Fun Italian Greyhound Facts For Kids

The Italian greyhound species of dog is also known as an Italian sighthound. They originated from Italy. Italian greyhounds are the smallest of this species in height and have a minimum weight of around 11 lb (5 kg). They have long legs with a tucked up abdomen; some of them are black and have white markings on their feet and chest only. Dogs are undoubtedly cute and adorable to keep as pets. Their friendly nature, accompanied by their obedience and playful, innocent behavior makes them quite suitable pets.

It was classified as the toy breed by the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom and American Kennel Club, mainly known for hunting rabbits and hares. They are always ready for a small game and to chase whenever required. Their temperament is emotional, agile, affectionate, and like running activities. Training Italian greyhounds is very easy.

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What type of animal is an Italian Greyhound?

This animal is a type of dog breed.

What class of animal does an Italian Greyhound belong to?

Greyhounds belong to the class of Mammalia, from the phylum Chordata. When these dogs are kept as pets they can be very clingy with their owners as they are affectionate dogs and do not like being left alone.

How many Italian Greyhounds are there in the world?

The number of these dogs present in the world is not known but they originated from Italy and around 20 years ago it was rare in the U.S. and is nowadays found as a pet in many families who enjoy their affectionate temperament, activeness, and basic upkeep.

Where does an Italian Greyhound live?

Italian greyhounds are mainly found as pets in houses and can also adapt to farms. They are not apartment dogs as they need space like parks, gardens, or home backyards as they are active and need to exercise and walk for at least 20 minutes a day.

What is an Italian Greyhound's habitat?

These small dogs can be suited for an apartment only if they get space to exercise and run, as they are quite active. The cold environment does not suit them and in cold weather conditions, the breeder needs to cover them with blankets or short coats to prevent them from any disease, therefore they require more care in the winter.

Who do Italian Greyhounds live with?

Italian greyhounds do not like living alone and hence cannot be left alone in the house. They are affectionate dogs and easily get attached with family members whether they are kids or elders. It is quite risky to keep them with any other small animal because of their hunting traits.

How long does an Italian Greyhound live?

The Italian greyhound has a life span of 12-15 years. Greyhound dog breeds are more disposed towards health conditions like leg and tail fractures as their energy level is too high and are very active during running and exercises, and major diseases like periodontal disease.

How do they reproduce?

Italian greyhounds mate through sexual reproduction, when a heat cycle begins in females, males also get ready for breeding. The gestation period is 50-60 days and then the females give birth to four to five puppies. The size of the puppy is quite small and they are very cute when newly born. They are born blind, but after two weeks or so, they are able to see.  

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of an Italian greyhound is not listed. The main threat to their life is regarding their health conditions, this breed needs proper care and training to keep them fit. Regular exercise for 20 minutes a day is required to keep them away from health issues and should be provided with a proper diet for good and fast metabolism.

What do Italian Greyhounds look like?

Italian greyhounds have short coats and glossy fur-like skin, they are very thin, and have long legs. They do not weigh much. Italian greyhounds are black, brown, white, red, and blue with white markings on their chest and feet or can be bold with no markings at all. This breed is not very difficult to care for and keep as a pet. Their temperament is emotional, and they are full of love and affection. Breeders should take care of their hygiene, brush them when they become dusty and give them a bath, brush their teeth twice a week, and cut their nails from time to time. These are some basic hygiene tips breeders should follow to keep their dogs clean and also helps in preventing them from health problems. Examine your greyhound when it is a puppy and handle them with proper care.

How cute are they?

Italian greyhound puppies are very cute to keep as a pet and company. Owners need to take good and proper care of their health as they are vulnerable to several diseases. These dogs are easy to train so give them accurate training as these are high stepping dogs native to southern Europe. The puppy is very short and very particular about touching their feet. The short coat does not shed much and does not require a lot of care.

How do they communicate?

These dogs make loud noises or they bark very loudly when they want to say something or to express something. They also communicate by barking, sniffing, growling, grunting teeth, and snapping, and understanding all these signs made by the dog is very important for the owner.

How big is an Italian Greyhound?

An Italian greyhound has a body size of around 50.4 in (128 cm) in length and around 13-15 in (33-38 cm) in height, which is five times bigger than a Mauzer dog.

How fast can an Italian Greyhound run?

The maximum speed of an Italian greyhound adult is around 24.8 mph (40 kph). The dog is very active and if provided proper training and to keep him away from health issues it should be healthy and not lazy.

How much does an Italian Greyhound weigh?

The weight of an Italian greyhound is very little which is 11 lb (5 kg). The height and weight of this dog are less compared to other dog breeds of its kind.

What are the male and female names of the species?

A male is commonly referred to as a dog and a female is referred to as a bitch.

What would you call a baby Italian Greyhound?

A baby Italian greyhound is called a puppy.

What do they eat?

When the puppy is weaned from the mother then it is ready to take food and the first diet of a puppy includes is one-fourth cup of puppy food which you have to divide into three meals per day. Then when the puppy becomes an adult after six months they are ready to take a proper adult diet. In the adult meal, the adults should take food only two times per day and sometimes they should be satisfied with one. The dogs should not do overeating and if you feel so then check the ribs of the dog. If you feel it under the skin then he is fine and you have to take proper care of his outdoor activities and provide him with proper training.

Are they slobbery?

This breed is not generally slobbery, they are the most active dogs in this breed and because of their small height and slight weight, they do not get tired easily while playing.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, they make very good pets as they are emotional animals and get attached to their family members very easily. The children love to play and cuddle with them and they do not like being left alone as they easily feel lonely. They are playful and obedient, which makes them one of the best pets to have. They can be trained easily with positive reinforcement and by rewarding them for good behavior.

Did you know...

Snuggling is the most loved activity that an Italian greyhound loves to do so it is good to have two dogs.

History of the Italian Greyhound

Italian Greyhounds originated from Italy, Greece, and Turkey. These dogs were at that time owned by people like Queen Victoria, Catherine the Great, Frederick the Great, and Anne of Denmark. Artifacts from that time show images of the breeds and their mini skeletons that have also been discovered in archaeological digs. These dogs were kept as pets at that time because of their love, affection, loyalty, and for small hunting game. These dogs are the best examples of companionship and faith and till now people adopt them because of these characteristics. Italian greyhounds moved to southern Europe and became popular lap dogs and from there they got their name. The American Kennel Club registered its first Italian greyhound in 1886, pointing to the starting of the breed's establishment and popularity in the United States. Later during World War I and World War II, Italian greyhounds came to an end but after some time the American breeders brought back these dogs. Italian Greyhounds are the smallest breed of the sighthound family, it is also known that hounds were the descendent of jackals, in Africa. Because of the small stature and quick speed of the Italian Greyhound, they have been used for hunting and killing small animals like hare, rabbit other mammals, and many more, or being used to help get rid of vermin were thought to be its primary uses.

Getting your own Italian Greyhound

People can buy these dogs for $1,400- $2,000 and you can get one in rescue homes, farms, and pet shops.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Newfoundland dog surprising facts and hound dog interesting facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable dog running coloring pages.