Search over 15 Italian Greyhound dogs across Australia
Italian Greyhounds are a quiet breed, with a gentle nature. They are very intelligent and loyal to their owners, although they can be shy around strangers.
They make great lapdogs and tend to bond closely with their owners if given plenty of love and attention. This breed likes routines so it’s important to establish one early on in order to keep them happy and content.
Filter 
Search
Breed
Location
Price Range
Breed Characteristics
Grooming
Exercise
Size Range
Find Italian Greyhounds
For Sale
15 Results
Australia's No. 1 Free Pets Classified
Italian Greyhounds are a quiet breed, with a gentle nature. They are very intelligent and loyal to their owners, although they can be shy around strangers.
They make great lapdogs and tend to bond closely with their owners if given plenty of love and attention. This breed likes routines so it’s important to establish one early on in order to keep them happy and content.
Questions To Ask A Breeder
- Are you are registered breeder?
- Can we meet in person?
- Have they been socialised?
Breed Characteristics
Grooming
Exercise
Size Range
The Ultimate Italian Greyhound Guide
About Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is essentially a miniature of their larger Greyhound cousins. They’re small dogs with an oversized personality. They’re watchful and alert but are generally calm at home and love to spend time with their owners. Italian Greyhounds can be elegant and lovable additions to almost any household.
Lifespan
14 to 15 years
Weight
3 to 6.5 kg
Height
33 to 38 cm
Grooming
Brush your Italian Greyhound puppy weekly.
Origins
The Italian Greyhound has held its place in human history for longer than most breeds can boast, gliding through the centuries with grace and purpose. While its exact point of origin remains hazy—lost to the fog of time and sparse records—many believe this sprightly little hound first strutted onto the scene somewhere in the Mediterranean, eventually flourishing in Renaissance Italy where its elegance matched the grandeur of the art and architecture of the time.
Though we call it the Italian Greyhound, its ancestry likely winds back even further, to ancient civilisations scattered across modern-day Turkey, Greece, and possibly even the sands of Egypt. The breed’s lithe frame and keen eye resemble hounds etched into pottery and carved into stone as far back as the 4th century B.C., which gives us a pretty good idea that these dogs have been charming humans for a very long time.
Key Characteristics Of Italian Greyhounds
Are Italian Greyhounds Family-Friendly?
Italian Greyhounds slot beautifully into family life—so long as your household leans toward the lively side. These sleek little charmers thrive when they’ve got people around who enjoy a good cuddle, a dash of playtime, and plenty of interaction.
Common Health Issues & Considerations
Italian Greyhounds may suffer from:
Epilepsy
Skin diseases
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
A disorder of the hip joint where the head of the femur bone degenerates, leading to pain and lameness.
Nature / Temperament
Alert, Gentle, Sensitive, Playful, Sweet
Suitable Environment
An Italian Greyhound, being a very small breed, needs an environment tailored to their needs.
The ideal setting should be quiet and comfortable, with ample space to explore and play. They also need access to a secure garden or yard for exercise.
Additionally, the home should be temperature-controlled—cooler in summer, warmer in winter—as these dogs do not tolerate extreme temperatures well.
They are calm and gentle but remain alert when strangers approach, often barking loudly, which can be a consideration for apartment dwellers.
Other Considerations
● Italian Greyhounds can be challenging to housetrain, much like other small breed dogs. Some Italian Greyhounds may not be completely trustworthy inside the house, so an easily accessible outdoor space may be necessary.
● Unlike other dogs, an Italian Greyhound for sale often exhibit a curious love of high places, and you may find your puppy perched on the back of a chair or windowsill.
● Italian Greyhounds may or may not get along well with cats, depending on their prey drive.
How can I take good care of my Italian Greyhound?
Nutrition
Italian Greyhound puppies need a well-balanced diet of high-quality puppy food. Whole protein sources such as beef, chicken, turkey, fish, and eggs are essential for muscle development and growth.
Additionally, omega fatty acids help maintain healthy joints and a shiny coat.
Fresh water should always be available to keep them hydrated.
Most Italian Greyhound puppies require 3 to 4 meals a day due to their small stomachs. Any major diet changes should occur under veterinary supervision.
Grooming
Italian Greyhounds are generally low-maintenance. They need minimal grooming and bathing, as they do not have a thick coat.
While grooming an Italian Greyhound is straightforward, getting them to sit still during grooming sessions starts with practice during the first couple of months of life.
Acclimate your puppy to being touched all over while they are still manageable, and you may save yourself frustration when they get older.
Recommended Grooming Tips
Bathe your Italian Greyhound puppy when they’ve rolled in something smelly. Apart from that, baths every couple of months suffice, as they tend to be clean dogs.
Check their ears weekly for discharge, redness, or bad odour, which can indicate an infection.
Brush your dog’s teeth with a vet-approved toothpaste around 3 to 4 times a week to prevent plaque and tartar buildup.
Exercise
These dogs might be small, but they’re anything but lazy.
Italian Greyhound puppies have energy to spare and need their fair share of leg-stretching each day—whether that’s a walk through the neighbourhood, a play session in the backyard, or a dash around the dog park.
And given their sighthound roots, they’ve got a strong chase drive. So if you let them off leash, make sure it’s in an area that’s tightly secured—once they spot a bird or rabbit, they’re off like a cork from a shaken bottle.
Training
If you’ve got an Italian Greyhound pup in your life, it’s smart to start training sooner rather than later.
Puppies as young as eight weeks old are more than capable of picking up the basics—things like “sit,” “stay,” and “come here” can become second nature with a bit of consistency and a pocketful of treats.
Positive reinforcement is the name of the game with this breed; they’re soft-hearted and quick to respond when you turn training into a bit of fun.
This is general information and should not be relied on for adopting or purchasing advice.
Most Asked Italian Greyhound Questions
No, Italian Greyhound puppies should not live outdoors. These dogs are small and delicate, and they need to be kept in a warm, dry environment with plenty of love and attention.
They can easily get sick if left outdoors for extended periods of time.
Italian Greyhounds seem to be built to compete, with their athletic bodies and graceful gait. Obedience, agility and rally competitions are all fair game for a well-trained Italian Greyhound, though extra effort is required to get them to follow commands when they’re feeling stubborn.
When looking for Italian Greyhound puppies for sale, you should only deal with reputable breeders with a history of producing happy, healthy dogs. Italian Greyhound puppies from good breeders will end up better behaved and longer-lived than otherwise.
The average cost of Italian Greyhounds is typically between AUD $2000 and $5000.
Safe
Responsible
Accountable
Find your next pet with PetsForHomes - Australia’s number one free website to find a pet for sale or adoption.
Trusted & Viewed by over 1 Million Australians
