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This is an elegant and slender dog, looking like a standard Greyhound but in miniature. The coat is smooth and glossy and can come in a variety of shades. The head is narrow with a very fine muzzle and ears are softly folded and set high on the head. The spine slopes gently and there is a defined tuck-up in the loins. The gait is high stepping and free.
The Italian Greyhound dog is generally a healthy breed but can suffer from:
- Patellar luxation
- Dental problems including decay and tooth loss.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
None but there are several recommended schemes that the Kennel Club recommends which can be found here.
This is a clean, shy, gentle dog that loves to snuggle, partly out of affection and partly due to their need to keep warm! The Italian Greyhound does better with early socialisation so they will accept new people and situations more readily but they are nearly always a one-person dog. Once they have bonded to their owner, they will be inseparable and often are disinterested in other people or dogs.
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 4/5 |
| Easy to train: | 3/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 1/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 4/5 |
| Energy level: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 2/5 |
The Italian Greyhound is virtually a complete miniature of the full-sized Greyhounds – and originally was of great value as a high-status symbol in the poshest of households. Artists such as Van Eyck and Memling included these dogs in their paintings – and in Britain, they became highly fashionable in the Tudor and Stuart periods. Royalty fell under their spell and Charles 1, Queen Anne and Queen Victoria all owned Italian Greyhounds. Like many breeds however, the thing that made them popular became their downfall as the quest for smaller and smaller dogs led to serious health issues – and a dog that was far too delicate for anything but the most cossetted life. The breed was on the way to extinction before sanity prevailed and a group of breeders in the late Victorian era set about bringing the breed back to the unexpectedly hardy little dog they had previously been and that can now be seen today.
Italian Greyhound owners must be prepared to manage the mismatch between reality and the inner workings of this dog’s mind. Igs believe themselves to be full size sighthounds, capable of chasing and bringing down the largest prey. Sensible owners understand the truth; they are small and very easily breakable, require an extensive wardrobe of warm and protective clothing and will burrow into warm bedding and blankets without thought as to how they will breathe! Best in child-free, quiet homes due to their delicacy and apparent lack of self-preservation (especially as puppies).
Although a very small dog, this is still a sighthound and they do love to run. It is best to let the Italian Greyhound run in a confined space, though, as they can run off in pursuit of prey and are too small and easily injured to safely play with anything other than the gentlest of dogs. Exercise should be carefully monitored until the dog is fully grown - along with any stairs -and even then, care should be taken with their often-delicate limbs. A healthy adult should have at least an hour's daily exercise but they will also want to go everywhere with their owner.
The Italian Greyhound can easily live in a small house as long as they have the chance to run safely. They prefer their homes to be warm as they do not tolerate the cold well at all.
Toy dogs have a fast metabolism, meaning they burn energy at a high rate, although their small stomachs mean that they must eat little and often. Small-breed foods are specifically designed with appropriate levels of key nutrients and smaller kibble sizes to suit smaller mouths. This also encourages chewing and improves digestion.
The Italian Greyhound needs very little coat care, as they have such a short coat. A rub down with a cloth will enhance the sheen of the coat. These dogs do need thorough dental care, though, as they are very much prone to dental problems.
An Italian Greyhound sees training as totally beneath them (although they are quite capable of learning the basics) but they should be taught to walk on a harness and a lead, and a good recall should be taught although not necessarily relied upon. Toilet training can be slow in the breed and they very often have separation related behaviour issues.
Italian Greyhounds generally do not make great family dogs as they are too delicate and sensitive for all but the quietest of families - and they generally bond exclusively to one person.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
