Let me guess—you’ve spent the last week Googling “Italian Greyhound puppies for sale near me” and falling into a spiral of adorable tiny deer-dogs in sweaters. Same.
And then it hits you: These things are either weirdly cheap or outrageously overpriced. Everyone's got different shipping policies, PayPal demands, and vaguely blurry photos. What’s real? What’s a scam? And how do you tell before you lose $2,500 and your sanity?
As someone who nearly wired money to a woman named “Barbara” who vanished into the digital void, here’s the real, no-BS guide to finding a legit Italian Greyhound puppy online—because the sketchiness is real, and those red flags? They’re flapping like crazy.
1. If the Puppy Is “Too Perfect,” It Probably Doesn’t Exist
That dreamy, wrinkle-free, pale blue Iggy sitting next to a pumpkin in an autumnal meadow? Yeah. It’s probably a stock photo or stolen from a real breeder’s Instagram.
Scammers know what you're looking for—clean backgrounds, emotionally manipulative captions, adorable poses—and they use it all against you. Reverse image search is your new best friend.
🔍 Tip: Drag the puppy photo into Google Image Search. If it shows up on Pinterest, Reddit, or six other breeder sites? Abort mission.
2. “Shipping Available to All States” Is a Bigger Red Flag Than You Think
Reputable breeders don’t ship tiny sighthounds in cargo across the country like Amazon packages.
Italian Greyhounds are delicate. Their bones are like pretzel sticks. A real breeder will either require you to pick up in person or work with a trusted ground courier—not toss the puppy in a box with a free crate and call it a day.
🚩 Red Flag: Any site that mentions "same-day delivery," "shipping with insurance," or uses too many emojis is not run by someone who cares about puppy welfare.
3. No Video Call, No Puppy
One of the biggest tells of a scam breeder? They ghost when you ask for a live video.
A real breeder will happily FaceTime you with the puppy, show you the litter, and introduce you to Mama Dog. A scammer? Suddenly their “camera’s broken.” Or they “only do pictures.”
🎥 Rule: No FaceTime = No deal. Don’t let your puppy dreams override your instincts.
4. Beware the All-Caps Contracts and “We Just Want a Loving Home” Guilt Trips
Scammers are smooth. They’ll hit you with tearjerkers like:
“We are missionaries who just want these angels to go to a loving home 🥺.”
Or:
“We’re rehoming due to illness, not about the money 💔.”
Listen: Reputable breeders are not writing you novellas full of emotional landmines and God references. They’re transparent, legally tight, and offer health guarantees. They have contracts, not diary entries.
5. Real Breeders Ask You Questions Back
If you’re the only one doing the talking (and paying), that’s not a breeder—it’s a dealer. Or worse, a scammer.
Ethical breeders will grill you harder than your grandma during holiday dinner. They want to know if you’ve had dogs before, how long you’re out of the house, and if your balcony has bars.
💬 Green Flag: “Can you tell me about your lifestyle?” means they care where their puppy ends up. That’s a good sign.
6. The Price Is Not the Point—The Transparency Is
You can find healthy, well-bred Iggies for under $2,000. And yes, some are $4,500 with a waitlist longer than your last relationship. The real question isn’t price—it's proof.
Do they offer vet records? Pedigree papers? Testimonials? Can they show you where the puppies are raised? Is there a real human with a real name and a real phone number?
If all you have is a Facebook page, blurry puppy photos, and a CashApp handle named @SweetIggyBabiez92… run.
🐾 Final Thought: You’re Not Just Buying a Puppy—You’re Starting a 15-Year Relationship
This isn’t a sneaker drop or a rare plant. It’s a live animal with fragile bones, anxiety issues, and a weird habit of sitting on your neck while you sleep.
Don’t rush it. Take your time. Stalk the breeder online. Get references. Wait six months if you have to. It’s not just about “getting a puppy fast.” It’s about getting the right one—safely, ethically, and without losing your money (or your mind).
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