Italian Greyhound

Affectionate and gentle, Italian Greyhounds bond closely with their people and often pick a favorite person to shadow around the house. They're alert and playful, but their sensitive nature means they do best with calm, gentle handling and can be shy around loud kids or rough strangers.

Despite the sleek racing build, their exercise needs are moderate, a couple of brisk walks and a chance to sprint in a securely fenced yard cover it. They're true sighthounds at heart, though, so once off-leash in an open space they'll chase anything that moves, and recall can't be relied on around traffic or loose animals.

The fine, smooth coat is about as low-maintenance as it gets, an occasional wipe-down or light brush is plenty, and shedding is minimal. Thin skin and almost no body fat mean they get cold fast, so a coat or sweater for chilly walks is more necessity than fashion.

Smart and eager to please, but sensitive, harsh corrections shut them down, while positive, reward-based methods bring out their best. Housetraining can take extra patience and consistency, and many owners lean on crate training or doggy doors to help it click.

Their fine bones are prone to fractures, especially as puppies, so care around jumping off furniture and rough play is worthwhile. Dental disease is common in the breed, so regular teeth brushing and vet checkups help keep their mouth healthy long-term.

Their delicate build and thin coat make them a poor match for boisterous households or extreme cold, but they thrive as a devoted companion for a calmer home, including apartments.