ITALIAN GREYHOUND

Sometimes referred to as the "perfect miniature," the Italian Greyhound has been the companion dog of Egyptian pharaohs, rulers of the Roman Empire, and kings and queens of Europe (Bruce Fogle, DVM, Dogalog).  The Italian Greyhound sometimes appears bashful and retiring in nature; however, according to Fogle, it is a very determined and resourceful dog.  Italian Greyhounds make wonderful pets for those who have fastidious habits, because the dog's smooth short coat sheds very little, and produces almost no doggie odor.  Relaxed in temperament, the breed is not demanding, and is a good natured, fun loving best friend.  The dog is thinned boned, and therefore somewhat delicate.

APPEARANCE

The Italian Greyhound comes in cream, fawn, blue, and black, with variations in the patterns of these colors.  His small, high set ears have dropped tips, and his skull and muzzle are separated by his large eyes, and of equal length.  His deep chest is built for endurance, but is seldom used to full capacity, and his smooth to the touch coat is short, close-fitting to the skin, and fine.  His tail is slender and set low. 

BREED HISTORY

The graceful Italian Greyhound has a long history, dating back to the classical eras of Greece and Egypt.  The breed is a perfect sight hound in miniature, and there is no doubt it was bred down from the standard sized greyhound thousands of years ago, to create a smaller sized companion dog.

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

The Italian Greyhound is notably good with children, suitable for urban living, able to endure hot and sunny climates, but unable to withstand extremely cold temperatures.  It gets along very well with other dogs, thus it is a good dog for multiple pet households.