Italian Greyhound

The origins of the Italian Greyhound are very ancient since small greyhound mummies, close to the current Italian Greyhound, have been found in the pyramids. It thus stems from breeds existing among the pharaohs of Egypt. This breed is not derived from a cross of the modern era, such as the Whippet. It arrived in Italy in the 5th century BCE. This small dog greatly seduced Roman matrons who adopted it, and from there came the name "Italian Greyhound." Appearing in several paintings, the Italian Greyhound was greatly sought after by the great of the Renaissance period. It was the favorite of Alphonse de Lamartine, who readily posed with his favorites. The official term in France is "petit lévrier italien" (Italian Greyhound), commonly abbreviated PLI (in English Italian Greyhound, in German Italienisches Windspiel and in Italian Piccolo Levriero Italiano), but the term "Levrette d'Italie" is also appropriate. Despite everything, one should not be fooled by appearances: the Italian Greyhound has all the characteristics of sighthounds when it comes to running.

Psychologically, the Italian Greyhound is an emotional dog and has a reputation of being more sentimental than other dog breeds. Tender-hearted, the Italian Greyhound can also be very mischievous and playful. It needs calm with its master in order to be stable, as it does not manage stress well in general. It must be educated at a young age, but gently, and it also needs to go out in busy places so it does not become too fearful in adulthood.

It is a dog that, morphologically, closely resembles the Greyhound, except that it must weigh less than 5 kg and measure less than 40 cm at the withers. In France, the breed standard provides that it be of solid color and that only a few white spots (tip of the paws, chest) are allowed on a LOF dog, namely a dog registered in the French Register of Origins. The colors of Italian Greyhounds are: black, gray (blue), sable, Isabella. But for example in Great Britain or the United States, you find dogs with larger spots. They would not be confirmed in France. Top speed: 30 to 40 km/h, it is very fast for a small animal.

This dog, so small with the slender appearance of sighthounds, gives an impression of fragility, but in fact it is a small dog that is extremely lively and rarely ill. Like all sighthounds, it runs very well (its heart is larger than that of a dog of another breed of the same size) and its sighthound belly allows its hind legs a movement that assures it strides of great amplitude. You can find Italian Greyhounds in sighthound races. But this is rare, simply because these dogs are relatively few in number. There are approximately 200 births per year throughout France.