American Kennel Club Breed Standard 

Approved December 14, 1976

 

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

 

HEAD:  Narrow and long, tapering to the nose, with a slight suggestion of stop.  Skull: Rather long, almost flat.  Muzzel: Long and fine. Nose: Dark. May be black or brown or keeping in color with the dog.  A light or pigmented nose is considered a fault.  Teeth: Sissors bite.  A badly undershot or overshot mouth is a fault.  Eyes:  Dark, bright, intelligent, medium ins size, Very light eyes are a fault.  Ears:  Small, fine, in texture, thron back and folded except when alerted, then carried folded at right angels to the head.  Erect or button ears severely penalized.

 

 NECK:    Long slender and gracefully Arched

 

 BODY:    Of medium length, short coupled; high at the withers, back curved and drooping at hindquarters, the higest point of curve at start of loin, creating a definate tuck-up at flanks.

 

 SHOULDERS:  Long and sloping.

 

 CHEST:  Deep and Narrow.

 

 FORELEGS:  Long, straight, set well under shoulder; strong pastems, fine boned.

 

 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 dew claws optional.

 

 TAIL:  Slender and tapering into a curved end, long enough to reach the hock; set low, carried low.  Ring tail serious fault, gay tail a fault.

 

 COAT:  Skin fine and supple, hair short, glossy like satin and soft to touch.

 

 COLOR:  Any color and markings are acceptable except that a dog with brindle markings and a dowg 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. Sizes larger and smaller are also accepted.

 

 DISQUALIFICATIONS:  A dog with brindle markings.  A dog with the tan markings normally found on black-and-tan dogs of other breeds.

Northern California

Italian Greyhound Club