Appearance

The outstandingly graceful and elegant Italian Greyhound is a slender and miniature version of a typical Greyhound. It shares the qualities of the large Greyhound, which allow it to run very fast with a double-suspension gallop. It has a rounded outline, with good rear angulations, and is slightly arched over the haunch. The dog moves with a free and high-stepping gait. The short and glossy coat, which can be found in a variety of colors, feels like satin. 2

History

Brought to Europe by the Phoenicians thousands of years ago, the Italian Greyhound is a smaller version of the Greyhound, bred small in order to create a more compact hunter and companion. As the years went on, these smaller Greyhounds won the hearts of many European nobles—especially the Italians. During World War I, the breed became almost extinct in England. Luckily, the breed had become well established in the United States, and American breeders were able to help replenish the English numbers.