Dog Breed Guide

Italian Greyhound

Profile

Size

Extra Small

Country of origin

Italy

Origin

Ancient

Bred for

Companion, Hunting small game

Height

32 - 38cm (13 - 15in)

Weight

3.5 - 5kg (8 - 11lb)

Life span

13 - 15 years

A small dog with a slender, elegant build like a miniature Greyhound. It is the smallest of the sighthounds and runs with a light, bounding gait on its fine legs. The short, smooth coat comes in gray, fawn, black, blue and more.

Gentle and affectionate, the Iggy shows deep love for its family. It always snuggles close to its owner and loves burrowing under blankets. It is sensitive and delicate, so it learns better through gentle teaching than scolding.

With little body fat and a thin coat, it is very sensitive to cold, so in winter a coat or other protection is essential. Its leg bones are fine, so watch out for fractures when it jumps down from sofas and the like.

Good to know

This dog has been loved along the Mediterranean for more than 2,000 years. Remains of small dogs resembling it have even been found at Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by a volcanic eruption in AD 79.

It was a particular favorite of European royalty and nobility. Its owners are known to have included Anne of Denmark, queen of James I of England; Catherine the Great of Russia; Frederick the Great of Prussia; and Queen Victoria. Frederick the Great doted on these dogs and asked to be buried alongside them. Catherine the Great's favorite was named Zemira.

In the 19th century, breeding for extreme smallness weakened the breed and for a time threatened its survival, but Victorian fanciers restored it to a healthy form.