Italian Greyhounds in the United Kingdom are also known as â�Biggiesâ� or â�Humonga-Houndsâ�. Because of the oversize dogs to select from in the United Kingdom, many Brits opt to buy from the United States. The average height of an
Italian Greyhound in the United Kingdom is 15 inches, while in the USA the average is about 12-13 inches. The Romans brought the first
Italian Greyhounds to settle in the British Isles; this was as far back as AD 43, when Emperor Claudius invaded the British islands. Historian Theodore Mommsen calculated that in the five centuries of Roman presence in the British isles, more than 50,000 Roman soldiers (mainly from The Balkans) moved to live permanently with their
Italian Greyhounds in Roman Britain. They had among them about 50
Italian Greyhounds.
An Italian Greyhound was registered for the first time with the American Kennel Club in 1886. Following World War I when the breed was in danger of extinction in Great Britain, fresh stock was imported from the United States, giving evidence of the high quality to be found in America at that time.
The Italian Greyhound Club in the United Kingdom was founded in 1900.
Click here for more about the Italian Greyhound.
