History

 The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of the sighthound family. The IG is believed to have originated more than 2,000 years ago in the areas of Egypt, Greece, and Turkey. The Italian Greyhound was bred to be a small game hunter and companion.

Sometime between 200 BC and 200 AD, the Romans brought the sighthounds of the Middle East and Greece into their homes, and the beginnings of the small Greyhounds of Italy were born.
Evidence of miniature sighthounds can be found in the ruins of Pompeii from 79 AD. By the Middle Ages, the breed had become more common throughout Southern Europe. In the 16th century, Italian nobility fell in love with the breed, calling it 'Piccolo Levriero Italiano' or 'Italian Greyhound'.

We have many historic paintings and sculptures depicting the Italian Greyhound. One of the first descriptions is given by an Italian nobleman named Francesco Birago in 1626 in his Treatise of Hunting, in which he writes of the Greyhound of Italy as being around 17 to 19 inches tall. Their form & function as companions & hunters is detailed in these writings.

The breed spread throughout Europe into England in the 17th century.  In the 1800’s, Toy dogs and breeding for smaller dogs became quite popular.
The English considered the Italian Greyhound a companion pet and the breed was not used for hunting, despite their ability to hunt in their native country.

The Italian Greyhound is not a bred-down Greyhound. Rather, they share common ancestors. There is no evidence of other breeds being used to create the Italian Greyhound. The breed’s small size is a result of selective breeding.

Today, the Italian Greyhound is a smart, sensitive, multi-talented dog. Many IGs can be found competing in all types of performance events from sprinters, obedience, lure coursing, agility, and more. They are also excellent companions and excel at cuddling!