Italian greyhound
Life expectancy
12 - 15 years
Weight
Male 3 - 8 kg
Female 3 - 8 kg
Height
Male 3 - 8 kg
Female 3 - 8 kg
Hair
satin
Group
sighthounds
Nicknames
Italian Greyhound,Pequeño lebrel italiano,Pli,Piccolo Levriero Italiano
Index
The Italian greyhound is the smallest of the greyhounds. Some believe that the mummified remains of similar dogs discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs could be their ancestors, meaning that the Italian greyhound could be a descendant of ancient sighthound-type breeds.
Today, the Italian Greyhound is one of the most popular sighthound breeds thanks to its adaptability in size and charming appearance, as well as how sweet and good a companion it is.
Characteristics of the Italian greyhound
SIZE
EXERCISE NEEDS
EASY TO TRAIN
GOOD WITH CHILDREN
KINDNESS TO OTHER PETS
HEALTH OF THE BREED
COST TO KEEP
INTELLIGENCE
TOLERANCE TO BEING ALONE
Why choose a Italian greyhound?
PROS
Italian greyhounds are loyal and affectionate by nature.
They are very adaptable and will be happy living in an apartment as well as in a house with a garden.
They have a coat with little shedding.
They do not need much maintenance in terms of grooming.
They are not known for barking.
They are more suitable for families with older children.
They are as energetic as "couch potatoes."
The Italian Greyhound is a very effective guard dog.
CONS
They hate being left alone so they may suffer from separation anxiety.
They have a great prey instinct.
They can be difficult to housetrain.
They are not the best choice for families with small children.
They are delicate dogs and can break bones too easily.
Some dogs are ultrasensitive to both touch and voice.
He can be too shy if not socialized enough from a young age.
Italian greyhound puppies for sale
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Origin and history of the Italian greyhound
The origin of the Italian greyhound remains a mystery, but some believe that the breed has existed for about 2,000 years. Dogs similar to sighthounds have been found in works of art discovered in archaeological excavations in Turkey and Greece. As well as mummified dogs found in the tombs of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt and some very similar to Italian greyhounds can be seen in frescoes discovered in Pompeii.
During the Middle Ages the breed became popular and many are represented in sculptures and paintings during this period of history. In the Renaissance, Italians held miniature dogs in high regard and the breed spread south as its popularity grew throughout the country.
Thus, although in its beginnings it may have been used for hunting due to its speed and great prey instinct, the Italian greyhound was bred mainly as a companion dog, due to its sweet and charming character.
Italian greyhound breeders
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Character ofthe Italian greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is a very good choice as a companion dog since it loves to be in the company of people. However, being such a slender and delicate breed, you have to be careful when handling it, because it can be easily injured. A home with elderly people or without children would be best for them because they prefer a quieter and more peaceful lifestyle. They are very adaptable and will feel at home both in the city and in the countryside.
They will love to run around "free", but you have to be careful and allow them to do so in a safe, enclosed area and on flat ground, since Italian greyhounds boast fragile bones that can break easily if they run on rough terrain.
They are usually cautious around strangers, but rarely show aggressive behavior towards a stranger and prefer to keep their distance. That said, he will be a great watchdog and will not take long to alert his owner to the presence of strangers.
In the home, the Italian Greyhound has a loving and affectionate nature and loves to snuggle up to its owners. They take a while to establish a bond with their owner, but once they do, it remains very strong throughout their life. They are very intelligent and quickly grasp what is new, both the good and the bad. Therefore, they need to be socialized and educated from an early age.
Curiosities about the Italian greyhound
It is the smallest greyhound that exists.
He is very sensitive and can be easily startled by both touch and voice.
In Italy, noble ladies had Italian greyhounds as companions.
They are very fast, despite their small size they are capable of reaching speeds similar to those of the largest greyhounds.
Names for Italian greyhound
Biri, Chiquita, Fuga, Ramy
The Italian greyhound of our breeders
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