Dog breed guide
Italian Greyhound
An intelligent, affectionate and vivacious sighthound with a short, fine, glossy coat that is low maintenance, though teeth need regular attention. Dogs NSW says it is happiest on the couch, needs a regular walk or a run in a fenced yard, and suits apartments. It is better with older children.
Italian Greyhound at a glance
- Adult weight, male
- 3 to 6 kg
- Adult weight, female
- 3 to 6 kg
- Size
- Small, under 10 kg
- Height
- 32 to 38 cm
- Lifespan
- 14 to 16 years
- Coat
- short, fine and glossy hair over fine, supple skin
Ratings
Petboost editorial ratings from 1 to 5, drawn from the breed standard text under Sources. A breed with no basis in the sources for a rating shows none.
- Grooming effort
- Energy
- Good with children
- Suits an apartment
5 means it needs the most grooming
5 means it needs a lot of exercise
5 means it suits a family best
5 means it copes best in a small home
Next steps
- Find a local groomer or daycarePet businesses near you that take bookings online.
- Check a Italian Greyhound puppy's weightWhere a puppy sits against the breed's adult range.
- Dog age in human yearsFrom a formula, not the seven-to-one rule.
Sources
- Petboost breed reference data, adult weight ranges (breed list snapshot).
- Dogs NSW, Italian Greyhound, https://www.dogsnsw.org.au/breeds/browse-all-breeds/italian-greyhound/, read 2026-10-05
- Royal Kennel Club, Italian Greyhound breed standard, https://www.royalkennelclub.com/breed-standards/toy/italian-greyhound/, read 2026-10-05
General information about the breed, not veterinary advice. Speak with your vet about your own pet.