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Pootalian |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
France <> Italy -> U.S.A. | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen | |
This breed is also known as |
Italian Greyhoundoodle |
A brief presentation of the Pootalian |
| The Pootalian is an equal cross between the Poodle and the Italian Sighthound. It is a small dog with a rough, stiff coat, button eyes and floppy ears. The lean, slender body mirrors that of the Greyhound, while the coat is closer to a well-balanced combination of the two parent breeds. The Pootalian is the perfect dog for singles or older people, mainly because the Pootalian, while loving and affectionate towards its owner, doesn't tolerate children or other dogs very well and requires an older family. Despite the fact that this feisty breed has some negative traits, the good far outweighs the bad. Taking the eager-to-please attitude and loving nature of the Poodle and combining it with the intelligence and independence of the Italian Sighthound, the Pootalian is a breed that is quite capable of taking care of itself but will follow you anywhere, regardless of this fact. |
History of the Pootalian |
| The Pootalian is a relatively new breed, a combination of Poodle and Italian Sighthound, originating in the USA. Apart from that, we don't have much more information on why the breed was created and how it may be used most often today. For this reason, we need to look at each individual parent breed to get an idea of why the Pootalian makes an excellent dog through this combination. What makes it so special ? Why did people think of combining these two parent breeds ? These two questions can be answered by looking at the origins of the parent breeds. |
A little of the Poodle |
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| The Poodle is a breed thought to have originated in Germany as a water retriever. Their classic show cut was first used to keep their knuckles and torso warm during the winter months, while eliminating the hassle of longer coats that could get matted and tangled often outdoors. With three different size variants: standard, toy and miniature, the Poodle has managed to cover a wide range of talents, from hunting to circus performance. These curly-haired dogs quickly became popular in places like England and Spain because of these original traits, but the place where Poodles were most beloved was France. King Louis XVI simply couldn't get enough of Poodles, and eventually the breed became known as France's national dog. Thanks to this adoration in France, Poodles became the companion dogs we know and love today, remaining one of the world's top-ranked dogs in terms of overall popularity. | ||
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| Standard of the Poodle |
A little of the Italian Sighthound |
| The Italian Sighthound is an elegant, energetic little breed that originated around 2,000 years ago in Greece and Turkey. Always alert and ready to snuggle in someone's lap, the Italian Sighthound has made a name for itself as a loyal companion dog. In the 18th century, the Little Sighthound became particularly popular in Italy, which is why it is so affectionately known as the Italian Sighthound. There, the breed was commonly used as an affectionate pet and the subject of many famous works of art, not to mention easily finding its way into the hearts of many royal families through the generations. Today, the Italian Sighthound is prized for its elegance and gentlemanly or ladylike manners. The adorable face and perky ears make them hard to resist, and they remain loyal companions to this day. |
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| Standard of the Italian Sighthound |
Appearance of the Pootalian |
| The Pootalian is a small dog that rarely reaches more than 38 centimeters in height and weighs no more than 4.5 kilos when fully grown. Its coat mimics that of the Poodle, being longer, with a stiff, rough texture, while its body type resembles the Italian Sighthound. Thin and light, this little dog is an excellent companion to have in apartments or small homes as it doesn't take up much space. Their large round eyes and folded ears add that touch of adorable joviality that Italian Greyhounds always seem to have, meaning it's almost impossible not to smile when you see the Pootalian's eccentric appearance. This breed can be found in colors such as black, white, gray, brindle and brown. |
Temperament of the Pootalian |
| Pootalians are mainly known for being alert, intelligent, affectionate and somewhat aggressive dogs. They have a very protective nature towards their owners and don't get on well with young children or other animals. Sometimes, if raised young enough, children or other dogs of the same breed may not be a problem, but it's important to socialize young Pootalians, as getting along with others doesn't come naturally. Apart from this minor setback, the Pootalian is a great dog for older generations or singles looking for a cuddly, loyal companion. It doesn't bark often, does well in small homes and is very easy to train thanks to its eager-to-please mentality. |
Needs and activities of the Pootalian |
| Because Poodles are such an active breed, you can expect the Pootalian to be quite active himself. Fortunately, the Italian Greyhound team balances this high energy and brings the Pootalian down to a more moderate energy level. For this reason, it's important to provide your dog with enough physical activity to tire him out, but it doesn't take too long to tire him out. Once he's satisfied and finished playing, your Pootalian will be ready to curl up on your lap and take a nice long nap. Some activities you can do with your Pootalian might be a long walk, playing fetch in the yard or a short training session. |
Maintenance of the Pootalian |
| The Pootalian is a very easy dog to look after. Thanks to the fact that the Poodle is hypoallergenic and sheds very rarely, the Pootalian also tends to shed very little. Its longer coat needs brushing a few times a week just to make sure no tangles appear, but apart from that, very little needs to be done to keep this hybrid breed looking fabulous. Bathing should only take place every few weeks or so, as neither Italian Greyhounds nor Poodles have a bad dog smell. One thing to bear in mind, however, is that it's very important to dry your dog's ears thoroughly after bathing. Because this breed has folded over the ears, moisture can be trapped very easily inside the ear canal, which can then lead to infection and irritation. However, with frequent cleaning, this can be avoided. Finally, be sure to trim your dog's nails every few weeks to keep paws healthy. |
English (United Kingdom)