Do Italian Greyhounds shed?

Yes, Italian Greyhounds shed minimally year-round. You should gently brush their coat with a rubber hand mitt or soft bristle brush once or twice a week to keep any shedding under control.

Are Italian Greyhounds hypoallergenic?

No, Italian Greyhounds are not considered hypoallergenic dogs , though no dog is 100% hypoallergenic.

Do Italian Greyhounds bark a lot?

Italian Greyhounds are more likely to bark than not, so if you live in an apartment or condo, you might want to work with a certified trainer who uses positive reinforcement to teach them that it’s a safe space and they don’t have to alert you to every noise.

Are Italian Greyhounds good with cats?

As a sight hound, an Iggy’s instinct might suggest they should chase their feline friends. But every Italian Greyhound is an individual, so it really depends on the dog. You could try socializing them to see if they get along—your vet can offer guidance and help on how to start.

Italian Greyhounds vs. Whippets: What’s the difference?

Italian Greyhounds and Whippets are often mistaken for each other—they look a lot alike—but Whippets are a separate breed. You can tell them apart because Italian Greyhounds are smaller (at 7–14 pounds) than the Whippet (who usually weighs between 25–40 pounds).

Italian Greyhounds vs. Greyhounds: What’s the difference?

The Italian Greyhound and the Greyhound are two different dogs, but they do come from the same lineage. They’re both sight hounds, but the Italian Greyhound is much smaller than Greyhounds, who weigh up to 70 pounds.

Italian Greyhound

Updated September 2, 2025

Italian Greyhounds are tiny pups who might seem serious at first—but within a few minutes, you’ll realize they’re fun-loving and big-hearted. Quick and agile, they have vibrant personalities and love to be doted on and snuggled with.

Temperament

Alert, Dainty, Sweet

Weight

7–14 pounds

Height

13–15 inches

Life Expectancy

14–15 years

Maintenance Level

Friendliness

Coat Color

Grey, Sable, Red, Black, Cream, Blue

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Say ciao to the newest love of your life: the Italian Greyhound. This is a dainty little nugget of a dog with an aristocratic air, but there’s nothing stuck-up about the Italian Greyhound’s personality. They’re thrilled to cozy up in your lap at the end of the day (they’d prefer to sleep in your bed too, if that’s OK), and they’re rife with affection for their favorite person (you!).

These quick little runners have a spirited personality that’s a big mood booster. Return the favor by making them the happiest pup ever with lots of attention and affection.

Italian Greyhound Characteristics

Remember: Dogs are individuals and not all dogs, even those of the same breed, will exhibit all the same qualities.

Exercise Needs

Health Issues

Grooming Needs

Training Needs

Shedding Level

Friendliness

Playfulness

Energy Level

Good for Apartments and Small Homes

Sensitive to Cold Weather

Sensitive to Warm Weather

Good for First-Time Pet Parents

Italian Greyhound Appearance

Italian Greyhounds have slender, stoic features, and they carry themselves with grace. But their inquisitive eyes convey fun and excitement.

Ears
Italian Greyhounds’ ears are small and thin. They’re usually thrown back and folded. If alerted to something, their ears will fold forward at right angles.
Eyes
Their medium-sized eyes are dark yet bright and inquisitive.
Nose
An Italian Greyhound’s nose is dark, usually black or brown. Their snout is long and relatively narrow.
Coat Length
Italian Greyhounds have short, fine hair that’s glossy and soft to the touch.
Coat Color
Italian Greyhound colors include gray, sable, red, black, cream, and blue.
Tail
The Italian Greyhound’s tail is slender, tapered, and carried low.

Italian Greyhound Temperament

The Italian Greyhound is the perfect blend of sporty and sweet. Depending on your individual pup, they might get excited to chase after a squirrel or prefer to spend the afternoon snoozing in the sun.

At heart, these affectionate, gentle pups are happier snuggling on your lap than anything else. And they love a good zoomie to show you how thrilled they really are with life.

Clever with a mischievous streak—they might think it’s a fun game to steal your socks—Italian Greyhounds are a delightful addition to any home, as long as it’s a cozy environment and other pets aren’t too overwhelming for their tiny frames.

Italian Greyhounds might be a little aloof with friends and guests, but they’ll warm up over time and win them over with their playful personality. They really do bring joy to everyone they meet.

Similar in size and pet care needs as the Italian Greyhound

Find Italian Greyhounds to Adopt Near You

How to Care for a Italian Greyhound

Italian Greyhounds are high energy, but their tiny size makes meeting their exercise goals easy. Their grooming needs are also not extensive, though you will spend more time on their dental care.

Bathing: Give your dog a bath regularly—every six weeks, at a minimum.
Brushing: Use a soft bristle brush or grooming gloves once or twice a week to keep their coat shiny and shedding under control.
Ear care: Check their ears every day. If there’s redness, debris, swelling, or an odor, your pup may have an ear infection that needs vet attention. Talk to your vet about how to clean your dog’s ears if they’re prone to infections. They can recommend the best ear-cleaning products.
Dental care: Small dogs are highly susceptible to dental disease. This makes brushing your dog’s teeth with a dog toothpaste especially important. Start when your Italian Greyhound puppy is young, do it every day, and keep up with professional dental cleanings, too.
Nail care: Italian Greyhounds need their nails trimmed once a month. You’ll know it’s time for a doggy manicure when you can hear their nails tapping on hard surfaces.

Begin obedience training with your Italian Greyhound puppy early, starting with cues like sit, stay, and come. It’s important that they learn the off cue, too—these pups are so tiny that they shouldn’t be jumping up onto places that could be potentially dangerous for them.

Italian Greyhounds are quite bright. But as sight hounds, they were originally bred to keep watch from afar—not to take cues from human friends. So, if it takes them a while to learn, it’s not for lack of smarts, but more so because they are independent-minded.

Be consistent and patient with their lessons, and aim for short (like, two- to three-minute) training sessions; too many repetitive actions might bore them.

Also invest time in proper socialization, which involves exposing your Italian Greyhound puppy to new people, places, and things in a positive manner. This helps them get used to novel interactions and become a calm, confident adult.

Italian Greyhounds can be particularly sensitive and anxious. So, as with any dog, always use positive reinforcement—praise, training treats, and favorite toys—to teach your pup how to be on their very best behavior.

When done properly, crate training your puppy can help prevent separation anxiety. But if your pup does develop anxiety, don’t hesitate to enlist the help of a certified behaviorist or dog trainer.

Italian Greyhounds need a dog food that meets AAFCO standards and is formulated for your dog’s life stage (puppy, adult, or senior). These pups are very tiny, so they might benefit from a food made specifically for small dogs, like Hill’s Science Diet Small Bites Food.

Be mindful of unnecessary weight gain, as calories quickly add up in their tiny body. Talk to your vet if you’re worried that your dog might be at an unhealthy weight. Obesity in dogs can lead to many other health problems.

As with all dogs, treats should never make up more than 10% of a dog’s daily calories.

Like all dogs, Italian Greyhounds need exercise each day, but don’t let them do anything too strenuous. Walks around the neighborhood and games of fetch are perfect outlets; they’ll need to exercise for up to an hour each day.

Always keep your Italian Greyhound on a leash or safely within a fenced area. As a sight hound, many Italian Greyhounds will take off after spotting a squirrel. This is dangerous for all dogs, but especially for pups as small and slender as Italian Greyhounds, as they can be easily injured if unsupervised.

An Italian Greyhound’s size also means they’re not a good fit for dog parks, as they’ll probably be overwhelmed (and possibly stepped on) by all the bigger dogs. However, a dog park specifically for small dogs could be a good fit.

These smart pups need mental stimulation as well as exercise. Try out some interactive toys and games, and nose work. Just keep in mind that their bodies are very fragile, so they shouldn’t engage in anything too intense (or where they could be easily injured by a bigger or more active dog).

Your Italian Greyhound doesn’t need a fancy Italian villa to be happy (but just like you, they probably wouldn’t oppose it). A small apartment or a country estate or anything in between is fine, as long as your pup can get out and about to run in a fenced area a few times a day.

A fenced yard would be great, but these dogs are pretty adaptable. They should, however, always be in a fenced environment if off-leash, as they’ll definitely go chasing after smaller creatures, like squirrels.

When trained and well-socialized, Italian Greyhounds can adapt to life with other pets (as long as they’re not too overwhelming, size-wise).

These pups aren’t well-suited for cold weather, so consider investing in some cute dog clothes for when it’s chilly outside, like a good sweater.

Italian Greyhound Health

The typical Italian Greyhound lifespan is 14–15 years. They tend to be more fragile than other dogs their size, so treat them gently and make sure they play gently with other dogs.

Here are some common health issues to be aware of.

Autoimmune disorders: Italian Greyhounds are prone to autoimmune disorders, which occur when the dog’s immune system mistakenly targets its own proteins and cells. Symptoms run the gamut—from skin lesions and bumps to limping and difficulty swallowing—depending on the particular disorder. It’s best to report anything unusual to your vet right away. These disorders are often treated with immunosuppressive therapy, including steroids.
Broken bones: Italian Greyhounds are dainty, so use caution when they’re around larger dogs and encourage them to avoid jumping or any movements that could cause a fracture to their delicate bones.
Epilepsy: Italian Greyhounds are prone to seizures caused by epilepsy. It’s treated with medication.
Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism includes symptoms like lethargy, hair loss, ear and skin infections, and weight gain. A blood test can diagnosis it, and treatment is a daily oral medication.
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease: A rare and likely genetic disease that causes bone death in the head of the femur and significant changes to the hip joint, Legg-Calve-Perthes usually develops in a pup’s first year of life, causing pain and limping. Almost all cases require surgery, but most Italian Greyhounds make a full recovery.
Luxating patella: Italian Greyhounds can develop a luxating patella, where the kneecap slips out of place. It may be treated with supplements and meds, if mild, though surgery may be necessary.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): PRA leads to blindness in dogs. While there is no cure, pups who lose their eyesight tend to adapt well and can still live full, happy lives.

Italian Greyhound History

OK, the secret is out: The Italian Greyhound isn’t exactly from Italy. The origin of the Italian Greyhound begins 2,000 years ago in a region ruled by the Roman Empire, now Greece and Turkey.

During the Italian Renaissance, Italian Greyhounds became a popular breed among aristocrats, nobility, and the wealthy; they were frequently included in portraits from that period.

Queen Victoria, James I, Frederick the Great, Catherine the Great, and Anne of Denmark were all fans of this tiny but mighty breed. In fact, an African king reportedly traded 200 cattle for one Italian Greyhound.

In 1886, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the breed. Italian Greyhound puppies tend to cost between $1,400–$2,000. If you choose this route, pick a responsible breeder.

You can also adopt an Italian Greyhound who’s been patiently waiting for a forever home. Find Italian Greyhounds for adoption via a local rescue, like the Midwest Italian Greyhound Rescue; keep an eye out at your local shelter; or search Chewy’s database of adoptable dogs in your area.

FAQs

This content was medically reviewed by Barri Morrison, DVM, Chewy veterinarian.

Similar in size and pet care needs as the Italian Greyhound

Italian Greyhound