| Country of origin: | Italy |
| Registries: | AKC, UKC, CKC |
| Occupation: | Companion |
| Size: | 13 to 15 in tall; 7 to 15 lbs |
| Longevity: | 12 to 15 years |
| Exercise: | Needs supervised exercise |
| Training: | Challenge to housetrain |
| Grooming: | Easy |
| Colors: | Cream, fawn, blue, black |
A perfect miniature of the standard Greyhound, the Italian Greyhound, or Piccolo Levrieri Italiani, has been a companion of nobility since the days of Egypt’s pharoahs and the Roman Empire. Today, its elegant, refined appearance, and the absence of shedding or odour from its sleek coat, ensure its continuing popularity. This breed is a good-natured, affable, and active companion, easy-going and affectionate with those it knows, if a little shy with strangers. The fine-boned build is not as delicate as it looks, but Italian Greyhounds are not well suited to households with boisterous children or larger dogs. Boasting a relaxed temperament, it is not demanding; however, it does enjoy the comforts of life.