Whippet vs Italian Greyhound: Which Breed is Right for You?

They look remarkably similar at first glance, both have that long, pointy face, deep chest and slender build that sighthound lovers know well. But spend five minutes with each breed, and the differences become very clear. Whippets and Italian Greyhounds suit quite different lifestyles, and choosing the right one really does come down to knowing what you're looking for.

Whippet vs Italian Greyhound: The quick answer

A Whippet is a medium-sized, relatively robust sighthound that bonds closely with their family but can manage reasonable periods alone. An Italian Greyhound is smaller and more delicate and tends to form an extremely deep attachment to its people. Both are brilliant dogs, just in different ways.

Size and build

Whippet: Whippets typically weigh between 11 and 18kg and stand around 45 to 56cm tall. They are lean but solid and can handle everyday life, including rougher play and boisterous walks without too much worry.

Italian Greyhound: Iggies are much smaller, usually 3 to 6kg and 33 to 38cm tall. Their bones are genuinely fine and fragile, which means jumping from heights or rough play carries a real risk of injury. They need a slightly more careful home environment as a result.

Temperament and attachment

Whippet: Gentle, calm and affectionate. Whippets love their people, but they are not quite as velcro as an Iggy. They are generally easier to train and tend to handle being left alone better than most sighthounds.

Italian Greyhound: Iggies bond very deeply and want to be close to you pretty much constantly. They are playful, expressive and full of character, but they do not do well with long stretches alone and can develop separation anxiety if their needs are not met. Patient, positive training works best with this breed.

Day-to-day care

Whippet: Straightforward to house train, relatively easy to manage and generally well-mannered indoors. They need a good run every day in a secure area, and a coat for cold-weather walks, but beyond that, they are fairly low-maintenance.

Italian Greyhound: House training is honestly the thing that catches most new Iggy owners off guard. They have small bladders and a strong dislike of cold and wet weather, which can make outdoor toilet training a slow process that requires a lot of patience. They also need a coat for walks and often a warm layer at home, too, during the colder months.

Which one is right for you?

A Whippet might suit you better if you have a fairly active lifestyle, need a dog that can manage some time alone, or have children or other dogs at home.

An Italian Greyhound might suit you better if you work from home or are around a lot, want a deeply bonded companion, and don't mind a slightly higher maintenance routine, especially when it comes to warmth and house training.

Both breeds need a properly fitted coat for autumn and winter walks. You can browse our full range of Whippet coats and Italian Greyhound coats at Pointy Faces, made specifically for the sighthound shape.