Italian Greyhound

Breed Group: Toy

"I’ll fit right in with your big, fun-loving, laid back family!"

Hypoallergenic

Breed Profile

The Italian Greyhound is extremely slender and barely over a foot tall, but they have all the grace and sweetness of his taller Greyhound relatives. They love to be with their owner and are very active. Running and playtime are essential for this breed along with daily walks.

Behavior

Italian Greyhounds are social creatures who get along well with other dogs and cats. Their sweet, good natured demeanor also means they get along with children, provided that they know not to treat the dog as a toy. Because they dislike being alone, it’s often a good idea to adopt them in pairs so they have steady canine companionship.

Coat

The Italian Greyhound coat is made up of of fine, short hair, most often colored in slate, black, or greyish yellow, occasionally with white on the chest and feet. Very little grooming is required; you can wipe down your pup with a cloth to make their coat shine and bathe them monthly.

Lifestyle

Playful and intelligent, Italian Greyhounds are generally easy to train and prefer to spend most of their time with their favorite humans. They love attention and affection and are peaceful, gentle friends to adults and children. Because of their small size, they can make great apartment companions, as long as you can get them outside for plenty of activity each day.

Activity

This breed needs frequent opportunities to run freely in a large enclosed area. They're highly intelligent and will likely wish to have their own way  and occasionally will be naughty, so consistency is necessary.

Characteristics

Space Needs
Activity Needs
Intelligence
Playfulness
Grooming Needs
Trainability
Watchdog Ability
Affection
Barking
Cat-friendliness
Dog-friendliness
Child-friendliness