--- title: "Italian Greyhound" id: "191650" type: "breeds" slug: "italian-greyhound" published_at: "2024-07-29T14:34:27+00:00" modified_at: "2026-09-29T16:22:42+00:00" url: "https://www.petlandrobinson.com/breed/italian-greyhound/" markdown_url: "https://www.petlandrobinson.com/breed/italian-greyhound.md" excerpt: "The Italian Greyhound is a charming and elegant breed, renowned for its grace and affectionate nature. With roots tracing back to ancient civilizations, this small dog has captured hearts for centuries, serving as a beloved companion to royalty and commoners..." taxonomy_breed_group: - "Toy Group" taxonomy_breed_size: - "Small" --- [Back to Breeds](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/breed/) Small breed # Italian Greyhound Puppies Many have likened the Italian greyhound to the African Jackal, it is not impossible that the species originated from Africa as a direct descendant of the Jackal. During the course of history, the smallest of the Sighthound family was used as a hunting dog, not necessarily because it has a great sense of smell but because it’s species sense of sight serves as a hunting guide. Discover more about our **Italian Greyhound**puppies for sale below! - Lap dog - Active breed - Quiet - Low maintenance [See 1 available puppy](#pb-puppies) [Ask about this breed](#pb-ask) - Adult weight 7–18 lbs - Height 13–15 in - Lifespan 12–15 years - Exercise 30 min a day ![Italian-Greyhound](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/italian-greyhound-600x600.jpg) 1 available now Share[https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.petlandrobinson.com%2Fbreed%2Fitalian-greyhound%2F](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.petlandrobinson.com%2Fbreed%2Fitalian-greyhound%2F) [https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.petlandrobinson.com%2Fbreed%2Fitalian-greyhound%2F&description=Italian%20Greyhound%20puppies](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.petlandrobinson.com%2Fbreed%2Fitalian-greyhound%2F&description=Italian%20Greyhound%20puppies) ## Available Italian Greyhound Puppies [Female](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/puppies-for-sale/italian-greyhound/italian-greyhound-14030/) ## About the Italian Greyhound [Stay Connected via Google Follow Us For The Latest Pet Updates and Guides.](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=petlandrobinson.com) The Italian Greyhound is a charming and elegant breed, renowned for its grace and affectionate nature. With roots tracing back to ancient civilizations, this small dog has captured hearts for centuries, serving as a beloved companion to royalty and commoners alike. Their playful spirit and gentle demeanor make them a wonderful fit for families, especially those with young children. Although they may occasionally be independent thinkers, their intelligence and eagerness to please make them fairly easy to train. Read more about the Italian Greyhound Show less With a moderate energy level, Italian Greyhounds enjoy a variety of activities but are often content with a few spirited play sessions and leisurely walks. Their compact size and adaptable nature make them excellent apartment dwellers, as they thrive in smaller living spaces without requiring extensive outdoor areas to romp around. While their affectionate temperament means they enjoy being close to their human companions, they often exhibit a healthy curiosity toward other pets, getting along well with both dogs and cats on average. This breed does have a low to moderate shedding level, making them relatively easy to groom. A simple monthly grooming routine is typically sufficient to keep their sleek coats looking sharp. Regardless of the occasional bark to alert their family, Italian Greyhounds are not overly vocal, allowing for a peaceful home environment. In essence, if you are looking for a loving, adaptable companion that thrives on affection and will keep you entertained with its playful antics, an Italian Greyhound may be the perfect addition to your family. [Stay Connected via Google Follow Us For The Latest Pet Updates and Guides.](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=petlandrobinson.com) ## Italian Greyhound breed profile Every score below is set by our team for this breed. Higher is simply more of that trait, not better or worse. ### Temperament - Affection Devoted - Playfulness Very playful - With strangers Friendly - Territorial Relaxed - Prey drive Moderate ### Family & other pets - Young children With supervision - Older children Good - Other dogs Sociable - Cats With introductions ### Energy & exercise - Energy High - Mental stimulation Moderate ### Training - Trainability Quick to learn - Intelligence Very bright - Stubbornness Biddable ### Care & upkeep - Shedding Light - Drooling None to speak of - Barking Moderate ### Home life - Apartment living Well suited - Time alone Short periods - Cold weather Needs a coat - Warm weather Comfortable ### A good match for - First-time owners Good first dog - Senior owners Good - Running partner Moderate - Hiking Moderate - Therapy work Possible - Guarding Not a guard dog ## Living with a Italian Greyhound ### BREED HISTORY As an ancient breed, it is not surprising that references of the greyhound has been found in Greek mythology. In the story of the goddess Artemis and Aktaeon, hunting dogs had mistaken Actaeon for prey and killed him. Although a sad ending, this reference is one of the proofs that this breed has been in existence since ancient times. However, during the Middle Ages, the Italians started breeding the smaller sized greyhound which resulted in its widespread popularity across southern Europe. By the 16th century the breed received the name “Italian Greyhound” and by the 17th century became a popular companion among the royal families of Rome, Prussia, England, Denmark, and Russia. By the 19th century, there were attempts to make the small greyhound even smaller, however, the cross-breeding with other toy species led to complications. A club was then founded in 1900 to revive the Italian Greyhound to its original form but the World War (I and II) almost wiped the breed’s existence across Europe somehow before the wars it had found its way to America during the late 1800s, registered under the Toy breed Category of the American Kennel Club in 1886, the population of the Italian Greyhound was revived after World War II. As at 2011 was ranked at 65 out of 173 breeds and was formally registered in 1951, clearly no longer used to hunt, the Italian greyhound is a companion dog whose popularity in other countries like Germany and Sweden only goes to show that extinction for this breed wouldn’t be coming anytime soon. ### TEMPERAMENT The Italian Greyhound has a loving personality. With family members, it can be very affectionate and gentle however it is mostly shy and reserved with strangers. Don’t be surprised by the “big dog bark”, this only makes the Italian Greyhound a good alert dog. Life with the Italian Greyhound is very relaxed if they are older and filled with great energy and liveliness when they are younger. ### ENVIRONMENT There’s no question about the Italian Greyhound being an indoor dog, the Italian Greyhound is an intelligent breed and typically have to be house-trained although they usually don’t do well during training thanks to their short attention span. It is however advised to keep a training shirt and interesting. Also, their athletic agility would require you to have a dog door as they can never be fully trusted around the house. ### EXERCISE Their energy level is high, they believe they can fly and tend to jump around a lot. Therefore, they might require long walks to tone it down. And if long walks aren’t feasible on a daily then 20 – 40 minutes exercise would do. ### GROOMING Grooming the Italian greyhound is very easy because of its smooth and short coat. However, the greyhound requires a regular wipe down with a damp cloth. Bathing once a month is also needed to keep its skin healthy. You should also clean its inner ear, trim its nails to avoid ingrowth and give it a reaction by trimming the pad of the foot. Anal glands should also be checked by a Veterinarian. Our **Italian Greyhound**puppies for sale come from either USDA licensed commercial breeders or hobby breeders with no more than 5 breeding mothers. USDA licensed commercial breeders account for less than 20% of all breeders in the country. The unregulated breeders who are selling outside of the USDA regulations and without a license are what we consider to be “Puppy Mills.” We are committed to offering **Italian Greyhound**puppies who will grow up to become important members of your family. We only purchase puppies from the very best sources, and we stand behind every puppy we sell. ## Caring for a Italian Greyhound GroomingMonthly brushing Grooming costLow Monthly foodLow Outdoor spaceManages without a yard Allergy friendlyNot considered hypoallergenic ## Frequently Asked Questions ### 1. How can you show your Italian Greyhound love? The best way to show your care is to give your dog your utmost attention. The **Italian Greyhound**loves companionship and can be very affectionate. You also need to ensure that you keep him/her healthy. One way is to provide warmth during one cold. ### 2. Do Italian Greyhounds thrive in small spaces? As much as these dogs are athletic and zesty, they are also compact. The most important thing is to ensure that the dog gets its daily exercise and that it has enough stretching room for sleep. The dog mostly doesn’t shed as much which is great for a small house or apartment. ### 3. What can you do to lengthen the Italian Greyhound life? Prolonging the life of your Italian greyhound means taking care of their health and one important part is spaying or neutering them. Veterinarians recommend that you do this when they are 6 months old. ### 4. How many meals do Italian Greyhounds require per day? The young pups, that is from 3-6 months are to be fed 3 meals within a 24-hour period. However, once the dog is 1 year old all that is required is 1 meal a day. ### 5. Are Italian Greyhounds a good fit for families? Italian Greyhounds are affectionate, intelligent and lively. They make the best partners because of their gentle and loving personalities. ### 6. What disease are Italian Greyhounds prone to? Italian Greyhounds are most prone to dental diseases and so to promote their dental health, tooth brushing and chew toys are of the essence. ### 7. How long is the Italian Greyhound expected to live? The lifespan of the Italian Greyhound is between 12-15 years. However, there have been records that support 18 years. ### 8. How wide can the Italian Greyhound get? The greyhound typically weighs from 7-12 pounds. There are larger ones of about 18 pounds. ### 9. How big can an Italian Greyhound get? The Italian greyhound can grow from anywhere between 13-15 inches ### 10. Does living outdoor affect Italian Greyhound? As an inside dog, it is hard for the greyhound to live outside. It typically enjoys playing outdoors on warm days but thanks to its thin coat of requires warmth. It also cannot be left alone because it cannot take care of itself. Although greyhounds had a history of being hunting dogs, the Italian greyhounds were bred to be companions and so if you want an affectionate and loving dog who does not like to be lonely then you should go for the Italian greyhound. ## Similar Breeds ![cavalier-king-charles-spaniel](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel-300x300.jpg) ### [Cavalier King Charles Spaniel](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/breed/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel/) 1 available ![Chihuahua](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/chihuahua-300x300.jpg) ### [Chihuahua](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/breed/chihuahua/) 1 available ![Havanese](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/havanese-300x300.jpg) ### [Havanese](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/breed/havanese/) 1 available ![Affenpinscher](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/affenpinscher-300x300.jpg) ### [Affenpinscher](https://www.petlandrobinson.com/breed/affenpinscher/) ## Ready to Meet Them? Call us to check current availability or to arrange a visit with a Italian Greyhound. - [Pittsburgh, PA (412) 494-7387](tel:4124947387) ## Ask About Italian Greyhound Puppies Our pet counselors are ready to help you find your new best friend. ``` Petland Robinson 2274 Google reviews Write a review Posted on Google Elaine Y Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ricky was very helpful with the purchase of my new fur baby. Very friendly and informative. Posted on Google Peggi s Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We got our Chihuahua at Petland .Bri took care of us and was very helpful. We left with confidence knowing we had made a good choice and we would come back here anytime for anything. Posted on Google Ryan S Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Shadan and Bri, thank you. Hayley- you were so kind. If you’re looking for a healthy puppy, don’t waste your time somewhere else. Posted on Google Caleb L Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Shadan was very helpful. Told them I had to go to work and they made the process very fast and seamless Posted on Google Juliana G Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Today I got my little baby Spur, a cowboy corgi!!!! Tiderro was so much help and answered all the questions I had. Thank you for helping me find my little baby. :) Posted on Google Blake G Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Walked to look at the puppies and looked found a beautiful little mini schnauzer girl that looked like our old female. She’ll be a great addition to our family. Tiderro was amazing and amazing at understanding our history with schnauzers and how we were trying to heal from losing ours. ```