Italian Greyhound: Origin, Size and Purpose

The Italian Greyhound, also called Piccolo Levriero Italiano, is a small sighthound from Italy. It was bred to hunt hare and rabbit. Today, it is kept mostly as a companion dog. The recorded height is 32 cm and the recorded weight is 5 kg. The breed’s Fédération Cynologique Internationale English name is Italian Sighthound.

What it is

The Italian Greyhound is a small sighthound from Italy. Its other name is Piccolo Levriero Italiano.

Getting to know the breed

Begin with its origin and role: this Italian breed was developed to hunt hare and rabbit, then became mostly a companion dog.

Strengths

Its background combines a clear hunting purpose with a present-day companion role. It is also a distinct Italian breed within the sighthound group.

Points to consider

The Italian Greyhound is a small dog, so it may not suit someone looking for a larger breed. Its original purpose was hunting hare and rabbit, which may not match every owner’s expectations.

Size and naming

The recorded height is 32 cm and the recorded weight is 5 kg. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale uses the English name Italian Sighthound.

Who should look elsewhere

People seeking a larger dog or a breed without a hunting background should compare other options in dog breeds or dog breeds from Italy.

Verdict

Choose this breed if an Italian origin, small sighthound type and history with hare and rabbit appeal to you. Its modern role as a companion may matter most to owners who are not choosing a dog for hunting work.

What stands out

Italian origin and a clearly named sighthound type
Bred to hunt hare and rabbit
Mostly kept as a companion dog today

Worth knowing

Small frame may not suit people seeking a larger dog
Its hunting background may not fit every owner’s aims
The facts do not provide a recorded lifespan

Suits

People interested in a small Italian sighthound
Owners seeking a companion breed with hunting origins

Think twice if

You want a larger dog
You are looking for a breed without a hunting background

In short

The Italian Greyhound offers a compact Italian sighthound profile with a documented history of hunting hare and rabbit. Its current role is mainly companionship, giving the breed a different place from dogs selected primarily for working tasks. The recorded measurements describe a small dog: 32 cm in height and 5 kg in weight. Consider it when those origins and proportions fit what you want from a dog. Look at other breeds if you need a larger frame or a different original purpose.

Questions

What is the Italian Greyhound?

It is a small sighthound breed from Italy. It is also known as Piccolo Levriero Italiano.

What was the Italian Greyhound bred to do?

It was bred to hunt hare and rabbit.

Is the Italian Greyhound mainly a working dog today?

No. The breed is kept mostly as a companion dog today.

How tall is an Italian Greyhound?

The recorded height is 32 cm.

How much does an Italian Greyhound weigh?

The recorded weight is 5 kg.

What does the Fédération Cynologique Internationale call it in English?

Its English-language name is Italian Sighthound.

Where did the Italian Greyhound originate?

The breed originated in Italy.

More dog breeds from Italy

Photo credits9 photographs on this page

Italian Greyhound — Tesori di Carli · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
Abruzzo-Maremma Sheepdog — MGerety · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
Bergamasco Shepherd — Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
Bolognese — Pleple2000 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
Bracco Italiano — Svenska Mässan · CC BY 2.0 · file page
Cane Pecoraio Varbutu — Curti1952 · Public domain · file page
Cirneco dell'Etna — de:Benutzer:Jan Eduard · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
Italian Rough-haired Segugio — Frustan · Public domain · file page
Lagotto Romagnolo — Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page

Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under the licence each one names. How Animalso credits photographs.