frennier, Trenna V Howard, Kimberly Bakker April and Ruby Kaufax, Rev. Scott Keneda and Angela Keneda. Sure enjoyed sharing the ring with you all today!
https://youtu.be/Dzbhx-ysiGA?feature=shared

07/19/2024

Boerne was fantastic today for the second day here in Houston at the World Series of Dog Shows. Really enjoyed seeing the best of the best ringside and in the ring. Great quality here, and all are worthy of the win! As a Preservation Breeder I am always looking for partners in my breeding program. Some think it is just about genetics and yes it is important, but I look for temperment and health too. How does the dog handle the stress and all the people and dogs at the ingate? I breed Italian Greyhounds, and all of my pups will inherit the qualities of their parents. Some of my pups will make it to the show ring, once in a blue moon a really special pup will become a breeding partner, but for sure, all my pups will become someone's pet. So I take health and temperment very seriously and this is a great chance to see the true character. The dog show is the fun part, the glamorous part. But I think meeting the dogs is the best part!
https://youtu.be/688H1f1svfE?feature=shared

07/18/2024

Congratulations Angie Keneda and Rev Scott for a great day at the Houston Kennel Club's show July 18, 2024. Judge Angela Pickett
chose Sunjata Skidi's Redwood Forest as her pick for Best of Winners, Breed and BOBOH and beating 13 other Specials! Also in the winners line up was Ruscelli Storyteller as Winners B. GCHS CH Desierto Raindance Here Come the Girls took OS and the Select winners were GCH Infiniti Mordecai's Let's Get it On and Skidi's Never Paint by Numbers.
Congratulations Angie and Scott Keneda, Megan Rosalie Pangborn, Tracy Moraca and Kimberly Frennier, great job on your wins and beautiful entries.
https://youtu.be/BPEWoePmeWs?feature=shared

Congratulations Angie Keneda and Rev Scott for a great day at the Houston Kennel Club's show July 18, 2024. Judge Angela Pickettchose Sunjata Skidi's Redwoo...

07/17/2024

Press Release July 12, 2024 Dainty Acres Italian Greyhounds - Congratulations to the Italian Greyhound Winners at the Alamo Area Toy Dog Club that was held this year at the Harry Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio.

Judge Dr Azalea Alvarez picked her Winners as follows:
Breed and Group 2 went to GCH Infiniti Mordecai's Let's Get it On, handled by Kimberly Frennier, and Best of Winners went to Dainty's Cashmere Stetson handled by Kevin Taylor.
OS went to Infiniti in the Name of Love, SEL went to CH Nautica Wildhart Meadowlark and CH Dusk's Every Rose has its Thorns.
BOBOH went to CH Dusk's Every Rose has its Thorns on the end of Laura Vaught.
https://youtu.be/AJBLC7p_904

Press Release July 12, 2024 Dainty Acres Italian Greyhounds - Congratulations to the Italian Greyhound Winners at the Alamo Area Toy Dog Club held this year ...

07/16/2024

Friday we went to the Harry Freeman Coliseum to show in the Bexar County Kennel Club and the Alamo Area Toy Dog Club's AKC Dog Shows. Dainty's Big Red won a Select in the Breed Group, and Dainty's Cashmere Stetson won in the Breed Group as well!





https://www.facebook.com/share/p/gffKXZ3YUwUnXN3R/?mibextid=xfxF2i

Press Release: San Antonio Texas, July 12, 2024 Dainty Acres Italian Greyhounds - A great morning to witness some great dogs in San Antonio winning at the Be...

06/27/2024

Where to stand when you win in the AKC ring!

06/26/2024

Send a message to learn more

09/18/2023

Head Straight, Fixing Problems (With Eric Salas) ...

09/05/2023

2023 NATIONAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, September 14
10:00am Obedience
12:00pm Rally
3:00pm Welcome Party
5:00pm Puppy Match

Friday, September 15
8:00am Regional
2:30pm Judges Education
7:00pm Futurity

Saturday, September 16
8:00am 4 to 6 Beginner Puppy
8:30am Puppy/Vet Sweepstakes, Dual Title & Altered
1:00pm National Bitch Classes
3:00pm IGCA Membership Meeting, Mentor Meeting
6:00pm Cocktail Hour
6:30pm Top 20 Dinner
7:30pm Top 20 Competition

Sunday, September 17
8:00am National Dog Classes
9:30am Parade of Titleholders
10:30am National Best of Breed
6:00pm Cocktail Hour
6:30pm Banquet (Ballroom)

For complete judging program for Conformation, Obedience and Rally, visit:https://www.raudogshows.com/wp-content/uploads/IG-2023-JP.pdf

09/02/2023

Dainty's Cashmere Stetson loves to play "Dog Show" even at home!

09/01/2023

Thank you Judge Linda Hurlebaus, we are so honored to be seen as a quality producer of Italian Greyhounds and as the BOB winner in the Bred-by Exhibitor class. Also a big thank you to the Toy Club of Greater Houston for such a classy venue and smooth show weekend.

08/27/2023

Saturday 8/26/23: The Dainty kids had a great morning and Bexar seems to always steals all the oxygen in a room. We even took the breath away from Judge Linda Hurlebaus who pinned us with the points towards our championship! Thank you Judge Linda Hurlebaus, we are so honored to be seen as a quality producer of Italian Greyhounds and as the BOB winner in the Bred-by Italian Greyhound class. This win takes us in the Best in Group ring to compete against all the other Bred-by exhibitors. Big group of fabulous winners, no love for us though.