Levriero Sardo - Facts and Information

Appearance
The Levriero Sardo has the typical appearance and body type of a greyhound, which includes slim, but athletic body and fast long legs. Its body is lean, but quite muscular. The Levriero has relatively small head, with long muzzle, large eyes, well developed jaws and ears that are either erect or rosette.
The average height of this breed is typically between 60-70 cm, which is 23-28 inch and weight is usually between 17-25 kg, which is 37-55 lbs. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.
The coat is short and lying close to the body and it is pretty soft to touch. The breed evolved and live in a warm region, so they do not need to have very dense and thick coat. The coat comes in several colors, commonly in sand, black, piebald, white, brindle in various shades and gray.
Temperament
The Levriero Sardo is a skilled hunting breed with well developed sight, but also other senses, such as smell and hearing. Back in the past, they were used as hunting dogs and they were a real asset to the hunter. Later, they were also used alongside the flock and they would deter and hunt foxes and other dangerous animals. And these dogs have great qualities for a hunter, they are strong and fast, independent and intelligent, they have strong prey drive and chasing instinct, great determination, courage and alertness, all very important traits for a hunter.
But of course, this is not only a hunter, but also pretty good family companion. These dogs tend to create a strong bond with its owner and family. The Levriero Sardo is very affectionate and loyal dog to its family, but they are known to be quite alert and suspicious towards strangers and it can take a while before they accept a complete stranger as a friend.
This breed is not recommended to complete novices, beucase of their strong hunting instinct and kind of independent mind. They definitely need an owner who will properly train them and socialize them from the puppyhood and who will also give them opportunities for daily exercise. It can be daily longer walks, some interactive playtime like nosework or fun training sessions. Without enough exercise, they can develop some unwanted behaviour, such as descruction.
Interesting Fact
The Levriero Sardo can also be named as a Sardinian Greyhound and locally they are also called as Vertreddru, which can be translated as a little hunting dog.
History
The history and ancestry of Levriero Sardo is not very well documented and it is surrounded by mystery. One theory claims, that they are descendants of some Greyhound-type dogs, that arrived to the island of Sardinia thousands years ago with the Phoenician traders. But it is unclear, if they are truly the ancestors of todays Levriero Sardo. The Levriero Sardo as we know it today has been documented on the island of Sardinia since the late 18th or early 19th century.
The breed is extremely rare and it is almost impossible to find it outside Italy and especially outside the island of Sardinia. Since 2011 there is an ongoing program, that is trying to preserve the breed, spread information about it and that will hopefully help the breed to raise its numbers soon. Because today, it is not recognized by any major kennel club around the world
Health and grooming
The Levriero Sardo is an easy keeper and their coat does not need almost any grooming at all and it will stay in great condition. They do shed some deal of fur all year long and the brushing is only beneficial as it will remove any dirt and loose hair from the coat, but it is not necessary. No other grooming is required. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.
There is not much information about the Levriero Sardo health, but it seems that it is usually healthy and hardy dog with lifespan around 13 years. They should not suffer much from any genetic health issues, but of course, just like any other breed, they may suffer from the typical doggy issues, such as allergies, infections, some eye problems, joint problems or bloating.