Italian Greyhound

Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound was a favorite companion of noblewomen in the Middle Ages, especially in Italy. But this small hound was more than a lap dog, having the speed, endurance, and determination to hunt small game. These days, he’s a family dog whose beauty and athleticism is admired in the show ring and in obedience, agility, and rally competitions.

Illustration courtesy of the Swedish Kennel Club

About the Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound makes a good companion dog and enjoys the company of people. However, the breed’s slim build and short coat make them somewhat fragile, and injury can result from rough or careless play with children. The breed is good with the elderly or a couple without any children for it prefers a quiet household but they are also generally fine with older children. They also are equally at home in the city or the country, although they tend to do best in spacious areas. They are fast, agile and athletic. Like any dog, daily exercise is a must for a happier, well-adjusted pet. Italian greyhounds love to run. The young dog is often particularly active, and this high level of activity may lead them to attempt ill-advised feats of athleticism that can result in injury.

Dogs of this breed have an extremely short and almost odorless coat that requires little more than an occasional bath about once a month (though many veterinarians suggest that even bathing one per month is too frequent for this breed), but a wipe-down with a damp cloth is recommended after walks as seeds, burrs and floating dust in the air can get into the coat and irritate the skin. This breed sheds medium to little hair.

 

An Embark Dog DNA Test looks at the following health conditions in Italian Greyhounds:

Italian Greyhounds on Embark

Explore some Embark dogs that share Italian Greyhound ancestry.

  • Stella

    Stella

    Dex

    Dex

    Enzo

    Enzo

    Patches

    Patches

  • Slinky

    Slinky

    Henley

    Henley

    Maizee Mae

    Maizee Mae

    Matteo Ashley

    Matteo Ashley

  • Atlas Green Of House Black

    Atlas Green Of House Black

    Bonedaddy Bowie

    Bonedaddy Bowie

    Nik

    Nik

    Mr. Pickles

    Mr. Pickles

Most Closely Related Breeds

Favorite Names

For Male

  1. Milo
  2. Dante
  3. Luigi
  4. Miles
  5. Rocco
  6. Sparky
  7. Spike
  8. Biscuit
  9. Dash
  10. Rocky

For Female

  1. Bella
  2. Lady
  3. Lily
  4. Lola
  5. Luna
  6. Rosie
  7. Sadie
  8. Sissy
  9. Violet
  10. Winnie
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