Italian Greyhound Dog Breed Information
Italian Greyhound 101 –
Three Fast Facts
01
Speed vs. Sleep
Though Italian Greyhounds are notorious for their quick and agile movement, you’ll find they prefer to sleep for most of the day – a lot more than most other dogs! Interestingly, this contrasts their innate biology as they were originally bred to be very active hunting dogs!
Italian Greyhounds are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world…
02
4,000 – 7,000 years old
Surprisingly, Italian Greyhounds are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, dating back between 4,000 to 6,000 years ago. Alongside cats, they were extremely popular in Ancient Egypt, valued for their ability to hunt – skills which still exists today!
A fast dog… with an even faster metabolism
03
Small and Compact
It’s rare to see an overweight Italian Greyhound. This is due to their extremely fast metabolism and their love for exercise. What’s more, they are also very small dogs with a maximum height of around 15 inches – though they can reach speeds of up to 40km/h!
Common Italian Greyhound Questions
Where did Italian Greyhounds originate?
Due to their increasing popularity, many pet owners are looking to increase their knowledge of Italian Greyhounds – and what better place to start than their origins!
The first Italian Greyhound was born around 7,000 years ago. At this point, humans were in dire need of hunting dogs. Current hunting dogs were too large and noisy, leading dog breeders to drift away from breeds such as the Whippet. By selectively breeding smaller dogs together, breeders were able to create the Italian Greyhound – a small, swift, and agile dog breed that can run as fast as a rabbit and hunt as well as a terrier. This breed was extremely popular in Ancient Egypt, likely due to their cat-like appearance and nature – their remains have been found mummified alongside Pharaohs! Their prey-drive is matched in their ability to relax and recuperate in the lap of their owners.
Italian Greyhound Temperament
Italian Greyhounds have a great all-around temperament. They are extremely loving, caring, and very much suited to both family households and one-person households. They are playful and gentle, though can be needy for affection. Around children, they are just as loving and needy for attention. However, due to their small nature, they should only be around small children with adult supervision.
Italian Greyhounds are purebred dogs and adapt extremely well as a house-dog. In fact, they are very popular companions in family households and are loved by all dog owners across the globe.
Italian Greyhound Colours
Alongside their wonderful temperament, Italian Greyhounds also come in some beautiful colours.
Italian Greyhound colours include:
- black
- seal
- sable
- blue
- red
- fawn
- cream
All of these colours can be combined to create Italian Greyhound colour combinations such as a red fawn and blue fawn.
Are Italian Greyhounds hypoallergenic?
Fortunately, Italian Greyhounds are a hypoallergenic dog breed. This means they hardly shed their fur and are extremely unlikely to cause any issues in those with allergies. This makes them a great lap dog for all kinds of people.
Are Italian Greyhounds smart?
Dating back to Ancient Egypt, Italian Greyhounds were originally bred as hunting dogs. This means they are smart dogs of whom require a good amount of stimulation – both mental and physical.
Mental stimulation includes basic training for obedience, recall, etc. Though they were bred to hunt, you do not have to encourage your Italian Greyhound to hunt.
Italian Greyhounds are highly intelligent and fairly affectionate, too. This means they make a great companion when kept in the house. You’ll likely find that an Italian Greyhound makes a great pet for a variety of different circumstances due to their loving nature. Moreover, they are very quick learners and often love to be trained, though they are sensitive to loud noises and shouting from their owners.