Dog breed · Toy / Sighthound
Italian Greyhound
A miniature sighthound bred purely as a companion for centuries, combining a racy, athletic build with a gentle, clingy nature. They are fast and playful in short bursts, but fragile and cold-sensitive.
Small13–15 yearsItalyCan suit apartments
Breed characteristics
- Group
- Toy / Sighthound
- Origin
- Italy
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 3.5–5.5 kg (8–12 lb)
- Height
- 32–38 cm
- Lifespan
- 13–15 years
- Coat
- Very short, fine, single coat
- Temperament
- AffectionateSensitiveAlertElegant
History
Depicted in Mediterranean art for over 2,000 years and refined as an aristocratic lapdog in Italy during the Renaissance.
Appearance
A finely built miniature greyhound shape with a deep chest, arched back and thin, fine-boned legs.
Exercise and activity
20–30 minutes daily including some off-lead sprinting in a secure area, balanced by long periods of napping under blankets.
Care and grooming
Coats need almost no grooming, but a jumper or coat is genuinely necessary in cold weather, and dental care matters since toy sighthounds are prone to dental disease.
Health considerations
- Leg fractures (fine bones are easily broken by jumps or falls)
- Patellar luxation
- Dental disease
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease