Toy group · Italy
Italian Greyhound
Also called IG, Iggy, Piccolo Levriero Italiano.
What makes them remarkable
This miniature sighthound was a favourite of Italian Renaissance nobles and appeared in their art.
- Playful
- Alert
- Sensitive
- Athletic
- Affectionate
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 3 to 6 kg7 to 14 lb
- Lives
- 14 to 15 years
- Energy
- Moderate
- Trains
- Moderate
- Barks
- Moderate
Training
Training an Italian Greyhound
Toy breeds. Train them like a dog, not an ornament. Small dogs skip the manners work because they can be picked up.
Housetraining Challenges
Start here
Notoriously difficult to housetrain. Use indoor toilet options in cold weather, they hate cold.
Fragile Bones
Prevent jumping from furniture. Fractures are common and serious in this breed.
Sensitive Nature
Extremely sensitive: harsh handling makes them fearful, so reward generously and keep any correction to a calm word.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Italian Greyhound and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred for company. Small in body, and often bigger in personality than the owner expected.
Gets on with
- ChildrenLow
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersModerate
- CatsModerate
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 30-45 minutes daily. Love to run in short bursts. Need secure, fenced area.
- Grooming
- Very low maintenance. Occasional brushing. Need sweaters in cold weather.
- Drool
- Very Low
- Coat
- Short, Smooth, FineFawn, Blue, Black, Seal, Red, Cream, White markings
- In a flat
- Can work, with enough exercise outside it.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Leg Fractures
Severe
Fine bones extremely fragile, especially in puppies
Dental Disease
Moderate
Prone to early tooth loss and gum disease
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Moderate
Hereditary eye condition causing blindness
Where they come from
History
Miniature sighthound dating back over 2,000 years. Popular with Italian nobility during the Renaissance. Depicted in art by many famous painters.
- Kylie Jenner's Italian Greyhounds · Norman and Bambi, frequently featured on social media
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