Italian Greyhound

Where Are Italian Greyhounds From?

Italian Greyhounds have graced the laps of nobility for over 2,000 years, with miniature greyhound remains found in Egyptian tombs and Pompeii excavations. They reached peak aristocratic popularity during the Italian Renaissance, where they appear in paintings by Giotto, Carpaccio, and other masters — hence the name. Unlike working sighthounds, Italian Greyhounds were bred exclusively as companions from very early in their history, making them one of the oldest purpose-bred lap dogs in existence.

What Is It Like Living With a Italian Greyhound?

An Italian Greyhound’s temperament is an unlikely cocktail of regal poise and goofy mischief. They’re affectionate to the point of being velcro dogs, burrowing under blankets and pressing against you with every available inch of their tiny body. They bond deeply with their person and can be anxious or standoffish with strangers until they feel safe. Italian Greyhounds are more sensitive than almost any other breed — a raised voice or tense atmosphere sends them into emotional retreat. They’re playful in sudden, short bursts, zooming around the house at startling speed before collapsing back onto the couch.

How Much Exercise Does a Italian Greyhound Need?

Italian Greyhounds need 30–45 minutes of daily exercise, split between walks and brief sprinting sessions. They’re genuine sighthounds with a prey drive that kicks in at the sight of squirrels, rabbits, or anything small and moving — off-leash exercise requires a fully fenced area. Their thin coat and minimal body fat make them extremely cold-sensitive; below 45°F, a coat or sweater isn’t a fashion statement, it’s a health necessity. Many Italian Greyhound owners report that housetraining is the breed’s greatest challenge, with some dogs taking a year or more to become fully reliable.

How Often Do You Need to Groom a Italian Greyhound?

Grooming is minimal — the short, fine coat needs only occasional wiping with a soft cloth. They barely shed and have almost no doggy odor. Dental care is the critical maintenance task: Italian Greyhounds are notorious for poor dental health, and without regular brushing and professional cleanings, they can lose teeth by middle age. Their fine-boned legs fracture easily, especially during puppyhood and adolescence. Other health concerns include patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (degeneration of the hip joint).

Are Italian Greyhounds Healthy?

Italian Greyhounds fit perfectly with quiet households, apartment dwellers in moderate climates, seniors, and people who want an elegant companion without the exercise demands of a larger sighthound. They’re wrong for families with rough-playing toddlers (those fragile legs are genuinely at risk), cold-climate owners without indoor exercise options, or anyone impatient about housetraining. The fact that surprises most people: Italian Greyhounds can reach speeds of 25 miles per hour in short sprints. Watching a seven-pound dog hit that velocity across your living room is both impressive and slightly terrifying.

Common Mistakes New Owners Make

• 1Letting them jump off furniture or stairs. Roughly 1 in 4 Italian Greyhounds will break a leg in their lifetime, with surgery running $3,000–$5,000 — ramps and stair gates aren't optional.
• 2Skipping the sweater in cold weather. With less than 5% body fat and no undercoat, they genuinely shiver and refuse to potty below 50°F. Buy three sweaters.
• 3Believing they're easy to housetrain. IGs are notoriously difficult — expect 9–12 months of consistent crate training, and many remain unreliable in rain forever.
• 4Ignoring dental care. The breed has terrible teeth; dental cleanings every 12–18 months ($600–$1,200 per cleaning) are mandatory, and tooth extractions by age 7 are common.