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An Italian Greyhound is a small Toy Group breed and the smallest of the sighthounds.
It’s a Greyhound in miniature, built for a fast gallop but content as a decorative couch companion. The AKC recognized the breed in 1886. This guide covers where the breed originated, its temperament, how big Italian Greyhounds get, how long they live, the health problems they are prone to, grooming, how much exercise they need, how easy they are to train, what to feed them, the pros and cons of owning one, and what else people ask.
What Is an Italian Greyhound and Where Did the Breed Originate?
An Italian Greyhound belongs to the AKC’s Toy Group. The breed shares close ancestry with the Greyhound, scaled down to a genuinely tiny sighthound. The AKC officially recognized it in 1886. Despite the toy-group classification, the Italian Greyhound retains real coursing instinct, an urge to chase that outweighs its delicate frame.
The American Kennel Club defines the breed in its “Official Standard of the Italian Greyhound”, approved December 14, 1976, which sets out the size, coat, and temperament an Italian Greyhound should have. As of September 2026, the AKC ranks the Italian Greyhound 56th of 210 breeds in popularity.
What Is an Italian Greyhound’s Temperament Like?
An Italian Greyhound’s temperament is affectionate, playful, and genuinely gentle. The breed loves nothing more than cuddling on the couch despite its sighthound speed. It can become shy or hyper if denied attention. Given its small, fragile build, many Italian Greyhounds act as though they’re the biggest sighthound rather than the smallest, chasing anything that moves.
How Big Do Italian Greyhounds Get?
Italian Greyhounds are the smallest sighthound, with a deep chest, tucked abdomen, and long, slender legs. The coat is short, glossy, and comes in many colors.
What Is the Average Italian Greyhound Height and Weight?
| Measure | American Kennel Club figure |
|---|---|
| Height | 13-15 inches |
| Weight | 7-14 pounds |
| Life expectancy | 14-15 years |
Figures are from the American Kennel Club Italian Greyhound breed profile, retrieved September 2026.
How Long Do Italian Greyhounds Live?
Italian Greyhounds live 14 to 15 years, a genuinely long lifespan for the breed’s size. Regular veterinary care supports a full life for this healthy breed.
What Health Problems Are Italian Greyhounds Prone To?
Italian Greyhounds are documented as being at higher risk for the following conditions.
- Progressive retinal atrophy. An inherited eye disease affecting the retina, eventually causing blindness; DNA testing screens for the defective gene.
- Autoimmune disorders. The breed’s immune system can mistakenly target its own tissues, with symptoms ranging from skin lesions to limping.
- Luxating patella and hip dysplasia. Joint conditions worth screening for with regular veterinary exams.
- Broken bones. Not a disease, but a genuine risk given the breed’s fine bones and tendency to jump from arms or furniture.
- Dental disease. A significant concern for this breed specifically, managed with regular brushing and chew toys.
How Do You Groom an Italian Greyhound?
Italian Greyhounds have a short coat that’s genuinely low-maintenance, needing only weekly brushing with a soft brush or rubber mitt. Given the breed’s thin coat and low body fat, sweaters for cold weather are a practical, commonly used addition.
How Much Exercise Does an Italian Greyhound Need?
An Italian Greyhound has high energy levels but, given its small size, daily exercise is genuinely manageable for most owners. The breed does well in apartments as long as it gets regular activity and mental stimulation.
Are Italian Greyhounds Easy to Train?
Italian Greyhounds are intelligent and trainable, though the breed can be more prone to barking, so apartment dwellers may benefit from positive reinforcement training specifically focused on quiet behavior.
What Should You Feed an Italian Greyhound?
An Italian Greyhound does well on a formula suited to its age and activity level. Given the breed’s dental disease risk, hard, mildly abrasive foods and dental chews genuinely help.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Owning an Italian Greyhound?
Here are the main advantages of owning an Italian Greyhound.
- Affectionate, playful, genuinely gentle temperament
- Long average lifespan for the breed’s size
- Low-maintenance short coat
- Well suited to apartment living
Here are the main drawbacks of owning an Italian Greyhound.
- Genuinely fragile, prone to fractures from falls or rough handling
- Cold-sensitive given thin coat and low body fat
- More prone to barking than some toy breeds
- Documented risk of progressive retinal atrophy and autoimmune disorders
Italian Greyhound rescue organizations place adult dogs regularly, worth a look for anyone drawn to this breed’s elegant charm but not set on a breeder search.
What Else Do People Ask About the Italian Greyhound?
The questions below cover how much an Italian Greyhound costs, whether Italian Greyhounds are good with kids, whether Italian Greyhounds are hypoallergenic, and why Italian Greyhounds break bones so easily.
How much does an Italian Greyhound cost?
Italian Greyhound puppies cost $1,400 to $2,000 from a reputable breeder. Adopting an adult dog through a rescue is usually cheaper.
Are Italian Greyhounds good with kids?
Italian Greyhounds can be good with children, but their delicate, fragile build means they’re genuinely susceptible to injury from rough handling, so supervision and gentle interaction matter more with this breed than sturdier ones.
Are Italian Greyhounds hypoallergenic?
No, Italian Greyhounds shed minimally year-round but aren’t considered hypoallergenic, since no dog breed is completely allergen-free. Weekly brushing helps keep shedding under control regardless.
Why do Italian Greyhounds break bones so easily?
Italian Greyhounds have fine bones and a slender, lightweight structure, and the breed’s tendency to jump from arms or furniture, sometimes because it doesn’t perceive itself as small, leads to a genuine, well-documented fracture risk.
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