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What's the difference between Italian Greyhound and a Whippet?

Harley is four months now and he is 4.4kg. The pet shop says he is an Italian Greyhound but his coat is not glossy. I can't tell if he is an Iggy or a Whippet.

Public Comments

1. Greyhound bad. Whippet good. LoL, sorry, couldnt resist.
2. sounds like whippet to me, an adult italian greyhound will only be approx, 5 kgs fully grown, and a whippet twice that weight (approx)
3. Size for one thing, the Italian greyhound is smaller and lighter boned than a whippet. They are what I would describe as 'dainty' It is unfortunate that you bought from a pet shop. This is a BAD place to buy any pet from as they get their dogs from puppy mills where b1tches are bred from and pups raised in horrific conditions. Often these pups are sick. poorly bred and in very bad condition. This could well be why your pup is in poor coat. Take it to the vet for advice. Get it wormed, build it up with good quality food (I only feed raw meat) and its coat will soon be good.
4. Italian greyhounds are smaller and lighter than whippets. The dull coat can be the result of poor health, a pet shop is not the best place to buy a puppy. For relative size, have a look at this page
5. Harley sounds to me like he's a Whippet. A full-sized Italian greyhound will only weigh about 4.5 kilos, and Harley is only a pup at the moment. For a comparison of the breeds, have a look at : http://www.explore-italian-culture.com/miniature-greyhound.html We have a full-sized greyhound who we got from a retired racing greyhound rescue centre. When he came to us his coat, like Harleys, was very dull. It's now lovely and glossy. The way we did it? Add a spoonful of cod liver oil to his meal, or mix a tin of sardines or tuna with his dried dog food at least a couple of times each week. The dogs love it and the fish oil is very good for their joints. As a bonus it gives them a lovely glossy coat. I hope your life with Harley is a great one - whippets and greyhounds are both lovely pets.
6. The Whippet coat is similar to an Italian Greyhound. The main difference is size. The IG is smaller. The coat will improve with good nutrition. For my whippets, I use a dog food formulated for high energy dogs with a little higher fat content.