Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of the sighthound breeds, with elegant origins tracing back to the Mediterranean region where small greyhound-type dogs appeared in ancient art and artefacts.
The breed gained particular prominence during the Italian Renaissance, when it became a favoured companion of nobility and royalty, immortalised in countless portraits by Old Masters.
4-8kg
Weight
Small
Size
12-14yrs
Lifespan
About the Italian Greyhound
Today, it remains a cherished lapdog for those seeking a refined and devoted companion. Standing 33–38 centimetres tall and weighing just 4–8 kilograms, the Italian Greyhound is a fine-boned, graceful dog with the characteristic deep chest and tucked abdomen typical of sighthounds. Its short, smooth coat requires minimal grooming but offers little protection against cold, making winter coats necessary in the UK. In temperament, this breed is affectionate, sensitive and intensely devoted to its owners, thriving on close human companionship and warmth. Italian Greyhounds can be reserved with strangers and benefit from patient, positive socialisation. Despite their delicate appearance, they are surprisingly robust and enjoy daily walks, though their strong chase instinct means they must always be exercised in secure areas. They make excellent companions for patient, gentle owners who can provide the warmth and security this sensitive breed craves.
Italian Greyhound at a Glance
- Group
- Toy
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 4–8 kg
- Height
- 33–38 cm
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
- Coat
- Short
- Sheds
- No
- Exercise
- Up to 1 hour per day
- Typical price
- £1300–£2400
Italian Greyhound Temperament
The Italian Greyhound is an elegant, affectionate and sensitive breed that forms an exceptionally close bond with its owners. Far more than a decorative lap dog, it is lively and playful indoors, enjoying short bursts of activity followed by long periods of curling up with its family. It is gentle, loving and loyal, thriving on human contact and becoming quite devoted to the people it lives with. The Italian Greyhound can be shy around strangers and is best introduced to new people and situations gradually. It is generally good with other dogs and respectful children. Despite its delicate appearance, it is surprisingly robust and enjoys daily walks, though it must always be exercised in a secure area due to its strong chase instinct.
Italian Greyhound Lifestyle
The Italian Greyhound suits a modest-sized house and is well suited to a home with a small to medium garden. They suit both urban and rural settings.
Dog Food for Italian Greyhound
Top-rated foods for Small breeds, ranked by FurScore. How we score →
Recommended Food for Italian Greyhound
Italian Greyhound Food Costs
Estimated based on a typical Italian Greyhound weighing around 6 kg, using the food prices shown above.
Per day
£1.58 - £1.69
Per month
£47 - £51
Per year
£577 - £615
Italian Greyhound Characteristics
The Italian Greyhound benefits from regular walks and some off-lead time and is easy to train. They are one of the most child-friendly breeds you'll find and are among the more independent breeds and cope well without constant company. The coat is manageable with a regular brushing routine and sheds steadily throughout the year. Exceptionally clever, they thrive when given jobs to do or puzzles to solve.
Italian Greyhound Pros & Cons
Pros
- Loyal and deeply affectionate, forming close bonds with their people
- Equally happy in a flat or a house with a secure garden
- Low-shedding coat that requires very little day-to-day maintenance
- A watchful nature means they will alert owners calmly, without aggression
Cons
- Prone to separation anxiety and dislikes being left on their own
- Fine-boned and fragile, they can be injured easily if handled too roughly
- A strong prey drive means off-lead time needs careful management
- Can be tricky to housetrain, requiring patience and a consistent routine
