Are you a fan of dogs? Then you are sure to love Italian Greyhounds! Let me give you a quick over view of this fantastic breed. You may actually know this breed by the name "Iggy" or simply an "IG" but both refer to the Italian Greyhound! These beautiful dogs are a "sight hound" breed; this means they hunt using sight and speed as opposed to scent and endurance like a scent hound would. This breed is referred to as a toy breed because of their size, on average they are only 13 to 15 inches (33 to 38cm) tall. This toy group is an official status laid on the breed by the AKC and other organisations. They really are a miniature version of a greyhound; at first glance you may think a regular greyhound shrank in the wash! They are much smaller than a regular greyhound, on average they weigh between 7 to 14 pounds (3.6kg to 8.2kg).

Unfortunately this breed can be susceptible to injury because of their slender frames so care must be taken and avoid rough play. If you plan to roll around in the fields with your dog then perhaps consider a different breed. Kids can be accidentally careless also and may injure Italian Greyhounds so be sure to supervise children when they play with your dog. Much like dogs, children can be trained to be careful when around dogs but in general Iggy's are best suited to quiet homes and have been known to work very well with the elderly.

One of the best features of the Italian greyhound is their short hair. Allergy sufferers have reported suffering no ill effects when living with the breed. Their sleek hair carries almost no odour making them perfect for owners that are prone to animal allergies. The trade off of this short hair is that IG's need an extra coat in the cold months. Extreme cold can lead to your Italian Greyhound getting frost bite on their ears and discomfort! Make sure you have a little jumper and boots for your dog if you are planning trips out in the cold.

Although Italian Greyhounds prefer big open areas they can also live quite happily in city environments also. Just like any animal they will be happiest if you can give them a daily workout, especially when they are a puppy. Be careful with your miniature greyhound when they are young, they have a genetic disposition to poor bone density and this leads to broken legs. Puppy's can get a bit excited and accidentally break their legs!