Italian Greyhound Breed Standard
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 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 pasterns, fine bone.
Hindquarters: Long, well-muscled thigh; hind legs parallel when viewed from behind, hocks well 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
Aprroved December 14, 1976
