Description: The Italian Greyhound is very similar to the Greyhound, but he is much smaller and more slender in all proportions and of ideal elegance and grace.

Origin: Europe

Temperament: Quiet, affectionate

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 they are 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, straights, set well under shoulder; strong pasterns, fine bone.

Hindquarters: Long, well-muscled thigh; hind legs parallel when viewed from behind, hocks will let down, well-bent stifle.

Feet: Harefoot with well-arched toes. Removal of dewclaws 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 to 15 inches.

Disqualifications: A dog with bridle markings. A dog with the tan marking normally found on black-and-tan dogs of other breeds.

 

Source: The American Kennel Club
Approved: December 14, 1976