How to Tell a Whippet, Greyhound, and Italian Greyhound Apart

Whippets, Greyhounds, and Italian Greyhounds are often mistaken for one another — and it’s easy to see why. These sleek dogs share the same elegant look, gentle personalities, and impressive speed. But although they’re closely related, they aren’t the same breed, and these differences matter when it comes to lifestyle, space, and care needs.

TL;DR: Whippets, Greyhounds, and Italian Greyhounds are all sighthounds known for their slim builds, affectionate nature, and love of lounging indoors. The biggest difference is size: Greyhounds are large, Whippets are medium, and Italian Greyhounds (often called Iggies) are small and delicate. All three are calm inside, need minimal grooming, have strong prey drives that make off-leash activity risky, and bond closely with their families.

Whippet vs. Greyhound vs. Italian Greyhound: breed origins and history

All three breeds belong to the sighthound family, meaning they were bred to hunt by sight rather than scent. Their slim bodies, long legs, and deep chests are designed for speed and short bursts of intense running. 

Greyhounds: They are the oldest of the three, dating back to Ancient Egypt. They have been used for hunting and racing for centuries and were prized for their speed and endurance. Over time, their calm, gentle nature made them well-suited as companions.

Related article

Greyhound: Is This the Right Dog for Your Lifestyle?

Yes, Greyhounds are active — but they can also be kind of chill, sensitive, and independent.

Whippets: This pup was developed in England by breeding small English Greyhounds with Terriers as a smaller, more affordable alternative to Greyhounds. They were often used for racing and hunting small game, earning the nickname “the poor man’s racehorse.”

Italian Greyhounds: They were primarily bred to be companion dogs for nobility about 2,000 years ago in Greece and Turkey, during the Roman Empire. Their smaller size and affectionate temperament reflect this history, but they still retain the sighthound instinct to chase. They’re thought to have a close relationship to their Greyhound cousins, but their full lineage isn’t completely known.

Lucas Ottone / Stocksy/ Greyhound

Whippets and Greyhound Breeds: physical differences

Although these breeds look similar, they vary greatly in overall size.

Greyhound size and build

Greyhounds are the tallest of the three, standing 27 to 30 inches tall and typically weighing 60 to 80 pounds. Despite their large size, they are gentle movers indoors and surprisingly low-energy once their exercise needs are met.

Whippet size and build

Whippets are medium-sized dogs with a slim, athletic frame. They usually weigh between 25 and 40 pounds and are built for speed while still being sturdy enough for everyday life. As for height, whippets are of medium stature at 18 to 22 inches.

Italian Greyhound size and build

The smallest of the three is the Italian Greyhound at 13 to 15 inches, with most weighing only seven to 14 pounds. They are toy-sized and very delicate, with thin bones that make them more fragile than Whippets or Greyhounds, especially as puppies. 

Head shapes

All three have long, narrow heads with a graceful profile, though Italian Greyhounds tend to have finer, more delicate features.

Ear shapes

Each breed has rose-shaped ears that fold back when relaxed and perk up when alert.

Coat colors

Whippets, Greyhounds, and Italian Greyhounds come in many colors and patterns, including black, white, brindle, fawn, blue, and combinations of these. Their coats are short and easy to maintain.

veera / Adobe Stock/ Italian Greyhound

Whippet vs. Italian Greyhound vs. Greyhound: temperament and personality 

Despite their racing background, all three are often described as couch potatoes. After a short burst of running, they’re usually happy to nap for the rest of the day. Here’s the lowdown on the personalities of these slender hounds.

Traits all three breeds share

• Gentle and affectionate: These breeds can form close bonds with their people and often crave physical closeness, such as leaning against you or curling up on the couch.

• Quiet and calm indoors: After a daily walk or a short sprint, all three of these pups are content to relax and nap for hours inside.

• Sensitive to harsh training methods: Because they are emotionally sensitive dogs, hard corrections can cause fear or shut-down behavior. They respond best to calm handling, patience, and positive reinforcement.

• Strong prey drive: As sighthounds, they are instinctively drawn to chase moving objects. Off-leash activity should be limited to fenced-in areas, and homes with small pets like cats or rabbits should have careful introductions and supervision.

• Enjoy lounging and cuddling: Despite their athletic build, these dogs are true couch potatoes who love soft beds, blankets, and spending downtime with their families.

Key differences

• Greyhounds tend to be the most laid-back and adaptable, often doing well in apartments, despite their size.

• Whippets are playful and affectionate, with slightly more energy than Greyhounds, but are still easy to live with.

• Italian Greyhounds are very people-focused and can be prone to anxiety if left alone too often. They also need more careful handling due to their fragile build.

All three breeds do best with positive reinforcement training and benefit from early socialization.

Jana / Adobe Stock/ Whippet

Greyhound vs. Whippet vs. Italian Greyhound: health 

These sighthounds are generally healthy, but each breed has their own health concerns. Regular vet visits, dental care, and maintaining a healthy weight help support long-term health for all three breeds.

Health issues seen across the breeds

• Heart problems: More commonly seen in smaller breeds, some pups may develop heart murmurs or other cardiac conditions.

• Periodontal disease: All three hounds have narrow jaws, which are prone to dental issues without regular dental care.

• Hypothyroidism: More commonly seen in Greyhounds, this condition can affect metabolism and energy levels.

Greyhound health issues

Greyhounds may be more likely to develop hypothyroidism and certain heart conditions. Retired racing Greyhounds may also have unique health needs during their transition to home life.

Whippet health issues

Whippets are generally healthy, but some may be prone to heart conditions and eye problems. 

Italian Greyhound health issues

Italian Greyhounds are more prone to dental disease and broken bones, especially during puppyhood. Careful handling and dental care are essential. Some common heart problems for Iggys include mitral valve disease and heart murmurs, and sometimes congenital heart defects.

Considering adopting a sighthound?

There are tons of pets sitting in shelters and rescues, waiting to kick off their next chapter with a loving family. No matter which type of pup you’re looking for, there’s a pet out there who’s the perfect fit, just waiting for the chance to meet you.

Start your search on Adopt a Pet, where you can filter pets by age, color, breed, and more.

Commonly asked questions 

Are Italian Greyhounds yappy?

Italian Greyhounds aren’t typically yappy, but they can bark if they feel anxious or lonely. They do best in homes where they receive plenty of companionship and reassurance.

Are Whippets or Italian Greyhounds faster?

Whippets are generally faster than Italian Greyhounds due to their larger size and stronger muscles. Greyhounds are the fastest of all three.

Can these breeds be trusted off-leash?

These breeds usually cannot be trusted off-leash, but this depends highly on training. All three have strong prey drives and may chase small animals without warning. A securely fenced area is the safest option for off-leash running.

Are Whippets, Greyhounds, and Italian Greyhounds good apartment dogs?

Yes, despite their speed, all three breeds are calm indoors and do very well in apartments as long as they get daily exercise.

References

Coile, Caroline. “Greyhound | Appearance, Racing, History, & Facts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2019, www.britannica.com/animal/greyhound-dog.

‌“Italian Greyhound Breed History - IGCA.” IGCA, 19 Nov. 2023, italiangreyhound.org/about-the-italian-greyhound/italian-greyhound-breed-history.

“Italian Greyhound vs. Whippet: How to Tell the Difference.” American Kennel Club, 29 June 2023, www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/whippet-vs-italian-greyhound.

“Whippet | Breed of Dog | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, www.britannica.com/animal/whippet.