Kennel Club Breed Standard for the United Kingdom

reproduced with kind permission of the Kennel Club

RULE 1 : That this Club shall be called ‘the Italian Greyhound Club’.

That its object shall be to promote the breeding of Italian Greyhounds of the true type and to urge upon Breeders and Judges the adoption of such type as is set forth in the standard accepted by  The Italian Greyhound Club.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
A greyhound in miniature, more slender in all proportions.

CHARACTERISTICS
Elegant, graceful and quick moving.

TEMPERAMENT
Intelligent, affectionate and vivacious; may appear aloof.

HEAD and SKULL
Skull long, flat and narrow, slight stop. Muzzle fine and long. Nose dark in colour.

EYES
Rather large, bright; full of expression.

EARS
Rose-shaped, placed well back, soft and fine, not pricked.

MOUTH
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Teeth even.

NECK
Long, gracefully arched.

FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders long and sloping. Legs straight; well set under shoulders;

fine, strong bone and pasterns.

BODY
Chest deep and narrow. Good length of rib and brisket. Back slightly arched over loin.

HINDQUARTERS
Long, well muscled thigh: hind legs parallel when viewed from behind; well bent stifle,

hocks well let down.

FEET

Hare Feet.

TAIL
Low-set, long, fine, carried low.

GAIT/MOVEMENT
High-stepping and free action. Front and hindlegs to move forward in a straight line with propulsion from behind.

COAT
Skin fine and supple. Hair, short, fine and glossy.

COLOUR
Black, blue, cream, fawn, red, white, or any of these colours broken with white. White dogs may be broken with one of these colours. Black or blue with tan markings, or brindle not acceptable.

SIZE
Ideal Height: 32-38cms (12½-15 ins) at withers. Ideal Weight 3.6-4.5 kgs (8-10 lbs). Overall type and elegance essential.

FAULTS
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

NOTE
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.