{"id":134935,"date":"2016-11-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-11-02T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvaryny.com\/?p=134935"},"modified":"2026-01-02T19:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T17:34:11","slug":"italian-greyhound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvaryny.com\/en\/breed-italian-greyhound","title":{"rendered":"Italian Greyhound"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Italian Greyhound<\/strong>, also known as the Piccolo Levriero Italiano<\/strong> or simply the Iggy<\/strong>, is a refined pet that combines an aristocratic, decorative appearance with the genuine, fiery temperament of hunting sighthounds. A courtly dog, happily depicted in the art of antiquity, the Renaissance, and Classicism, it has today become the ideal companion for many city dwellers who value aesthetics and loyalty. Handling the Italian Greyhound’s character is not simple, but in return, it requires relatively uncomplicated physical care. This dog needs a sensitive owner, a family with older children, or a couple who have time to communicate with the animal. The main thing is to provide this miniature athlete with a friendly atmosphere, protection from the cold, and a sufficient amount of attention. Learn more on Tvaryny<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Italian Greyhound: brief overview and profile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Characteristic<\/strong><\/td>Data<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Country of origin<\/strong><\/td>Italy<\/td><\/tr>
Purpose<\/strong><\/td>Companion dog, racing dog<\/td><\/tr>
FCI Classification<\/strong><\/td>Group 10 (Sighthounds), Section 3 (Short-haired sighthounds)<\/td><\/tr>
Life span<\/strong><\/td>12-15 years (some live to 16-17)<\/td><\/tr>
Height at withers<\/strong><\/td>32-38 cm (FCI standard), up to 38-40 cm (AKC standard)<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td>Maximum 5 kg (ideally 3.5-4.5 kg)<\/td><\/tr>
Coat type<\/strong><\/td>Short, fine, satin-like, without undercoat<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

History of the breed: from Pharaohs to modern sofas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The history of the Italian Greyhound is a fascinating journey through the ages, starting in the palaces of Egyptian pharaohs. Mummified remains of miniature sighthounds, very similiar to modern Italian Greyhounds, are found in the tombs of the Valley of the Kings. From the banks of the Nile, these elegant creatures made their way to Ancient Greece (Laconia), where they posed for vase paintings and frescoes, and from there – in the 5th century BC – they moved to Ancient Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was on the territory of modern Italy that the breed reached its greatest flourishing and acquired its current appearance, for which it received the name “Italian Greyhound”. Roman patricians highly valued the decorative qualities of these dogs. They were looked after like the most expensive ladies, had silk cushions sewn for them, and were depicted in the murals of Pompeii. There is a legend that the famous inscription “Cave Canem” (Beware of the dog) was sometimes placed with irony exactly where these tiny but vocal guards lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fashion for four-legged aristocrats was adopted by Europe during the Renaissance. The Italian Greyhound became a symbol of status and refined taste. Among the famous owners of the breed were the powerful Medici family, French kings, and later – the British Queen Victoria, the Russian Empress Catherine II, and the Prussian King Frederick the Great. The latter loved his dogs so much that he requested to be buried next to them at Sanssouci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, excessive popularity almost played a cruel joke on the breed. By the beginning of the 20th century, the desire of breeders to make the dog as small and refined as possible led to degeneration due to close inbreeding. The dogs became sickly, with distorted skulls and brittle bones. To save the breed, in the 1920s and 30s, cynologists took a risky step: Italian Greyhounds were carefully crossed with Whippets to strengthen the skeleton and Miniature Pinschers to maintain the small size. Thanks to such a renewal of the gene pool, it was possible to preserve not only the short stature but also – most importantly – the true sighthound qualities and instincts of the dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anatomy of grace: what the Italian Greyhound looks like<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Italian Greyhounds are aerodynamics in pure form. They are easily recognised on painted canvases and at the modern dog park among other breeds. This is a model of the canine world: long-legged, dry, without a drop of excess fat. The body of the Italian Greyhound fits into a square, although visually the dog often seems taller than it is long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n