The Italian Greagle is a combination of the Italian Greyhound and the Beagle. Beagles are renowned for their happy and friendly personalities. They are hound dogs that have been traditionally used for hunting by tracking down prey through scent and baying when on the trail of a rabbit.

Breed Overview

Italian Greyhounds are known to be playful and sensitive dogs that are, in essence, miniature Greyhounds. These dogs are sighthounds and were bred to chase down prey. When you put these two breeds together, you end up with a prey-driven dog that is smart and friendly and loves being around people.

The Italian Greagle is small to medium in size and tends to look like a leaner and more elegant version of the Beagle, with floppy ears and a long and whip-like tail. They have short, smooth coats that can be bi or tricolor in a range of colors that include brown, black, and white like the Beagle, as well as blue, gray, red, cream, or fawn.

Italian Greagle Characteristics

Italian Greagle Puppies

Italian Greagles are quite energetic and active dogs that are healthy and have a long lifespan. They are friendly dogs but might show a little aloofness with strangers at times, and they are prone to stubbornness during training.

If you choose to get your puppy through a breeder, going to the breeder’s place in person will give you the opportunity to meet one or both of the parents of your potential puppy. This will enable you to check the temperament and appearance of the parents, which might give you an idea of your puppy’s own personality and potential appearance when it grows into adulthood.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Italian Greagle

Italian Greagles are sweet and loving dogs that make excellent family dogs. They enjoy spending time with their owners, cuddling up on the couch. But the Italian Greyhound in them gives them a bit of an independent streak, so they might also enjoy the occasional bit of alone time.

This breed is also quite sensitive because of their Italian Greyhound background and quite intelligent. They can make decent watchdogs because they aren’t shy about barking and will warn you about anyone on the property. They can do well in an apartment due to their small size, as well as a house with a yard.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Italian Greagles are quite amazing with children, so they definitely make excellent family pets. They are gentle, loving, and quite playful and will make good playmates for the kids. However, always be sure to teach ¹ your children to treat dogs gently and with respect.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Italian Greagles get along quite well with other dogs. The Beagle is a pack animal, so it is quite likely that the Greagle will enjoy the company of other dogs. Since the Italian Greagle has a high prey drive, though, you’ll need to be careful with smaller pets. If they are socialized quite well as puppies and raised with other pets, they should get along well but supervision might always be necessary.

Things to Know When Owning an Italian Greagle

Food & Diet Requirements

Start by purchasing high-quality dog food for your Italian Greagle. The food should be designed for your Greagle’s current age, size, and activity level. You can follow the guidelines found on the bag of food for how much you should feed your pup daily.

These dogs are prone to having lean and slim bodies due to their Italian Greyhound heritage, so you don’t need to worry about “fattening up” your dog. Speak to your veterinarian if you’re ever concerned about your puppy’s weight or health.

Exercise

These dogs are high-energy and will require a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes of exercise every day. They will need the opportunity to run to help burn off some of that energy as well. This breed tends to exhibit destructive behavior when they’re bored, so try to play with them every day.

You should always keep them on the leash while outside, however. With both parents having hound dog blood, Italian Greagles are quite likely to give chase to any small animal that they see.

Training

Training Italian Greagles might prove to be a bit of a challenge. While they are smart dogs, they also have an independent streak. Also, hound dogs are notorious for being single-minded when they catch an interesting scent, so they can be easily distracted. Just remember to always train with positive reinforcement and train gently because they are sensitive dogs.

Grooming ✂️

Hound dogs are notorious for being heavy shedders. They need brushing several times a week, but you’ll want to up the brushing sessions to every day during shedding season. That said, their short coats are easy to brush.

Hounds are known for that special hound dog odor, but you’ll not want to bathe them more than once a month with a good dog shampoo.

Trim your Italian Greagle’s nails every 3–4 weeks, brush the teeth two to three times a week, and clean those floppy hound ears at least every week.

Health and Conditions

Purebred dogs generally have serious health conditions that they pass down through the generations. Italian Greagles are hybrids, so they aren’t as likely to inherit these conditions, but it is a possibility. Here, we go over the conditions that their parent breeds tend to acquire because it can give you insight into the Greagle.

Serious Conditions:

The Beagle is prone to:

• Hip dysplasia
• Kneecap dislocation
• Epilepsy

The Italian Greyhound might have issues with:

• Kneecap dislocation
• Epilepsy
• Liver shunt
• Disintegration of the hip joint

They are also sensitive to barbiturate anesthesia, so your vet should be aware of this before any surgical procedures. Your vet will check your Greagle’s knees and hips and will run blood and urinalysis tests.

Minor Conditions:

The Beagle might experience:

• Hypothyroidism
• Glaucoma
• Cherry eye
• Degeneration of the image forming part of the eye
• Eyelash disorders
• Dry eye syndrome
• Deafness
• Cataracts
• Mange

The Italian Greyhound might:

• Degeneration of the image forming part of the eye
• Periodontal disease
• Cataracts
• Hypothyroidism

Your vet will check the Greagle’s eyes, ears, skin, and teeth during each annual exam.

Male vs. Female

The physical difference between male and female dogs is usually minimal. Female dogs tend to be slightly smaller than males, but this might not be the case with a hybrid like the Italian Greagle. The size of the dog depends on which parent they take after the most. Beagles weigh about 20 to 30 pounds, whereas the Italian Greyhound weighs 7 to 14 pounds.

You’ll want to consider surgery for your Greagle as well. Spaying the female is a more complex surgery, so it will take longer for recovery and is more expensive than neutering the male.

Some believe that there is a difference in temperament between males and females, but what really determines a dog’s personality is how they were raised and socialized while they were puppies and how they’ve been treated as adult dogs.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Italian Greagle

1. Italian Greagles are known to be barkers.

Both the Beagle and Italian Greyhound are known barkers, so chances are that the Italian Greagle will also be a barker. This is just something to keep in mind, especially if you live in an apartment.

2. These dogs are hard to find.

Unfortunately, this hybrid dog is quite rare. Since these dogs are so hard to find, you can expect the price to be on the high side.

3. Italian Greagles have a high prey drive.

Both the Greyhound and the Beagle are hunting and hound dogs, so Italian Greagles will be quick to chase anything that moves.

Final Thoughts

Italian Greagles are hard to find, so if you’re determined to find one, you could start by posting your interest in this breed on social media. You can also speak to Italian Greyhound and Beagle breeders or attend dog shows and speak to dog clubs. Remember to keep an eye out for rescue groups as well. You might not find the Italian Greagle there, but you just never know.

These dogs are like slender Beagles that will enjoy spending time with you indoors and with your outdoor activities. If you are looking for the perfect family dog that will bond with your children and enjoy a nice cuddle at the end of the day, the Italian Greagle might just be the perfect dog for you.

Featured Image: bon9, Shutterstock