In a book on dogs, edited by Henry Webb, and published in 1874, the following is given as being related by the lady who acted so bravely on the occasion in question, and shows that these little dogs possess more intelligence than they are credited with: -

"A lady whom we met some time since related the following instance of the devotion and gratitude for kindness shown by one of this variety. Some years before she was walking by the canal side in Venice, when a bright, lively little Greyhound, apparently a young dog, ran by accident against a man, who gave it a brutal kick, and the poor little animal, partly stunned, rolled into the water.

Passionately fond of dogs, she was naturally enraged and grieved at seeing it treated so cruelly, and without hesitation rushed to the water's edge, endeavouring to reach it, but the eddies of the stream were taking it farther and farther from the side. She jumped into the water, which she was told afterwards was twelve feet deep. She was unable to swim, but having thrown herself towards the dog, she managed with her right hand to catch him by the back. They both went under water together, and spectators seeing her danger, a boat went off to the rescue. When doggie and his gallant preserver were picked up, the latter was quite insensible.

On consciousness being restored, she discovered that the bystanders, imagining the dog was hers, had brought him to the house whither she had been taken. When she was sufficiently recovered, and was preparing to take her departure, the poor little waif gave her a piteous look of misery, and seemed to say, ' Do take me with you,' so she picked it up in her arms, and took it home. Fido was her constant companion in many a journey by sea and land, and was always most affectionate.

Some years elapsed, and Fido and his mistress were in Lisbon. The hour was midnight, and after a long and tedious voyage, occupying nearly twenty-four hours, they were both sound asleep, Fido lying, as usual, by his mistress's bedside. She was suddenly roused by finding him on the bed, scratching the sheets, and crying piteously. She said, 'Be quiet, Fido - be quiet, sir'; but it was of no avail - he made more noise than before. Now thoroughly awakened, his mistress sat up in bed, and heard, to her horror, loud cries of 'Fire!' Her room was filling with smoke, and she sprang from her bed to open the door. At this instant her window was dashed in, and a man seized her by the waist, but she rushed backwards, snatched up Fido, and then both were safely conveyed to the ground by the fire-escape. She little imagined, when she rescued the dog from a watery grave, that he would be, in after-years, her preserver from that most fearful and devouring element, Fire."

The weight of the Italian Greyhound for show purposes should not exceed 10 lb., although at the shows now they sometimes provide classes for those 12 lb. and over, and for under 12 lb.; but the best specimens I have ever seen have been well under iolb., and those 2lb. or 31b. less are preferred.

The greatest defects met with in this breed are button or prick ears, short neck without arch, Terrier front action (straight leg), straggling hind action, dirty, smutty colouring, apple-head, too short a muzzle, legs not straight in front, and weak pasterns or hocks.

Below will be found the points of the Italian Greyhound, as adopted by the Italian Greyhound Club: -

Skull

Long, flat, and narrow.

Muzzle

Very fine ; nose dark in colour.

Ears

Rose-shaped, placed well back, soft and delicate, and should touch, or nearly so, behind the head.

Eyes

Rather large, bright, and full of expression.

Neck

Long, and gracefully arched.

Shoulders

Long and sloping.

Chest And Brisket

Deep and narrow.

Back

Curved, and drooping at the hindquarters.

Loin

Well arched and cut up.

Fore Legs

Straight, well set under the shoulder; fine pasterns, small delicate bones.

Hind Legs

Hocks well let down ; thighs muscular.

Feet

The long "hare's " foot with arch toes, well split up.

Tail

Rather long, fine, with low carriage.

Coal

Skin fine and supple ; hair thin, and glossy like satin.

Colour

Preferably self-coloured. The colour most prized is golden fawn, but all shades of fawn, red, mouse, blue, cream, and white are recognised, and blacks, brindles, and pied are considered less.desirable.

Action

High stepping and free.

Weight

Two classes of 81b. and under, one over 81b.

Genera/ Appearance

A miniature English Greyhound, more slender in all proportions, and of ideal elegance and grace in shape, symmetry, and action.