Breed of the Week: Italian Greyhound 🐾

• Breed: Italian Greyhound
• CKC Breed Group: Toy Group
  (https://www.ckc.ca/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Toy/Italian-Greyhound)
• AKC Breed Group: Toy Group
  (https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/italian-greyhound/)
• Average Height: 13–15 inches (33–38 cm)
  (https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/italian-greyhound/)
• Average Weight: 7–14 pounds (3–6 kg)
• Lifespan: 12–15 years
• Energy Level: Low to Moderate
  (https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/italian-greyhound)
• Sociability Level: Friendly but can be shy with strangers
• Distractibility Level: Moderate – tends to be independent, especially outdoors
• Traits:
  • Grooming Needs: Low – sleek coat with minimal shedding
  • Trainability: Moderate – can be a challenge to motivate due to distractibility, but responds well to positive reinforcement
  • Exercise Needs: Moderate – enjoys quick sprints but also loves lounging
  • Barking Tendency: Low

Favourite Sport: Lure Coursing

Italian Greyhounds love to chase and sprint, making lure coursing a thrilling sport for them!

Little-Known Facts:

• Top Speed: Italian Greyhounds can run up to 40 km/h (25 mph)!
  (https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-breeds/italian-greyhound)
• Oldest Known Iggy: One Italian Greyhound lived to be 20 years old!
  (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/meet-the-breed-italian-greyhound/)
• Historical Fact: Italian Greyhounds have been around for more than 2,000 years, favoured by royalty in ancient Rome.
  (https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/dog-breeds/italian-greyhound)

---

Summary:

The Italian Greyhound, classified in the Toy Group by both the CKC and AKC, stands about 13 to 15 inches (33–38 cm) tall and weighs between 7 and 14 pounds (3–6 kg). They typically live 12 to 15 years. With a low to moderate energy level, they are friendly dogs but can be shy around strangers. While they enjoy short bursts of activity, such as sprinting, they are often content to lounge around for most of the day.

Italian Greyhounds can be somewhat independent and are known to be a challenge to motivate during training due to their distractibility. They do, however, respond well to positive reinforcement. Grooming needs are minimal, as they have sleek coats that shed very little. Despite their low tendency to bark, they are alert and make great companions.

Their favourite sport is lure coursing, which taps into their instinct to chase. They can reach impressive speeds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph)! The breed has a long history, having been favoured by royalty in ancient Rome for over 2,000 years. One Italian Greyhound even lived to be 20 years old!