Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound, or Piccolo Levriero Italiano, is an ancient and elegant breed from Italy, renowned as the smallest of the sighthounds. For centuries, these graceful dogs have charmed nobility and royalty, evolving from swift hunters to cherished companions. Their remarkable journey through history includes a brush with extinction and a spirited revival, making their story as captivating as their delicate beauty. Italian Greyhounds boast an ancient lineage, having been prized companions for European nobility and royalty since Roman times. Despite their historical role as agile hunters of small game, today's Italian Greyhounds are predominantly cherished as devoted companion animals. The breed faced near extinction after World War II, but dedicated efforts by passionate breeders successfully brought these delicate dogs back from the brink.
AI Summary
The Italian Greyhound, or Piccolo Levriero Italiano, is an ancient and elegant breed from Italy, renowned as the smallest of the sighthounds. For centuries, these graceful dogs have charmed nobility and royalty, evolving from swift hunters to cherished companions. Their remarkable journey through history includes a brush with extinction and a spirited revival, making their story as captivating as their delicate beauty.
- Italian Greyhounds boast an ancient lineage, having been prized companions for European nobility and royalty since Roman times.
- Despite their historical role as agile hunters of small game, today's Italian Greyhounds are predominantly cherished as devoted companion animals.
- The breed faced near extinction after World War II, but dedicated efforts by passionate breeders successfully brought these delicate dogs back from the brink.
The Elegant Italian Greyhound
Imagine a dog that embodies grace, speed, and affection all in one petite package. That's the Italian Greyhound. Hailing from Italy, this breed is the smallest member of the sighthound family—a group of dogs historically bred for hunting using their keen eyesight and incredible speed, not scent.
Originally developed to hunt quick-footed prey like hares and rabbits, their athletic prowess is undeniable. Yet, their gentle demeanor and suitability for indoor life have seen them transition to their most popular role today: beloved companion dogs.
A Royal Pedigree
The history of the Italian Greyhound stretches back thousands of years. Evidence suggests small sighthound-type dogs were present in ancient Egypt and Greece. They arrived in the Mediterranean basin over 2,000 years ago, quickly becoming favorites among the upper echelons of society.
Indeed, a second-century Roman marble statue, now housed in the Vatican Museums, vividly depicts dogs believed to be early ancestors of the Italian Greyhound. This enduring artistic representation underscores their long-standing presence and admiration throughout antiquity.
Throughout the Renaissance and beyond, these dogs solidified their status as a symbol of nobility and refinement. European royalty and aristocracy were particularly smitten. Rulers like Frederick II, many members of the powerful D'Este, Medici, and Visconti families, and numerous French kings, from Louis XI to Louis XIV, all owned them.
Their appeal wasn't limited to Italy or France. Luminaries such as Frederick the Great of Prussia, Anne of Denmark, Catherine the Great of Russia, and even Queen Victoria of England counted these elegant dogs among their most cherished pets. They were truly the dogs of kings and queens.
From Ancient Lines to Modern Clubs
By the 19th century, Italian Greyhounds made their way to the United Kingdom, where they were officially recognized. The first volume of The Kennel Club Calendar and Stud Book, published in 1874, proudly listed forty of them, cementing their place in the British dog world. The American Kennel Club followed suit, beginning registrations in 1886.
In Italy, the modern history of the Piccolo Levriero began to flourish in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Initial registrations were modest, but numbers steadily climbed after the First World War, thanks to dedicated breeders who championed the revival of the breed in its homeland and across Europe.
However, the tumultuous events of the Second World War nearly wiped the Italian Greyhound off the map. The breed teetered on the brink of extinction. It wasn't until the 1950s, through the tireless efforts of individuals like Maria Luisa Incontri Lotteringhi della Stufa and her influential bitch Komtesse von Gastuna, that the breed began its true recovery.
Their persistence paid off: the breed received definitive acceptance from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1956. This recognition paved the way for the formation of dedicated breed societies, ensuring the Italian Greyhound's future and preserving its rich heritage.
Today, the Italian Greyhound enjoys a stable and cherished place in the canine world. The Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana recorded a consistent average of over 280 new registrations per year from 2011 to 2019, reflecting its enduring popularity.
A Miniature Athlete
Despite its delicate appearance, the Italian Greyhound is built for speed and agility. Standing between 32 to 38 cm (12.5 to 15 inches) at the shoulder and weighing no more than 5 kg (11 pounds), it is the epitome of a miniature sighthound—lean, muscular, and surprisingly robust.
Its physique is a testament to its sighthound heritage: a deep chest allows for ample lung capacity, while a tucked-up abdomen minimizes drag. Long, slender legs and a graceful neck complete the picture of an animal designed for swift, elegant movement.
When in motion, the Italian Greyhound displays a distinctive high-stepping, well-sprung gait. It moves with effortless grace, capable of impressive forward extension at a trot and — when given the chance — bursting into a gallop that can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h (35 mph). This makes them surprisingly fast for their size!
Their short, smooth coat comes in a variety of elegant solid colors, including black, various shades of grey, and isabelline—a pale, fawn-like yellow. Small white markings are permitted only on the chest and feet, adding to their refined appearance.
Health and Longevity
Italian Greyhounds are generally a healthy breed, often enjoying a longer lifespan than many other dogs. Their median longevity is approximately 14 years, which is notably above the average of 12.5 years for all dog breeds.
Like any purebred, they can be predisposed to certain conditions. Some breed-related neurological abnormalities include congenital deafness and cervical intervertebral disc disease, which owners should be aware of.
However, they also boast a remarkable health advantage: the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals has found the Italian Greyhound to be the least affected by hip dysplasia among 157 breeds studied, with an astonishing incidence rate of virtually zero. This is a significant genetic achievement for the breed!
A Companion First
While their ancestors were formidable hunters, the modern Italian Greyhound thrives as a loyal and affectionate companion. They form deep bonds with their human families and are happiest when they are close to their loved ones, often seeking out warm laps and soft blankets.
Recognized as a 'toy breed' by major kennel clubs like the American Kennel Club and The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom, they embody the ideal indoor pet. Despite their regal history and athletic capabilities, their true joy lies in companionship, making them a perfectly elegant addition to any home.
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Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound or Piccolo Levriero Italiano is an Italian breed of small sighthound. It was bred to hunt hare and rabbit, but is kept mostly as a companion dog. The English-language name used for it by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale is Italian Sighthound.
History
Italian Greyhound
Marble statue believed to represent two sighthounds, perhaps Italian Greyhounds or their precursors, from the second century AD. Discovered at Lanuvio in 1774, now in the Vatican Museums
Engraving showing two prize-winning Italian Greyhounds in the United Kingdom, from John Henry Walsh, The Dog in Health and Disease, 1859
Small dogs of sighthound type have long been popular with European nobility and royalty. Among those believed to have kept them are Frederick II, Duke of Swabia; members of the D'Este, Medici and Visconti families; the French kings Louis XI, Charles VIII, Charles IX, Louis XIII and Louis XIV; Frederick the Great of Prussia; Anne of Denmark; Catherine the Great; and Queen Victoria. Dogs of this type have often been represented in sculpture – including a second-century Roman statue now in the Vatican Museums – and paintings, notably by Giotto, Sassetta and Tiepolo.
Dogs of this kind were taken in the first half of the nineteenth century to the United Kingdom, where they were known as Italian Greyhounds; the first volume of The Kennel Club Calendar and Stud Book, published in 1874, lists forty of them. A breed association, the Italian Greyhound Club, was established in Britain in 1900. Registrations by the American Kennel Club began in 1886.
The history of the modern Piccolo Levriero goes back to the last years of the nineteenth century. A total of six of the dogs were shown in 1901 in Milan and Novara, two in Turin in 1902, and one in Udine in 1903. Numbers began to increase only after the First World War, partly as a result of the work of two individual breeders, Emilio Cavallini and Giulia Ajò Montecuccoli degli Erri. In this post-War period the Piccolo Levriero was bred principally in Italy, France and Germany, and some Italian breeders imported dogs from outside the country. Of the forty-five of the dogs registered in 1926–1927 by the Kennel Club Italiano (as it was then known), twenty-eight were born in Italy and seventeen were imported.
The events of the Second World War brought the Piccolo Levriero close to extinction, and numbers began to recover only in the 1950s, particularly after 1951, when Maria Luisa Incontri Lotteringhi della Stufa brought the influential bitch Komtesse von Gastuna from Austria. The breed was definitively accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in October 1956, and in November of that year a breed society, the Circolo del Levriero Italiano, was formed under the auspices of the Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana; it was later renamed the Circolo del Piccolo Levriero Italiano.
In the nine years from 2011 to 2019, the Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana recorded a total of 2557 new registrations of the Piccolo Levriero, with a minimum of 213 and a maximum of 333 per year.
Characteristics
Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of the sighthounds. It weighs no more than 5 kg and stands 32 to 38 cm at the withers. It is deep in the chest, with a tucked-up abdomen, long slender legs and a long neck. The head is small, elongated and narrow. The gait should be high-stepping and well-sprung, with good forward extension in the trot, and a fast gallop. The coat may be solid black, or grey or isabelline in any shade; white markings are accepted on the chest and feet only.
Median longevity is about 14 years, compared to an average of 12.5 for all dogs.
The dogs may be affected by breed-related neurological abnormalities including congenital deafness and cervical intervertebral disc disease. In the United States, the Ortheopedic Foundation for Animals has found the Italian Greyhound to be the least affected by hip dysplasia of 157 breeds studied, with an incidence of 0.
Use
Italian Greyhound
The original function of the Piccolo Levriero was to hunt hare and rabbit; it is capable of bursts of speed up to 60 km/h (35 mph). Although assigned to the sighthound or hare-coursing groups by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and the Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana, the Italian Sighthound is – as it was in the past – kept mostly as a companion dog. It is classified as a toy breed by the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom.