Italian Greyhound
Also known as Levrette d’Italie, Lévrier italien, Petit Lévrier Italien
- Height at the withers
- 32 to 38 cm
- Weight
- 3 to 5 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12 to 15 years
- Daily activity
- 45 minutes
- Origin
- Italy
- FCI group
- 10 · Sighthounds
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- apartment living, with regular outings
- close neighbors: it barks little
Less suited to
- long absences: it struggles when left alone
- off-leash walks: strong prey drive and unreliable recall
Overview
An elegant little sighthound with a slender, delicate outline and graceful movement, combining the look of a large sighthound with the size of a lapdog and a fine, smooth coat.
History and origins
An ancient breed whose origins are thought to go back more than 2,000 years in the Mediterranean basin. Prized by the nobility of ancient Greece, of Rome and later of Renaissance Italy, it was the companion of many European courts.
Health
Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years, and its hardiness is average. The most common health problems in the breed:
- Radius and ulna fractures
- Periodontal disease
- Patellar luxation
- Epilepsy
- Progressive retinal atrophy
Choose a breeder who has the parents health-screened for this breed, and ask to see the results.
Coat and care
Short, smooth coat. Low shedding, minimal coat care.
All ratings
Rated from 1 to 5, comparable across breeds. Green marks a strength for most households, orange something to plan for.
Lifestyle
- Energy
- Moderate, 3 out of 5
- Apartment
- Perfect, 5 out of 5
- Home alone
- Poorly, 2 out of 5
Family and sociability
- With children
- Fair, 3 out of 5
- With other dogs
- Good, 4 out of 5
- With cats
- Fair, 3 out of 5
- With strangers
- Reserved, 2 out of 5
Training and temperament
- Ease of training
- Hard, 2 out of 5
- For a first-time owner
- Possible, 3 out of 5
- Guarding instinct
- None, 1 out of 5
- Prey drive
- Strong, 4 out of 5
- Tendency to roam
- High, 4 out of 5
Care and neighbors
- Coat care
- Minimal, 1 out of 5
- Shedding
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Drooling
- Never, 1 out of 5
- Barking
- Quiet, 2 out of 5
Climate and health
- Heat tolerance
- Average, 3 out of 5
- Cold tolerance
- Very low, 1 out of 5
- Hardiness
- Average, 3 out of 5
In our lists
Italian Greyhound FAQ
How big does the Italian Greyhound get?
The Italian Greyhound stands 32 to 38 cm at the withers and weighs 3 to 5 kg. It is a small dog.
Does the Italian Greyhound shed a lot?
It sheds little and its coat needs minimal care.
Can the Italian Greyhound live in an apartment?
Yes, very well: calm indoors, it adapts perfectly to an apartment.
How much exercise does the Italian Greyhound need each day?
Allow about 45 minutes of activity a day: its energy is moderate.
Is the Italian Greyhound good with children?
Fairly well, preferably with children old enough to respect its limits. Never leave a young child alone with a dog, whatever the breed.
How long does the Italian Greyhound live?
Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years, and its hardiness is average. The main health problems to watch for are radius and ulna fractures, as well as periodontal disease.
