Italian Greyhound Italian Greyhound

Miniature sighthound. Elegant, fragile, surprisingly fast.

Photo: Jacob Sierra / Pexels

GroupToy
OriginItaly / Mediterranean
Weight3.5โ€“5 kg
Height33โ€“38 cm
Lifespan14โ€“16 years
Energy level
Trainability
Grooming needs
Good with kids
Good with other pets
Hypoallergenic
Watchdog instinct
Novice-owner OK

The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of the sighthounds, kept by Mediterranean nobility for over 2,000 years. Despite the toy size, "IGs" are true sighthounds โ€” fast, athletic, and prone to chasing small things.

Temperament

Affectionate, sensitive, gentle. Bonded with one or two people.

Exercise needs

45 minutes of daily exercise plus a short sprint.

Grooming

Smooth coat, weekly brush, near-zero shedding.

Common health issues

Patellar luxation. Periodontal disease. Leg fractures (fragile bones โ€” protect from jumping). Epilepsy.

๐Ÿ‘ Best for

Apartment dwellers, retirees, allergy-sensitive owners.

๐Ÿ‘Ž Not best for

Households with toddlers โ€” IGs are very fragile.

Buying guides for Italian Greyhound owners

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Buying guides for Italian Greyhound owners

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