Italian Greyhound
Overview
A miniature sighthound kept as a companion since antiquity and adored in Renaissance courts, the Italian Greyhound is elegant, affectionate and clean. Delicate and sensitive, it loves warmth and closeness. It suits gentle, indoor-leaning homes who'll guard its fine bones from injury, keep it cosy, and accept that house-training can take patience.
Temperament & family fit
In general, a Italian Greyhound is best with older, calm children and generally fine with other dogs. They tend to be a quiet, and as a guide they are manageable for committed beginners. As with any dog, early socialisation, reward-based training and supervision around young children make all the difference.
Exercise needs
A healthy adult Italian Greyhound typically needs around an hour of exercise a day (roughly 60–80 minutes), split across walks plus play. A good sniffy walk, some play and a little training usually keeps them content; mental stimulation matters as much as the distance covered. Puppies, seniors and dogs with health conditions need adjusted amounts — check with your vet.
Grooming & coat
Coat upkeep is wash-and-go and shedding is minimal. A quick brush now and then, plus the occasional bath when needed, is usually plenty. Whatever the coat, check ears, nails and teeth as part of a regular routine.
Feeding considerations
Like any dog, a Italian Greyhound should get most of its nutrition from a complete, balanced dog food appropriate for its size and life stage. Portions scale with body weight and activity, so a toy breed will eat relatively little compared with other breeds — follow the food’s feeding guide and your vet’s advice, and weigh portions to avoid creeping weight gain. Treats — including fruit and veg — should make up no more than about 10% of daily calories.
Pros & cons
Pros
- +Affectionate, clean and very low-shedding
- +Elegant, lap-sized and quiet at home
Things to consider
- –Delicate, fine-boned and prone to injury
- –Feels the cold and can be tricky to house-train
Is a Italian Greyhound right for you?
On space, a Italian Greyhound is flat-friendly — they can adapt to a flat as long as they get their daily exercise and company. For experience level, they are manageable for committed beginners. First-time owners can absolutely succeed, but should be ready for consistent training, exercise and (ideally) some support.
Kit that suits a Italian Greyhound
Size-appropriate everyday essentials:
Helpful tools
Similar breeds
Frequently asked questions
Are Italian Greyhounds good with children?
Best with older, calm children. As a general guide, Italian Greyhounds tend to be better suited to homes with older children or no young children. Whatever the breed, always supervise dogs and young children and teach kids to interact gently.
How much exercise does a Italian Greyhound need?
As a healthy adult, a typical Italian Greyhound needs around an hour of exercise a day (60–80 minutes), split across walks plus play. A good sniffy walk plus some play and training usually keeps them happy. Puppies, seniors and dogs with health conditions need less — ask your vet.
Do Italian Greyhounds shed a lot?
Minimal shedding. Coat upkeep is wash-and-go — a quick brush now and then is usually enough.
Are Italian Greyhounds easy to train and good for first-time owners?
Manageable for committed beginners. Italian Greyhounds are best for owners ready to commit to consistent training and plenty of activity. Reward-based training and early socialisation help any dog.
Do Italian Greyhounds bark a lot?
Quiet. They are usually fairly easy-going about barking, though any dog will bark if bored or under-exercised.
Are Italian Greyhounds good with other dogs?
Generally fine with other dogs. Early, positive socialisation with other dogs from a young age makes a big difference.
Do Italian Greyhounds suit flats or smaller homes?
Flat-friendly. A Italian Greyhound can adapt to flat living as long as it gets its daily exercise and company.