Italian Greyhound
Toy Group
Height at Shoulders
13-15 in
Weight
7-14 lbs
Life Expectancy
14-15 yrs
History
It is believed that the Italian Greyhound originated about 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Greece and Turkey. Italian Greyhound-like dogs have been found as mummified remains in Egypt and depicted in paintings from Pompeii. While these miniature Greyhounds were popular across Europe for centuries, it was in Renaissance Italy where the breed was solidified, as owning miniature versions of dog breeds was seen as a status symbol.
Breed Characteristics
While not all Italian Greyhounds share the exact same personality and temperament, there are certain generalizations that can be made about the breed. In addition to genetics, a dog’s environment, training, socialization, and many other factors all contribute to their personality and behavior.
Intelligence
Affection Towards Family
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
Exercise Needs
★★★☆☆
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★★★★☆
★★★★☆
★★☆☆☆
Energy Level
Sensitivity
Noise Level
Prey Drive
Shedding
★★★★☆
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★★★☆☆
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★★☆☆☆
Intelligence
★★★☆☆
Affection Towards Family
★★★★★
Friendliness Towards Strangers
★★★★☆
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
★★★★☆
Exercise Needs
★★☆☆☆
Energy Level
★★★★☆
Sensitivity
★★★★★
Noise Level
★★★☆☆
Prey Drive
★★★★★
Shedding
★★☆☆☆
Common Traits
Gentle, affectionate, and loving
Will chase anything that moves- and can hit speeds of up to 25 mph
Love to perch high up on furniture
Intelligent and easy to train (as long as it's fun) but, like most toy breeds, are difficult to housetrain
Known to follow their caretaker around the house constantly
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- Noise fear
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- Excitability