The Italian Greyhound resembles their larger Greyhound cousins. They were bred to hunt by sight (sighthound) and will see animals in the distance and be gone in a shot. They can run as fast as 25 mph.
They are agile, sweet and elegant dogs. If you are looking for an enthusiastic, alert, highly intelligent and very affectionate companion dog or even a jogging partner, you may have found your perfect breed.
They could well make a great flat/apartment dog. They will enjoy a good daily and are playful dogs, so as long as they get plenty of playtimes, they should adapt well to apartment living. A bored dog will usually become mischievous, whether it be nuisance barking, chewing or digging. Try to ensure they are occupied with jobs, playtime or plenty of exercise to keep them out of trouble.
They are known for having mad moments, zoomies and jumping fearlessly around the house. They love their families and are good with kids. However, they will not enjoy being pulled around or the loudness of young children, so probably a breed best avoided if you have youngsters. Older kids, though, will enjoy running around the back garden with them.
They love to be with the family and you. They will never leave your side, even to go to the bathroom. They do not cope well with being left alone and are prone to suffering from separation anxiety. They are not dogs for people who work full time.
They love to keep watch and will do their best to sit on the back of the sofa so they can see out of the window. They have the bark of a bigger dog and will alert you to people at the door and anything going on outside. They can be a little wary of strangers and slightly timid. With good socialisation, you should be able to curve this. They will be friendly with them once accepted into the house.
They should be fine with other dogs and cats if brought up with them. They will need protection from more boisterous and dominant dogs. They are hunters, so the instinctive need to chase neighbour’s cats and small animals is probably too strong to control. Ensure your outside area is well enclosed, and they can’t escape when giving chase.
They are pretty intelligent dogs but a little stubborn. You will need to discover their motivation reward early on for the best results, but they should be reasonably easy to train and work with. Try to keep training both exciting and fun for the best results and avoid being harsh with them. Identifying their motivation reward early will get you the best results, and it’s normally food. They are tough to house-train, often refusing to go outside when it’s raining or cold.
They have short, smooth hair and shed very little, slightly more in spring and autumn. They have low-maintenance coats.
Italian Greyhound Stats
The Italian Greyhound is an actual miniature of the Greyhound. It goes back to the times of the Egyptian Pharaohs, as drawings of small greyhounds, very similar to the Italian Greyhound, were to be found painted on the walls of their tombs. They were most likely taken by the Romans from Egypt to the Mediterranean and became very popular in the European courts for many centuries.
- Weight -2kg – 4kg
- Size – 33cm – 38cm
- They live for 12-14 years