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Overview
Weight | 8-15 pounds |
Height | 11-14 inches for males; 10-13 inches for females |
Coat | Mid-length, straight, varied color and pattern combo |
Trainability | Average |
Compatibility with Other Animals | Good when exposed to animals during early years |
Compatibility with Kids | Ideal for older children |
Grooming Requirements | Minimal |
Ideal Family Type | A family type who showers cuddles and attention to their dogs |
Ideal Living Conditions | Any |
Possible Health Concerns | Patellar luxation, tracheal collapse, or hypoglycemia |
Exercise Requirements | Minimal, and can be done indoors |
Lifespan | 12-20 years |
Are you looking for a small dog with low maintenance? Do you want a dog with an energetic personality that is cuddle-ready? In that case, an Italian greyhound chihuahua mix can be your perfect home companion.
You’ll get the combined grace of Italian Greyhounds and the sassy playfulness of Chihuahuas with this breed. But before diving deep, let’s walk into a short history to see where they come from.
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Table of Contents Show
History and Origins
Also known as the Italian Greyhuahua, this adorable dog mixes two popular breeds known for their energy and close affinity to people. To understand its unique characteristics, it helps to know its parent origins.
Italian Greyhound
Italian Greyhounds are the smallest dogs of the Sighthound family. Their origins date back some 2,000 years ago from a region now known as our modern-day Greece and Turkey. They were considered favorite companions of nobility during hunting games and social events, making them one of the most revered and popular animals during the Roman Empire’s reign.
During the Italian Renaissance, their glamour soared. Owning miniature Greyhounds became a thing for the aristocrats, effectively making this dog breed a status symbol. They were Catherine the Great’s favorite dog breed and have been subjects of some of the era’s famed painters like Giotto and Vittore Carpaccio.
The AKC registered its first Italian Greyhound in 1886 after American breeders salvaged what was left of the dying breed from Europe’s tragic wars. As of 2022, Italian Greyhounds rank 63rd on AKC’s most popular dog breed list.
Chihuahua
Contrary to an Italian Greyhound’s lavish, regal history, the Chihuahua’s origins take on a darker tone. While many still argue about its birthing place, many points toward Mexico sometime in 100 AD. The ancient Aztecs of northern Mexico used chihuahuas as burial ritual sacrifices, believing in their spiritual ability to guide spirits to the afterlife.
It wasn’t until the 1800s that the U.S. started noticing these small dogs and importing them, which in a way, helped ensure the breed’s survival. It’s also the first ever recorded appearance of a chihuahua dog with long coats, in contrast to its more popular short coat variety.
Today, Chihuahuas are among the most popular dog breeds in the toy category. They’re in the 34th place of AKC’s popularity ranking as of 2022 and remain a top favorite for solo dog owners.
Italian Greyhound Chihuahua Mix Origins
There’s minimal information on the history of Italian Greyhound Chihuahua mixes primarily because they’ve only been around since the early 2000s. Some think this mixed breed came from Italy. Others believe the U.S. first made it public.
Regardless of where it was first bred, Italian Greyhuahuas are a rare breed. Greyhounds don’t easily come by in the U.S., making raising them challenging for professional breeders.
Appearance of the Italian Greyhound Chihuahua Mix
An Italian Greyhuahua’s appearance is one of the most unpredictable among mixed-breed dogs, though its distinct slender frame and skinny, long legs stay consistent in most variations.
A Chihuahua-Greyhound mix gives you the best physical features of both worlds. It’s got the defined bone structure of the Italian Greyhounds and the Chihuahua’s brown, bulging eyes, which is always on high alert.
Let’s break down each of these breeds’ physical characteristics:
Weight
The average Italian Greyhuahua weighs around 8 to 15 pounds, varying depending on the parent breed. Male mixes also weigh heavier, running between 10 to 15 pounds compared to a female Greyhuahua at just 8 to 13 pounds.
Height
The average height of a male Italian Greyhuahua is between 11 to 14 inches. Females measure from 10 to 13 inches tall.
Coat
This breed’s coat runs from short to medium in length, has normal density, and is almost often straight in texture. I’ve never seen one with a curly or corded coat. In terms of color, the possibilities are limitless, but they often have more than one shade with various patterns on it.
Popular coat color combinations include black & white, salt & pepper, and white & caramel. Coat patterns can range from spotted, speckled, brindle, and sable.
Temperament and Personality
Italian Greyhuahuas are pure balls of energy stuffed in a small body. They look peaceful and calm but have incredible energy reserves for play. They’re loyal and affectionate home buddies who demand your attention and never fail to let you know about it.
Expect a dog who follows you around the house and watches your every movement. While they can appear clingy, they’re one of the smartest dog breeds, sensitive to their owner’s mood. If you’ve taught them obedience training, they have no problems behaving well when you tell them.
Another distinct attribute of an Italian Greyhound Chihuahua is their fierce loyalty to their owners. If they’re attached explicitly to you, expect an intense degree of protectiveness too.
This dog breed takes time to warm up to people, and they’ll treat new faces with aloofness until they feel comfortable in their presence. Generally, though, they’re playful and loving dogs. They can be shy but never aggressive.
So if you don’t mind fur-parenting a small dog who’d rather stay in your lap than lay on the floor, a Greyhound Chihuahua mix can be your best dog.
Trainability
Despite this breed’s innate intelligence, they’re notoriously difficult to potty train. It’s why training them when they’re still puppies is crucial for their learning. Because these dogs are sensitive, harsh training doesn’t work on them.
For an Italian Greyhound Chihuahua, positive reinforcement is required. Giving them immediate rewards after doing the right action strengthens their retention and encourages them to repeat it.
In terms of off-leash training, it’s more of a trial-and-error. Their Italian Greyhound parent has an incredible prey drive, so they chase whatever moves. It’s almost second nature. Greyhounds seldom control this reaction, and many Greyhound chihuahua mix has taken after this trait.
Before fully committing to off-leash training, observing how your pets react to potential prey outside is best. This helps you assess whether or not you’re capable of taming them in case they start running after their prey.
Affinity to Other Animals
An Italian Greyhuahua often has good relationships with other dogs. An exception could be new pets coming into the family. Given this breed’s deep affection, it can feel jealous and territorial when it sees another animal stealing away your attention.
Another thing to be mindful of is this breed’s high prey drive. Greyhounds are hunting dogs at heart, and this breed inherited the attribute. Compared to other dogs that hunt by scent, this breed hunts by speed and movement. Smaller animals are easy targets in an open field.
Affinity to Kids
While generally friendly, the Italian Greyhound Chihuahua mix is recommended for older children. Putting them with kids under seven needs close adult supervision as this breed can be snappy. What your little ones consider play may be an irritant to this dog.
Grooming Requirements
Unlike high-maintenance dog breeds like the Australian Shepherd Bernese Mountain dog mix, our Italian Greyhuahuas require minimal grooming. Because of their small size, bathing them often isn’t necessary unless they smell or get dirty from excessive play.
I do, however, recommend regular coat brushing. For medium coat length, you can brush your dog daily using a firm bristle brush or metal comb. Italian Greyhuahuas with shorter coats will be okay with brushing once or twice weekly.
This breed sheds but not as much as the others, and brushing helps ensure their coat remains smooth and shiny during this process. Regular coat brushing also removes debris and ensures your dog’s natural oils are evenly distributed to his body.
When bathing, it’s always important to stick to mild shampoos. This helps protect the dogs from potential coat or skin problems. Regular ear cleaning and teeth brushing are also crucial, especially with this breed’s history of dental problems.
Lastly, don’t forget to trim this dog’s nails once or twice a month. Unless they’re always playing outside, which can naturally trim their nails, including this in their regular grooming routine is ideal.
Ideal Living Space
An Italian Greyhound Chihuahua mix is quite flexible. Its small stature makes it fit for apartment living, though a bigger space will likely invite this dog to run around and play all day.
Regardless of your home space, a safe environment is the most important factor to consider. Given this breed’s playful temperament, it’s wise to be cautious when letting it roam around your house.
For example, if you live in a high-rise apartment with a balcony, you better ensure your dog can’t hijack the partition separating it from the main room. Alternatively, put some barrier to prevent it from playing near the railings.
Health, Nutrition & Life Expectancy
Like other breeds, an Italian Greyhuahua has its unique lifestyle requirement to keep itself healthy. As fur parents, we’re responsible for providing the best care to keep them safe, healthy, and happy.
Common Health Issues
Many of this dog’s health problems are inherited from its parent breeds. Luckily, most can be treated when diagnosed early. Still, the dog’s overall health and genes play a huge part in its response to treatment.
Here are the common health issues often found in Italian Greyhound Chihuahua mixes:
Patellar Luxation
This is a health condition where the dog’s kneecap gets dislocated from the knee joint, which causes limping and inability to bend the knee. Other common symptoms include weak legs, the dog’s refusal to run or jump, and obvious pain when moving the affected area.
Tracheal Collapse
This is a condition when the dog’s windpipe collapses or becomes too narrow, causing serious breathing difficulties for the dog.
Heart Murmurs
Heart murmurs are often not serious, but for an Italian Greyhuahua with a tiny heart, this can mean an underlying heart condition.
Hypoglycemia
This is when the dog’s blood sugar drops too low, causing symptoms such as lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, and tremors.
Exercise Requirements
If you think Chihuahuas are active, you’ll be amazed by the Italian Greyhuahua’s energy level. They’re seen as the hyperactive version of their parent breeds with a sharp mind to match it. Thankfully, as energetic as they are, they don’t require rigorous activity to fulfill their regular exercise requirements.
And due to their small size, indoor activities will suffice, though a quick walk is a welcome idea to break the routine. This also allows them to interact with people and other dogs, which is essential for their social well-being.
You can also try playing their all-time favorite game, chasing or catching things. Alternatively, you can use the following activities:
- Walk, Run, and Jog Combo: Block a specific time each day to do this with your dog for an hour. You can start by doing this routine twice a week, then proceed to increase the frequency whenever convenient.
- Fetch: Find a secure and safe area to play fetch with your dog. This is an ideal activity to release some energy if they look restless. If you want to bring the dog outdoors, ensure they’re trained to return to you before playing. The last thing you’d want is to see them ruining other people’s picnics.
- Find the Treat: This is the perfect activity if you don’t have time to go out but need to keep your Greyhound Chihuahua mix occupied. Hide some treats in different areas in your house and let the dog find them while you’re chilling.
- Tug of War: Granted, you and your dog are both charged up for some action; you can use an old sock, a shoe, or a specialized rope toy to start pulling on each end. These dog toys are great as pets can easily grip them with their teeth without hurting them.
Dietary Needs
You must remember two important things when feeding a Greyhound Chihuahua mix. First, they don’t eat a lot. And second, they must eat twice a day.
While this dog digests food fast, their small stomach still can’t handle too much food. The key is to strike a balance between feeding them enough, so they won’t get hungry and not too much to make them feel lethargic.
A universally accepted feeding measurement is 1 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dog food daily, split into two meals.
Related: 10 Best Dog Foods for Shih Tzus 2023
Life Expectancy
A Greyhound Chihuahua mix’s lifespan is 12 to 20 years. This takes into account the individual life expectancy of each pare breed. Italian Greyhounds live 12 to 16 years on average, while a Chihuahua’s is around 12 to 20 years.
Remember that these are just average, and a major determining factor of your dog’s life expectancy will be its overall health, including lifestyle.
This year, the Guinness World Record named a Chihuahua mix the oldest living dog at 23.
Getting an Italian Greyhound Chihuahua Mix
If you’re looking for a small breed with a big personality, the Italian Greyhound Chihuahua mix is a dream come true. Here are a few things to consider before getting one for your household:
Ideal Owners
Attention is crucial in raising this breed. Unlike other dogs who celebrate their full-time independence from owners, the Greyhound Chihuahua mix is the opposite.
Ideal owners are people who are okay with pets that constantly crave attention. You should be comfortable with regular cuddles and overwhelming attention from your canine home mates because that’s what this breed does. They make you feel adored.
Potential owners who aren’t comfortable with clingy dogs will struggle with this breed and should consider going for breeds that don’t require much skinship.
Puppy Price
Italian Greyhuahua puppies can cost between $600 to $1,100 on average but are primarily dictated by the breeder. This means the price can increase depending on parent breed availability and extra acquisition cost.
Chihuahuas and Italian Greyhounds are in low supply, so depending on your location, breeders may charge more.
It can also help to be aware of the parent breed’s price to know how costly it is to acquire both. Chihuahuas are priced between $400 to $1,500, while Italian Greyhounds average at $1,400.
Breeder and Adoption
Getting an Italian Greyhound Chihuahua mix from a trusted breeder or an animal shelter is a great option, but availability isn’t always guaranteed.
Because of this breed’s rarity, you can almost always expect them to find new homes immediately after they go out in the market or for adoption.
Breed clubs are also great avenues to connect with communities and organizations that may know somebody breeding this pup.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Small, compact size
- Low maintenance
- Friendly and affectionate
- Agile and athletic
Cons
- Not good with small children
- Can be too needy or clingy
- Highly sensitive
- Can be difficult to potty train
Final Thoughts
Italian Greyhuahuas are super energetic dogs with lots of love to offer to their owners. If you share the same temperament and want a small loving companion that does well in apartment living, this breed is for you!
Best of all, you can earn this breed’s trust without being a seasoned dog owner. You may need professional help in tailored training, but other than that, you’re all set.