Origin

The Phoecicians brought the Italian Greyhound to Europe. Later they were created by the Romans. Catherine of Russia loved this breed too much. This is basically a family dog and loves to be with the family. This is a very old breed and some say that 6000 years ago they stayed in Egypt.

General Description

This breed seems like a mini greyhound but there are many differences between the two breeds. The Italian Greyhound has a thin body and very beautiful looking. They have a thin and flat head and a pointed long muzzle with a black nose at the tip. The head and muzzle are in the same level. Their neck is muscular and long and straight. They have a broad chest touching their shoulders. The Italian Greyhound has straight boned limbs . their back portion is bent down towards the tail and seems as if they are getting ready to run. They are great runners. It has a long tail almost touching the ground. Their coat is short and glossy found in cream, fawn, grey and black colours.

Character

These are not kennel dogs. They love human beings and love to stay with the family. The Italian Greyhound loves human interaction so much that they prove to be great companions. They are very timid and sensitive by nature and always have a tendency to please their masters. This breed loves to be attended and loved by the family members. This dog is very athletic and playful. They are great runners and their speed is mind blowing. They are very much devoted to their family but at the same time they need to be socialized from an early age.

Temperament

The Italian Greyhound is the smallest sight hounds ever found. They are extremely devoted to their family and they are very quiet and timid in nature. At the same time they can be very enthusiastic and naughty. Generally they are very friendly to people but they have a tendency of becoming excessive timid so in that case they need to be socialized from an early age. Generally these dogs are of lovely nature but you should handle them with care and maintain a safe distance as they may get excited suddenly and that might prove to be dangerous. The speed of the Italian Greyhound is remarkable and they love to exercise. These dogs are even great jumpers so a protected are for exercise is also needed for them. They are great to children and other pets but they may not mix with the strangers. But they are not at all aggressive.

Training

Early socialization classes are necessary. Sometimes they are of independent nature and sometimes they are very timid. Training them may be a big deal. They should be trained with consistency, firmness and care.

Health

The main problem with the Italian Greyhound is weak bones. They have a chance of getting a fracture of they are badly hurt. They may also be affected by epilepcy, PRA etc. Their average lifespan is 12-15 years.