Toy · Italy
Italian Greyhoundtemperament, daily life and costs
Tender, elegant and deeply attached. House-training, cold weather and fragile legs are the less photogenic parts of life together.
Origin & original purpose: The Italian Greyhound is a miniature sighthound, kept as a companion for centuries and especially popular in the courts of Renaissance Italy.
- They usually live
- 13–15 years
- Roughly, per year
- €1100–2000
Life with a Italian Greyhound
What people love about them
- Forms a meaningful bond with the right household
- Brings the original working character into everyday life
- Can thrive when its real needs are planned for
Things to weigh up honestly
- The home is noisy, rough or full of unguarded stairs
- Reliable housetraining is non-negotiable
- Leg fractures, dental disease, kneecap issues and some eye conditions occur.
What they're like
Some breeds shed less than others, which people with allergies sometimes find easier to live with. But no dog is completely allergy-free, and reactions vary from person to person.
A typical day together
- 07:00
Morning Routine
A walk of 15–23 minutes before the day starts properly. Not a dog that needs puzzles — company and routine matter more.
- 12:00
Midday & Independence
Midday is the hard part — they'd rather not be left for long stretches, so most homes need a plan for it.
- 17:30
Evening Energy Burn
A longer outing later on — 30–45 minutes across the day in total — then settling down with you.
- 21:00
Decompression & Care
A quick brush once a week is usually enough
Estimated daily active commitment: ~0.5 hours
What they ask of you
- Exercise
- 30–45 min a day
- Your time
- 4–6 hours a week
- Walks, training, coat care and play together
- Space
- Content in a flat, provided they get out often enough
- Coat care
- A quick brush once a week is usually enough
- Typical yearly cost
- €1100–2000
- Food, insurance, routine vet care and grooming. Illness and emergencies come on top.
- Lifespan
- 13–15 years
- The whole of that time is the commitment, not just the puppy year.
What a year with this dog costs
An honest estimate, built from this breed's size and coat. Adjust the two things that really move the number, and you'll see the range change as you go.
Where you live
Insurance included
Professional grooming
- Food
- €315–€495
- Routine vet care and insurance
- €460–€740
- Grooming
- €45–€130
- Equipment and consumables
- €160–€300
- Buffer for the unexpected
- €120–€335
Your likely year
€1,100–€2,000
about €92–€167 a month
Real costs vary by country, by the size and appetite of your own dog, and by their health. Illness, dental work and emergencies can sit well above this range, which is why the buffer is here at all.
Best suited for
- Quieter homes and shorter, gentler walks
- Flats and town living
- Anyone who wants a dog close by, most of the day
Important things to consider
- Finds long days alone genuinely hard
- Feels the cold, so winter needs a coat and shorter outings
Health considerations
The legs are very fine, so ask a vet how to keep jumping and rough play safe, and think about stairs and sofas. Teeth need regular care, and a thin coat means proper cold-weather kit. Ask the breeder what health checks the parents had, and read the breed profile. General guidance, not a vet.
A poor match if…
- You have small children who'd love to pick the dog up or roughhouse
- You'd like a dog that takes a cold, wet walk in its stride
- You'd leave the dog alone for long days
Key trade-offs
- Small, quiet and sweetly affectionate, and more delicate than it looks
- Loves a lap and a blanket, and a chase across a field just the same
Questions people ask before committing to a Italian Greyhound
- Is a Italian Greyhound good with children?
- Usually fine with children who have been shown how to behave around a dog. As with any breed, the mix of good manners and adult supervision matters more than the label.
- Can a Italian Greyhound live in an apartment?
- Yes — apartments suit a Italian Greyhound well. Give it a fixed resting spot and reliable walks and the space itself is rarely the problem.
- How much exercise does a Italian Greyhound need each day?
- Plan for around 45 minutes of real activity a day, split into more than one outing, plus something that uses its head — scent games, training, or a proper sniffing walk.
- Does a Italian Greyhound shed a lot?
- Very little loose hair around the home. Expect regular trips to a groomer instead — low shedding almost always means more coat care.
- Is a Italian Greyhound a good first dog?
- A reasonable first dog if you prepare. Read up, book a course early, and keep the daily routine simple.
- How long can a Italian Greyhound be left alone?
- Around 1 hours at a stretch once fully grown and gradually trained for it. Longer days need a dog walker, day care or someone dropping in — and a puppy needs far shorter stretches at first.
- What does a Italian Greyhound cost per year?
- Budget roughly €1100–2000 a year for food, routine vet care, insurance, grooming and everyday kit. Country, size and individual health move that figure quite a bit, and a single unlucky year can cost more.
These answers come from the same trait numbers used everywhere on DoggMatch — no marketing, no guesswork.
Read more before you decide
The guides that matter most for this breed, written in plain language.
Compare with similar breeds
Side by side on exercise, coat, time alone and cost — the things that decide how the week actually feels.
- Italian Greyhound
Chihuahua
Miniature Pinscher
Papillon
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