Toy sighthound Small size 3-5 kg

Italian Greyhound

A tiny, elegant sighthound that loves warmth and cuddles - ideal for apartments, but fragile-legged, hard to housetrain, and prone to leg fractures and dental disease.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Small
Size
3-5 kg, 32-38 cm
Moderate
Activity
Moderate; a good walk plus play keeps it settled
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Handles a normal workday with routine
Moderate
Trainability
Trainable but independent-minded
Minimal
Coat care
Short coat; minimal upkeep
Moderate
Fit with kids
Tolerant, better with older children
Moderate
Other pets
Generally okay with careful introductions
Light
Health burden
Fragile legs, teeth, and knees to watch

The Italian Greyhound typically weighs 3-5 kg, stands 32-38 cm, and lives 13-15 years.

Consider this breed if…

you want a quiet, clean, apartment-perfect dog under 5 kg,
you can commit to daily tooth brushing - the breed's teeth are notoriously bad,
your household is calm, warm, and free of leg-breaking hazards,
you want a velcro dog that sleeps under your blanket.

Do not consider this breed if…

you have toddlers or boisterous dogs that could snap a thin leg in play,
perfect housetraining is a dealbreaker - many IGs stay unreliable,
the dog would need to live or wait outdoors in cold weather,
you want off-leash freedom in open areas; sighthound chase instinct says no.

A typical day with a Italian Greyhound

  1. 7:30 · Morning
    Short walk in a coat if it's cold - IGs genuinely hate rain and chill
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Burrows into blankets and sleeps in a sunbeam
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Potty break; consistency here is the housetraining battle
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    A few minutes of zoomies - full-speed sprints, then back to the couch
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Walk plus gentle play; fenced sprint time is gold, off-leash fields are not
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Under the covers, pressed against a warm human

Temperament and training

Affection for people Very high
Sensitivity Very high
Prey drive High
Trainability Moderate
Watchdog alertness Moderate
Independence Low
Common owner mistakes
Letting a young IG leap off furniture - broken forelegs are a classic vet visit · Skipping daily dental care until extractions become inevitable · Punishing housetraining accidents in a breed that needs patience and a strict routine

Family and environment

Kids Conditional
Fine with gentle older kids; too fragile for toddler handling.
Dogs Conditional
Good with calm, size-matched dogs; rough large dogs are a hazard.
Cats Good
Usually coexists well indoors; may chase outdoors.
Apartment Ideal
Quiet, clean, and small; made for indoor living.
House with a yard Suitable
A securely fenced yard for sprints is a luxury it loves.
City Suitable
Portable and unobtrusive; leash always on near traffic.
Countryside Manages
Enjoys it on-leash; open land plus prey drive needs care.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Light

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Leg fractures Thin foreleg bones; falls and jumps are the danger
Dental disease Severe and early in the breed; brush daily
Luxating patella Kneecap slips; watch for a skipping gait
Progressive retinal atrophy Inherited vision loss; a DNA test exists

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Sturdier mid-size sighthound version
Whippet
A quiet apartment sprinter: 30 minutes of running, 23 hours of couch - just never trust it off leash near small animals.
View profile →
Similar warmth-loving toy companion
Chinese Crested
A tiny, affectionate companion in hairless and coated types - devoted and apartment-friendly, but needs skin care and dislikes being left alone.
View profile →
Another elegant micro companion breed
Prague Ratter
A tiny, lively toy breed that adapts well to apartments - its fragility and dental and knee issues mean careful handling and vet upkeep.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Italian Greyhound cost?
Expect roughly $1,500-$2,500 from a US breeder who tests eyes and knees. The lifetime picture matters more: a single broken leg can cost thousands to repair with surgery, and dental care - cleanings and often extractions - is a recurring bill in this breed, so insure early or fund a real vet cushion.
Are Italian Greyhounds hard to housetrain?
Honestly, yes - this is one of the breed's best-known weaknesses. Many IGs take far longer than average, and some never become fully reliable, especially in cold or wet weather they refuse to go out in. A strict schedule, indoor backup options, and realistic expectations help more than frustration does.
Do Italian Greyhounds really break their legs easily?
The risk is real, especially in puppies and young adults: long, thin foreleg bones plus a fearless leap off the back of a sofa is the classic fracture story. Ramps, supervised furniture access, no rough play with big dogs, and keeping the dog lean all lower the risk substantially.
Can an Italian Greyhound be let off leash?
Only in securely fenced areas. It is a true sighthound: when something small runs, the chase reflex outruns any recall training, and at 40 km/h a 4 kg dog is gone in seconds. A fenced yard or enclosed dog run gives it the sprint outlet safely.