The Italian Greyhound, like all other purebred dogs, is measured against a breed standard of perfection, a written description of what the ideal specimen should look like. Each dog-registering organization has its own set of standards, one for each of the breeds it recognizes; however, these standards may vary, in the way they are worded, from registry to registry and from country to country. The Italian Greyhound is accepted in Great Britain and the United States; both of these standards are presented here for your information.

Description:    The Italian Greyhound is very similar to the

                Greyhound, but much smaller and more slender in

Head:           Narrow and long, tapering to nose, with a slight

                suggestion of stop.
 

Skull:          Rather long, almost flat.
 

Muzzle:         Long and fine.
 

Nose:           Dark. It may be black or brown or in keeping with

                the color of the dog. A light or partly pigmented

                nose is a fault.
 

Teeth:          Scissors bite. A badly undershot or overshot mouth

                is a fault.
 

Eyes:           Dark, bright, intelligent, medium in size. Very light

                eyes are a fault.
 

Ears:           Small, fine in texture; thrown back and folded except

                when alerted, then carried folded at right angles to

                the head. Erect or button ears severely penalized.
 

Neck:           Long, slender and gracefully arched.
 

Body:           Of medium length, short coupled; high at withers, back

                curved and drooping at hindquarters, the highest point

                of curve at start of loin, creating a definite tuck-up

                at flanks.
 

Shoulders:      Long and sloping.

 
Chest:          Deep and narrow.
 

Forelegs:       Long, straight, set well under shoulder; strong patterns,

                fine bone.
 

Hindquarters:   Long, well-muscled thighs; hind legs parallel when viewed

                from behind, hocks well let down, well-bent stifle.
 

Feet:           Harefoot with well-arched toes. Removal of dewdaws optional.
 

Tail:           Slender and tapering to a curved end, long enough to reach

                the hock; set low, carried low. Ring tail a serious

                fault, gay tail a fault.
 

Coat:           Skin fine and supple, hair short, glossy like satin and

                soft to the touch.
 

Color:          Any color and markings are acceptable except that a dog

                with brindle markings and a dog with the tan markings

                normally found on black and tan dogs of other breeds

                must be disqualified.
 

Action:         High stepping and free, front and hind legs to move

                forward in a straight line.
 

Size:           Height at withers ideally 13 inches to 15 inches.
 

Disqualification:

                 A dog with brindle markings. A dog with the tan markings

                 normally found on black and tan dogs of other breeds.

                       {Approv~ December 14, 1976}
 

Note:                          Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles

                                   fully descended into the scrotum.

Main Page