Origin:
The smallest of the sighthounds, the Italian Greyhound is an ancient breed that appears in
Greek and Turkish works of art that are 2000 years old. Once used as a ratter, it is now a companion dog.

Appearance:
The Italian Greyhound stands 13 - 15 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 8 - 12 pounds.
It is slender, fine boned, and muscular with a slightly curved back.
The shedding coat is short, glossy, and low maintenance, requiring only periodic brushing. The color may
be blue, black, fawn or reddish tan, with or without white markings.

Breed Profile:
The italian Greyhound is a friendly toy breed with lots of energy. Though initially timid, it quickly warms up to
strangers. It is an athletic dog that needs to run and play every day. Training should start early and must be patient
and precise. Never be too hard on the sensitive breed. The Come and the Stay can the most difficult commands to
teach. Socialization is important and will help raise the dog's confidence level. Spoiling may create a pushy,
nippy attitude. Though not by nature aggressive, the Italian Greyhound may worry over the hectic
unpredictability of young children and may bite if scared. NO roughhousing should be allowed.
Housebreaking can be difficult with this breed. The IG is also susceptible to the cold and will need a sweater on
cool days. It has thin legs that can easily break if the dog is allowed to jump from high places.

Best Home:
An apartment is fine provided the dog gets out to run each day. The owner of an IG should be an active, patient
leader who desires a high-energy, busy, affectionate toy sized dog. Spoilers and nervous types may encourage
timid, nippy behavior. Older children are okay, provided they do not roughhouse. The elderly and disabled can own this breed if they are able to socialize and exercise it.

Taken from: Choosing A Dog by Nancy baer and Steve Duno