The Italian Greyhound
That’s amoré: this playful, alert and affectionate breed may steal your heart
That’s amoré! This playful, alert and affectionate breed may steal your heart.
The Italian Greyhound is your classic “Velcro” dog, so closely bonded with his guardians he's practically attached at the hip.
Diminutive and delicate, the Italian Greyhound is an ancient breed. So ancient, in fact, that we lack records to reveal the exact details of the I.G.’s origins—the how, when, and why of the Italian Greyhound’s early development are shrouded in mystery.
Skeletal remains from archeological digs in the regions of Turkey and Greece suggest that the breed is at least 2,000 years old and, well, not Italian! Artwork, too, sheds some light on the story: the breed has been a favourite of many talented artists and is seen in portraits dating back to the Middle Ages. Drawings on Egyptian tomb walls also bear a striking resemblance to the breed, leading some to speculate on even more ancient origins.
The Italian Greyhound’s original purpose is also the subject of some debate. What we have with the I.G. is essentially a finerboned, miniature version of the Greyhound, achieved through selective breeding. Was he bred to hunt for small game as well as for companionship? There’s no way of knowing, but it’s likely that the Italian Greyhound was bred for both purposes.
The breed gained popularity as a lapdog for royals and members of society’s upper crust in a number of countries, but most notably in Italy during the Renaissance; so prized and beloved was the tiny hound there that he earned his moniker and was from then on known as the Italian Greyhound.
The breed made its way to England in the early 1600s and quickly gave other Toy dogs, like the King Charles Spaniel and the Maltese, a run for the money as the most sought-after dog of the nobility.
Officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1886, the Italian Greyhound made its first appearance at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show the following year. The breed has yet to earn the coveted Best in Show award, despite recordbreaking cheers from crowds who are always delighted to watch the I.G.’s high-stepping prance.
Today’s Italian Greyhound is a member of the Toy Group. The AKC standard notes ideal height for the breed is 13 to 15 inches at the withers (the I.G. weighs around eight to fifteen pounds), and all colours and markings are accepted, with the notable exceptions of brindle or black-and-tan.
So what’s this little dog actually like to live with? In canine-speak, he’s the classic Velcro dog—so closely bonded with his guardians that it feels like he’s attached at the hip. The I.G. is an incredibly