Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound is a true miniature sighthound — 13-15 inches, 7-14 pounds — bred for centuries as an aristocrat's companion and small-game courser, not a fragile decorative toy. The looks (slender legs, fine bones, deer-like grace) lead buyers to expect a delicate ornament; the reality is an affectionate, sensitive, fast, and surprisingly athletic dog with two specific, expensive vulnerabilities every owner must plan for: brittle leg bones and severe early dental disease. Expect a velcro dog that bonds intensely with its people, dislikes being left alone, and is genuinely sensitive to harsh tones — house-training is notoriously slow and is worsened by punitive methods, cold weather, and rain (an IG will refuse to toilet outside in cold or wet). The thin single coat plus low body fat make this a cold-intolerant dog that needs coats and sweaters as welfare, not fashion. The defining ownership risk is fractures: young IGs commonly break the radius and ulna jumping off furniture or in normal play between 4-12 months. This is not rare bad luck — it is a breed-characteristic that dictates how you furnish your home and supervise the dog. The second is dental: IGs develop severe periodontal disease early, and daily tooth brushing from puppyhood is not optional. Who the IG is right for: an attentive adult or older-child household that wants a deeply affectionate, low-shedding, quiet-ish sighthound and will commit to fracture-proofing the home, daily dental care, cold-weather management, and patient house-training. Who it is wrong for: homes with toddlers or rambunctious large dogs, owners who leave a dog alone all day, anyone wanting a rugged or low-maintenance dog.