All breeds › Italian Greyhound
Italian Greyhound
A miniature sighthound, slim and graceful, long kept as a companion in Italy.
♥ Swipe on the Italian GreyhoundQuick facts
- Origin
- Italy
- Size
- Small
- Energy
- Medium
- Bred for
- Companionship and hare coursing
- Lifespan
- 13–15 years
- Temperament
- Sensitive, affectionate, playful
- Exercise
- 45 min/day
- Grooming
- Low
- Shedding
- Low
- Training
- Moderate
- With children
- Supervise
- Apartment
- Yes
Where the Italian Greyhound comes from
Italian Greyhounds are miniature sighthounds, depicted in artwork from ancient Greece and Rome. They were favourites in Renaissance courts.
Personality and daily life
Sensitive, affectionate and playful. They love warmth and laps and can be nervous. Many are fast and chase small animals.
Italian Greyhounds are elegant and clingy, and feel the cold. They are delicate, so handle with care.
Exercise, grooming and health
Short bursts of running and gentle walks. They feel the cold and need coats. Their thin legs can break easily, and dental problems are common.
Is a Italian Greyhound right for you?
Gentle homes and apartments. Not ideal for rough-and-tumble children.
- Copes well with apartment living
- Best with older children, always supervised
- Sheds little
- Easy to groom
Similar breeds
Profiles are general guides. Individual dogs vary, so always meet the dog and talk to a breeder, shelter or vet.