Colors of Italian Greyhounds: What You Need to Know
Suppose you are thinking about getting an Italian Greyhound for your next pet. You might be curious about the color options in such a situation. Puppies and older canines are available in a variety of hues. You might have a specific color in mind that you want.
What colors do Italian Greyhounds come in? Black, seal, sable, cream, blue, red, fawn, and red fawn are standard. Blue’s best. Two marks are show-ring disqualifiers.
Of course, an Italian Greyhound is much more than just the color of his coat. With any hue, you can’t go wrong!
Learning about the different colors that Italian Greyhounds come in may help you decide which color is best for you or if you want more than one.
AKC Accepted Colors For Italian Greyhounds
The American Kennel Club says that any colors and markings in Italian Greyhounds are acceptable. However, there are two exceptions.
A dog with black-and-tan markings or tan markings typical of other breeds’ black-and-tans, such as the Rottweiler, would be disqualified in the show ring.
Many colors and patterns are considered acceptable for Italian Greyhounds. However, a few colors are considered standard for the breed.
Dogs with nonstandard colors will be registered as a different color, but they will still be acceptable.
Standard alternative colors for dogs’ fur include black and tan, blue and tan, brindle, chocolate, and white.
AKC Standard Colors
- Sable – Sable dogs have black hair that is tipped with red. That makes their coat very interesting to look at.
- Seal-colored dogs are dark brown, almost black, or light brown. Their tail and legs are darker than the rest of their coat, and they have a black stripe down their back.
- Black – Black Italian Greyhounds are rare and often look very sleek.
- Blue – Blue is a color made by adding white to black. It often looks like the dark gray color.
- Fawn – Fawn is a light brown color and often has a dark brown back. Some deer have black muzzles.
- Red fawns are similar to darker-colored deer, but they have a red tint.
- Blue fawn – Blue fawn is similar to a regular fawn but has a blue tint.
- Red – Red Italian Greyhounds are a dark brown tint with a deep, rich hue.
- The cream is a lighter and paler version of the hue fawn.
You can pair any of these colors, except cream, with white in any pattern.
Common Patterns
- Solid – Greyhounds with solid coloration are one color all over their bodies. This color can be darker or lighter in different places, and they may have some white on their chests, bellies, or feet.
- Irish – It is a white design with a collar that doesn’t reach the legs or head.
- Wild Irish – This is a pattern with white sections going up the dog’s neck and down its body.
- Pied – This is a typical pattern for Italian Greyhounds. They can have any color on them, but they will be on a white background. The flashes of color can be big or small and can be on any part of the body.
- Red with a black mask – This deer has a lot of black on its face, differentiating it from most other deer.
- Split face – This is an unusual variation of a spotted pattern. Dogs with pinto patterns usually have a solid or whitehead or patches on their face. This dog has a split look.
Why Are Brindle And Tan Markings Disqualifications?
The American Kennel Club has rules about which colors and patterns are allowed for different kinds of dogs. It’s not always clear why some things are permitted and others aren’t.
Sometimes colors are not allowed because they might be from two different animals.
It’s not sure whether that’s the case for brindle and tan-marked Italian Greyhounds, but it is possible.
The Whippet is a larger cousin of the Italian Greyhound. It often has a brindle coat.
Miniature Pinschers and Manchester Terriers are similar body types to the Italian Greyhound. They both come in black and tan coloration.
When the breed standard was being developed, brindle, black, and tan were not standard colors for Italian Greyhounds.
American Kennel Club thought removing these markings from the breed standard would encourage breeders to stick with the Italian Greyhound and not mix it with other breeds.
Does An Italian Greyhound’s Color Change?
Italian Greyhounds may change color as they get older. Puppies may start with one color, but they may become a different color as they grow up.
However, Italian Greyhounds do not have a lot of color changes as they get older.
Some Italian Greyhounds may lose their hair, depending on their color.
Color Dilution Alopecia
Dogs with diluted pigment, often blue, may develop color dilution alopecia.
This genetic condition is common in breeds of dogs that come in colors like light gray or white, like the Italian Greyhound.
These dogs are easily distinguished from other dogs because their noses, lips, and eyelids are usually a different color than black.
The coat color will be light, usually blue, tan, or bronze.
Dogs will start losing hair from about six months to 3 years old. It happens mainly in areas where the hair is light-colored.
Some people lose their hair in the middle of their back. It leaves their limbs, tail, and head fully haired. Other individuals may become entirely bald.
In piebald animals, the white areas may stay the same, while the diluted pigmented areas lose hair.
Italian Greyhound Coats
Italian Greyhounds have short, silky coats with a smooth, soft texture. The skin on your dog’s stomach and the insides of its legs may be thinner as it gets older.
Their coats do not need to be bathed frequently and are very easy to take care of.
People who want a small dog should think about getting an Italian Greyhound. This dog doesn’t need to be groomed or washed very often.
Most Popular Italian Greyhound Coat Colors
One of the most popular colors for Italian Greyhounds is blue. People find this color exciting and unique.
Some Italian Greyhounds have a blue coat. That can make them more likely to get a condition that causes hair loss. It would help to consider whether this is a risk you are willing to take before getting a blue Italian Greyhound.
If you want a blue Italian Greyhound, you might want to adopt one that is more than three years old. The disease process will likely have already happened if it happened.
Red is a standard color in Italian Greyhounds. This color is dominant, which means it is exciting. There is no risk associated with this color.
A black Italian Greyhound is quite striking and well-known if you can find one. For the first few weeks of a dog’s life, determining if it is genuinely black can be challenging.
Read more: The longest living dog breeds in the United States
Frequently Asked Questions About Colors of Italian Greyhounds
Black is the most common coat color in dogs. It is because it is the most dominant color. No other color can be present in a black dog on its body. That includes the skin, nose, eyes, feet pads, and lips. However, black is one of the rarest colors for Greyhounds.
One of the less common colors seen in Italian Greyhounds is white. It is a pure color that is not cream or tan. It often has a spotted or ticking pattern.
The eyes are medium-sized and round. They are generally dark brown or black; however, it is regarded as a defect if an IG is born with light eyes. Besides, the dog is not allowed to see.
Most people think that all Greyhounds are gray, but that’s not true. Blue-coated Greyhounds are pretty rare. For a Greyhound to have a blue coat, both parents must carry the recessive gene for it to be passed on.
Some breeds are more likely to have gray hair than others. Schnauzers often have gray beards, while greyhounds and Weimaraners are naturally gray. Black canines are also more likely than lighter-colored dogs to get gray hairs earlier.