Italian Sighthound

Other name: Italian Greyhound

Photo: adult dog of Italian Sighthound breed
Photo: puppy of Italian Sighthound breed
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Life expectancy

The Italian Sighthound has a life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years

Temperament

Size

Small

Adult size

Female Between 13 and 15 in
Male Between 13 and 15 in

Adult weight

Female Between 7 and 11 lb
Male Between 7 and 11 lb
Coat colour
Black Blue Sand
Type of coat
Very short
Eye colour
Brown

Purchase price

The Italian Sighthound costs between £845 and £1230

Good to know

More details about the Italian Sighthound

Italian Sighthound: Origins and history

The first reference to any type of greyhound appeared in ancient Egypt. Mummified remains of small, greyhound-like dogs were found in the tombs of Egyptian rulers and pictures of these same dogs appeared in the hieroglyphics that covered the walls of the pyramids. The remains of similar breeds were then discovered during archaeological excavations in Pompeii and ancient Roman sites. The more "modern" version of the Italian Greyhound breed become especially popular during the 16th and 17th centuries, when they became the dog of choice for many of the leading aristocratic European families.

FCI classification of the Italian Sighthound

  • Group 10 - Sighthounds

  • Section 3 : Short-haired Sighthounds

Training a Italian Sighthound

Italian Greyhounds respond best to gentle, reward-based training methods. You’ll also need a little bit of patience as Italian Greyhounds puppies tend to be extremely boisterous, meaning they can struggle to focus on a specific task. So keep the training sessions short and fun. Around 10-15 minutes per day is ideal.

Italian Sighthound: Purchase price

A purebred Italian Greyhound pup can cost up to £1230 if they are registered at the Kennel Club, although others can be bought for around £845.

Italian Greyhounds don't need massive amounts of food, so budget between £40-60 each month to cover the cost of feeding them. Other expenses, like insurance, will vary depending on your dog's age and medical history. Overall, maintaining a healthy Italian Greyhound will cost around £900 per year.

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