I´m not looking for a breeder.  I just want to know what they are like as pets and how they compare to whippets.  Are they as delicate as they look?  Can they live with kids?

I havent owned one but I know those who have had both Whippets & It Greys say they are not the same temperament. The same as Greyhounds arent the same(from experience). I know breeders have done a good amount to improve the bone density. Hope that helps a little.

Hi, I have iggies, mine love nothing better than to go for long walks on the ny moors or run madly on our local beach,not delicate in that sense but they hate rain with a passion and need warmth when at rest.their feet tend to move faster than their brains. i would say that they could live with kids over 5 as long as the kids know how to behave around dogs but a whippet would be easier.

Thanks both.  We´re thinking for the future (long term, not immediate).  Currently have a whippet, who is getting on in years, and young kids (who can´t age quickly enough for me - LOL), and we thought the Italian Greyhound would take up less room on the sofa and in the bed.  Our whippet also hates rain or anything wet and feels the cold terribly so not a lot of difference there.

I don't have one, but there was a chap in my local park where we used to live who had 4 or 5, and one or another always seemed to have a leg in plaster. I also once saw someone's GSDs start chasing them, thank goodness IGs are so speedy or it could have been nasty! But there's a lady where I live now who does fun agility with hers and he's very sporty! I imagine they shouldn't live with young children because of their tiny size.

I had along chat with a guy at discover dogs about IG. Lovely little dogs but I would want to know that any children really know how to pay with them.Its not their size so much as being dropped etc  Yes their legs are quite prone to breaks if they fall or are dropped etc but with that knowledge an owner would be careful. They are not as laid back as greys and whippets always wanting to be busy buys busy and like whizzing around the house too. If you want a quite life a IG may be a bit to ott.
I learned this from the breeder who had them for years. I must say I still think they are wonderful. I would however be concerned with them playing with bigger dogs , I take care with my pom x chi who is a lot stockier in the leg than an IG

have a read of this from the club site http://theitaliangreyhoundclub.co.uk/in-your-home/

"but they hate rain with a passion and need warmth when at rest.their feet tend to move faster than their brains."

This alone would suggest they are not a million miles different to the Whippet!!   I've often wondered about how different they are to the Whippet, other than how fragile they are, which the Whippet should NOT be!!   My girl is tough.

I'll read the replies to this one, with interest.

"They are not as laid back as greys and whippets always wanting to be busy buys busy and like whizzing around the house too"

Laid back - Whippets?   Hum.  Clearly mine thinks she's an It.Greyhound then.   I suppose she is calming down a tad, at 5.5 years now, but whizzing around the house also sounds like her!!

Our whippet greets us like we´ve been away for months even if we´ve only popped out for a few minutes.  However, other than that, he is content to spend his life sleeping on the sofa or the bed and leeching to whoever he has to share the furniture with!  On a walk he is mostly happy to just mooch around although once in a blue moon he will stretch his legs briefly.  He´s 9½ now but as a youngster all he ever did was run in ever-increasing circles.