Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is an alert, playful, and highly affectionate companion that bonds closely with its people, often called a 'Velcro dog.' Beneath the elegant, slim frame, it carries the flash-and-dash spirit of a coursing hound with an instinct for pursuit.
13–15 inches tall, 7–14 pounds
13–15 years
Wants to be with its person most of the day; cannot tolerate being left alone for long periods. A part-time schedule or a dog walker is recommended.
Flexible; any home works with enough exercise
Smooth, minimal shedding; groom with a hound's glove or soft brush
Active; moderate exercise needs, daily walks or play
Temperament
The Italian Greyhound is an alert, playful, and highly affectionate companion. At heart, these dogs are flash-and-dash coursing hounds with an instinct for pursuit, even though they often settle into the role of a decorative couch dog. They are usually submissive to other animals and very willing to please their humans. They love climbing to the tops of furniture to watch their surroundings or lying on window benches to catch the sun. They do well in obedience and agility when the sighthound's need for speed is taken into consideration, and they respond best to positive training with lots of praise. They are affectionate and calm, eager to please, and fine with older, gentle, and respectful children. They tend to be reserved with strangers. One important consideration for a working household: Italian Greyhounds cannot tolerate being left alone for long periods and want to be where you are. A part-time schedule or willingness to hire a dog walker is recommended. They should be socialized early and often.
“A true Greyhound in miniature, the elegant Italian Greyhound is an alert, playful, and highly affectionate toy companion.”
American Kennel Club
Daily needs and attention
The Italian Greyhound is an alert, playful, and highly affectionate companion that thrives on close proximity to its people. They are most willing lapdogs and want to be where you are, making them a poor fit for long stretches of solitude. A working household should plan for part-time presence or arrange for a dog walker.
Daily exercise is moderate but consistent: a walk or play session every day satisfies the sighthound's instinct for pursuit and need for speed. They do well in obedience and agility when training accounts for that drive. Use positive methods with lots of praise, and keep sessions more engaging than the surroundings.
Grooming is straightforward. A weekly brush with a hound's glove or soft brush keeps the smooth coat in order, plus a nail trim. That is the full routine.
Because they cannot tolerate cold weather and dislike getting wet, a coat or sweater is practical for outdoor time. Care should be taken that tails and legs are clear of doors before shutting them.
“They do well in obedience and agility, when the sighthound's need for speed is taken into consideration.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Health and lifespan
An Italian Greyhound typically lives 13 to 15 years, with the AKC listing the range as 14 to 15 years. The breed is small and light, standing 13 to 15 inches tall and weighing roughly 7 to 14 pounds. Because of their slim build and smooth coat, they are sensitive to cold weather and do not enjoy getting wet; a doggy coat or sweater is a practical addition for walks in cooler months. Care should be taken to keep tails and legs clear of doors before shutting them, as their delicate frame makes them vulnerable to injury. Genetically, the breed can be predisposed to patellar luxation, eye problems, some autoimmune diseases, and seizures. Prospective adopters are encouraged to look for dogs whose parents carry OFA and CERF certifications. Routine care is straightforward: a weekly brush with a soft hound's glove, regular nail trims, and very little shedding to manage.
“Like most breeds, Italian Greyhounds are predisposed to certain conditions through genetics, including patellar luxation, eye problems, some autoimmune diseases and seizures.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Habits and behavior
The Italian Greyhound is an alert, playful, and highly affectionate companion. At heart, they are flash-and-dash coursing hounds with an instinct for pursuit, and they do well in obedience and agility when their need for speed is taken into account. They are usually submissive to other animals and very willing to please their humans. They love climbing to the tops of furniture to watch their surroundings or lying on window benches to catch the sun. They are most willing lapdogs and want to be where you are; they cannot tolerate being left alone for long periods. They are reserved with strangers and fine with older, gentle, and respectful kids. They respond well to positive training with lots of praise, and techniques work best when they are more enticing than the surroundings. They are eager to please and respond well to a consistent, gentle approach. They cannot tolerate cold weather and hate getting wet, so a coat or sweater is practical outdoors. They are notoriously difficult to housetrain.
“A true Greyhound in miniature, the elegant Italian Greyhound is an alert, playful, and highly affectionate toy companion.”
AKC
Housing: apartment, house, yard and crate
The Italian Greyhound is a small, slim companion (13 to 15 inches, 7 to 14 pounds) that suits an apartment or a house equally well. The VCA guide states, "Home: Anything goes with enough exercise." They are described as "most willing lapdogs" who love "climbing to the tops of furniture to watch their surroundings or lying on window benches to catch the sun." A yard is not necessary, though the AKC notes they are "flash-and-dash coursing hounds with an instinct for pursuit," so outdoor time benefits from close attention.
For a working household, the main housing consideration is time away from their person. The source notes they "cannot tolerate being left alone for long periods" and "wants to be where you are." Arranging a midday walk or a neighbor visit would address this.
A crate can support the housetraining process, which the source describes as "Notoriously difficult." Keep the crate indoors; the breed "cannot tolerate cold weather." Before closing any door near the dog, make sure tails and legs are clear of the frame.
“They love climbing to the tops of furniture to watch their surroundings or lying on window benches to catch the sun.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Challenges
An Italian Greyhound is a highly affectionate companion. They cannot tolerate being left alone for long periods and want to be where you are. If your workday is long, plan for a dog walker or a midday break. They are reserved with strangers.
Housetraining is notoriously difficult for this breed. They are too delicate for small children; older, gentle kids are the better fit.
Their instinct for pursuit means cats and other fleet-moving creatures are too great a temptation. They cannot tolerate cold weather and hate getting wet, so a coat or sweater is practical in cooler months. Be mindful of thin tails and legs near closing doors.
Genetically, the breed is predisposed to patellar luxation, eye problems, some autoimmune diseases, and seizures. Ask about OFA and CERF certification for the parents.
“Notoriously difficult to housetrain, too delicate for small children.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
The fun part
The fun part of an Italian Greyhound is the personality packed into a 7-to-14-pound frame. These dogs are alert, playful, and highly affectionate, with a distinctive high-stepping gait and light-footed energy. They love climbing to the tops of furniture to watch their surroundings or lying on window benches to catch the sun. At heart they are flash-and-dash coursing hounds with an instinct for pursuit, so a quick sprint across the yard satisfies that sighthound drive. They do well in obedience and agility when you account for their need for speed, and positive training with lots of praise keeps them engaged. Grooming is straightforward: smooth the coat with a hound's glove or soft brush, trim the nails, and you are done. For a working household, the breed fits a part-time schedule, though they prefer to be where you are and may benefit from a dog walker. They are eager to please, gentle with older children, and do not require prior dog experience.
“They love climbing to the tops of furniture to watch their surroundings or lying on window benches to catch the sun.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Living with kids, cats and other dogs
An Italian Greyhound is usually submissive to other animals and very willing to please its humans, making it a natural fit for a household that already has a calm dog. Early and frequent socialization helps the dog settle into a multi-pet home with confidence.
With cats, the picture is more complicated. The breed retains a sighthound's instinct for pursuit, and cats and other fleet-moving creatures are too great a temptation. A household with a cat should expect the Italian Greyhound to fixate and chase, and should plan for separation or supervised introductions rather than assuming coexistence.
With children, the breed is fine with older kids who are gentle and respectful. The dog is too delicate for small children, and care should be taken that tails and legs are away from doors before shutting. The Italian Greyhound is a lapdog at heart and wants to be where you are, so a home where a child can share a couch or a window bench suits the breed well.
“Cats and other fleet-moving creatures are too great a temptation.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
What to ask the rescue
Ask the rescue about the dog's socialization history, particularly around other animals, since Italian Greyhounds are typically reserved with strangers and may be drawn to fleet-moving creatures. Confirm whether the dog is housetrained, as this breed is notoriously difficult to housetrain. Inquire about any known health history, including patellar luxation, eye conditions, or seizure activity, and whether the parents carried OFA or CERF certifications. Ask about the dog's comfort in cold or wet conditions, since the breed cannot tolerate either well. Confirm how much daily exercise the dog currently receives and whether it has experience with obedience or agility work. Finally, clarify the dog's tolerance for unsupervised time, as Italian Greyhounds do not handle long periods of solitude and are most at ease as close companions.
“A true Greyhound in miniature, the elegant Italian Greyhound is an alert, playful, and highly affectionate toy companion.”
AKC