Italian Cavalier Greyhound 

8-15 lbs
10-15"
Unknown
Italian Greyhound
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Italian Cavalier Greyhound is a loving, friendly little canine whose parent breeds are the Italian Greyhound and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He does well in all environments and is a great companion for novice owners as he is relatively average maintenance as far as coat care and easy to train due to his kind and eager to please personality. These dogs are currently considered a companion pet; they aren’t working dogs nor are they guard dogs. However, they are very alert and can make great watchdogs. Owners of the Italian Cavalier Greyhound say he is a clever little dog with plenty of affection to give.

purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
2000's
ancestry Ancestry
Italian Greyhound and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Italian Cavalier Greyhound  Health

Average Size
Male Italian Cavalier Greyhound  size stats
Height: 13-15 inches Weight: 12-16 lbs
Female Italian Cavalier Greyhound  size stats
Height: 10-15 inches Weight: 8-15 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Dental Disease
  • Mitral Valve Dysplasia
Minor Concerns
  • Cataracts
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Episodic Falling
  • Epilepsy
Occasional Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Dental Examination
  • Electrocardiogram
  • General Physical Examination

Italian Cavalier Greyhound  Breed History

Thought to have been created through the breeding of the Blenheim Red and White King Charles Spaniel and the Toy Trawler Spaniel (now extinct), the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was originally prized as a retriever, and a tracking and flushing dog. During the reign of King Charles the II, this attractive canine began gaining more popularity as a symbol of aristocracy and was proudly owned by nobility and royalty all over Europe. This lovely breed likely originated in the 1600s and was developed in England, although it was much later before breed standards were established. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1995. The Italian Greyhound is an interesting breed that likely dates back over 2000 years ago. Skeletons thought to be small Greyhounds have been discovered around Greece and Turkey. Like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the Italian Greyhound was a favored pet of royalty; in fact, Frederick the Great of Prussia is buried beside his beloved dogs. This breed made its way to North America in the 1800s and joined the American Kennel Club roster in 1886.

Italian Cavalier Greyhound  Breed Appearance

The Italian Cavalier Greyhound is small and lean, though is a well built breed that has a long, flat skull, narrow muzzle with a tapered nose, and dark bright eyes that are mainly chocolate brown in color. These little dogs can have either small, semi-flopped ears that may look like an upside down triangle or they can have longer, broad ears with a lot of feathering. The tail is often very thin but strong for a small dog if they take after the Italian Greyhound side, or the tail can be long in length and have a lot of feathering like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent. His coat is often silky, shiny and medium in length with sparse feathering around the muzzle, ears, tails, belly and foot pads.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Italian Cavalier Greyhound  eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Italian Cavalier Greyhound  nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
red Italian Cavalier Greyhound  coat
Red
black Italian Cavalier Greyhound  coat
Black
white Italian Cavalier Greyhound  coat
White
gray Italian Cavalier Greyhound  coat
Gray
brindle Italian Cavalier Greyhound  coat
Brindle
sable Italian Cavalier Greyhound  coat
Sable
blue Italian Cavalier Greyhound  coat
Blue
cream Italian Cavalier Greyhound  coat
Cream
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Italian Cavalier Greyhound  straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Italian Cavalier Greyhound  Breed Maintenance

These hybrids are seasonal shedders and may need to be brushed a few times a week in order to remove loose fur and dirt that may be trapped in the coat. These dogs have very sensitive skin so make sure you use a slicker brush or pin brush to gently pull out loose fur before it tangles. Pay special attention to your hybrid's eyes and clean around that area daily as they can be prone to tear staining. As these dogs have floppy ears, check the ears weekly so that they remain clean and free of debris as infection can develop quite rapidly if they are allowed to get moist or full of dirt. As with all dogs, weekly teeth brushing is essential in order to prevent dental disease. Regular nail trimming every 6 to 12 weeks is a necessity if they are not worn down through physical activity.

Brushes for Italian Cavalier Greyhound 
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Italian Cavalier Greyhound  requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Italian Cavalier Greyhound  Temperament

The Italian Cavalier Greyhound is considered a friendly loving dog that will have a calm and docile demeanor when interacting with other pets and strangers. These eager to please dogs are easy to train and are often very quick to learn a new command. They are well suited to first time pet owners because of this happy and eager personality. They are gentle, playful and tolerant when around children but as with all pets, socialization at a young age is essential in order to attain a well behaved dog. These dogs can be shy and sensitive and do not take well when shouted at by owners; kind and considerate leadership is exactly what the Italian Cavalier Greyhound needs to thrive within the family. They are not suited to busy owners as they are quite prone to separation anxiety.

Italian Cavalier Greyhound  Activity Requirements

A hyper, naughty little dog if he is left to his own devices too often, this hybrid is happy to expend his energy through playing fun games such as fetching balls or through puppy-like behavior such as destroying toys. They are moderate energy dogs and are quite satisfied with daily playtime with owners, time at the dog park and short brisk walks. The Italian Cavalier Greyhound is well suited to either an urban, rural or suburban lifestyle but may not be suited to hot climates. Some of the hybrids of this mixture have the shorter muzzle of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and breathing may be labored if he is exercised in the heat.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
8 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Italian Cavalier Greyhound  Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$0.90 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$25.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Italian Cavalier Greyhound  Owner Experiences

Mine has spots like a Jack Russell type of dog.
3 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Again, I believe he could be a Jack Russell
5 years, 3 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd