Four Italian Greyhounds on a white couch wearing pink, navy and light blue striped long sleeved tops

Italian Greyhound Clothes: The Complete Guide to Fit, Fabric and Function

October 29, 2026

Good Italian Greyhound clothes do three jobs at once: they follow a body with a deep chest, a tiny waist and a long neck, they use a fabric that suits the weather you actually walk in, and they are sized from your dog's measurements instead of a generic small dog label. Get those three right and an Iggy will happily wear a sweater, bodysuit or coat; get them wrong and the garment gaps, slips or rides up. This guide is our hub for everything we make, with links to deeper guides on each garment type.

Key takeaways

Iggies need sighthound cuts: room in the chest, a trim waist and a longer neck.
Match the fabric to the season: cotton lycra and UV fabric for warm days, fleece, sherpa and quilted coats for cold ones.
Back length is the starting point for sizing, and every product description has its own size details.
Ready to Wear ships the next business day; Custom is made to your dog's measurements.
Never leave a dog unattended in clothing.

Why Italian Greyhound Clothes Need a Sighthound Cut

The official AKC breed standard describes the Italian Greyhound as having a long, slender neck, a deep and narrow chest, and a back that curves down to "a definite tuck-up at flanks." It also describes the skin as fine and supple and the hair as short. Many generic small dog clothes are cut for a stockier body, which is close to the opposite of that outline.

That shape is why generic sizes fail. A garment big enough for the chest is loose at the waist, and one that fits the waist pulls tight across the ribs or sits too low on the neck. Our custom sweater listing puts it plainly: off the rack sizes "gap at the chest, ride up the back or slide off the shoulders."

Size matters too. The AKC breed profile lists Iggies at 13 to 15 inches tall and 7 to 14 pounds, which makes them small dogs with a short coat. The Italian Greyhound Club of America notes that, with short hair and little body fat, Iggies are not suited to prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures. A veterinarian quoted by the CSU Veterinary Health System adds that sight hounds have a short coat without an undercoat and no fat under the skin.

Our founder spent over 40 years sewing and tailoring human clothing before she started designing for Italian Greyhounds in 2012, when her daughter brought Milo home. In her words: "Italian Greyhounds have such unique bodies that getting the fit just right is very important not only for warmth and protection but also for safety."

If you are still deciding whether your dog needs a wardrobe at all, start with our guide to whether Italian Greyhounds need clothes.

Every Type of Iggy Clothes, Explained

Here is how the main garment families compare. Each one has its own deep dive, linked in the sections below.

Garment	What it covers	Best for
2-legged top or sweater	Neck, chest, back, front legs	Everyday layering, quick potty breaks
4-legged bodysuit	Neck, body, all four legs	Warmth, sun coverage, lounging
Vest	Neck and body, no sleeves	Light layering, wearing with a harness
Coat or raincoat	Back and sides, outer layer	Walks in wind, cold and rain
Hats, snoods, nap sacs	Ears and neck, or the whole dog at rest	Chilly ears, burrowing and naps

Tops and sweaters

Two-legged tops are the everyday workhorse for many Iggies. Our custom long sleeved striped tops have a cuff finish on the sleeves and a soft collar to protect the neck. For cooler days, the fleece backed custom sweater is made for early spring and late fall, worn alone or under a coat. Our Italian Greyhound sweater guide compares knits, sweatshirts and necklines.

Bodysuits and onesies

A 4-legged bodysuit covers the legs as well as the body. Our custom Iggy, Whippet and Greyhound fleece bodysuit is made of anti pill plush fleece with a collar and cuffs that snug around the neck and ankles. It has no snaps, Velcro or buckles: it slips over the head, then the front legs, then the hind legs. The 2-legged vs 4-legged guide explains when each style makes sense.

Italian Greyhound in blankets wearing a black print fleece bodysuit with lime green turtleneck and cuffs — A fleece bodysuit covers all four legs, which helps on cold mornings and couch days.

Coats and raincoats

For real winter, our quilted nylon winter coat with attached snood puts fleece next to the skin and quilted nylon outside, with a drawstring snood and a double Velcro strap to keep the wind out. The coats and jackets comparison covers quilted, wool, fleece and faux fur options.

Italian Greyhound in a navy quilted coat with an attached tan sherpa snood, walking on a snowy path — A quilted coat with an attached sherpa snood on a snowy walk. The snood keeps the neck and ears covered.

For wet days, the blanket style raincoat has a rain wear body lined with cotton knit, a hood that snaps to the collar and can be removed, and a strap that keeps it in place. Our raincoat guide covers rain hating Iggies in detail.

Italian Greyhound on a city sidewalk in a blue rubber duck print raincoat with a yellow collar — The blanket style raincoat on a city sidewalk. The strap keeps the coat close to a narrow body.

Vests

Our Ready to Wear sleeveless fleece vests have a soft turtleneck and elastic finished leg openings, and work as a layer when the weather cools or as an extra house layer. Read our vest guide for fleece, faux fur, puffer and UV versions.

Pajamas, hats, snoods and nap sacs

Soft full body layers are popular for lounging; see our sighthound pajamas guide. Our hand knitted pom pom hats are designed for the Italian Greyhound head and neck, and the hats and snoods guide explains when to choose a hat, a snood or a snooded top. For burrowers, our nap sacs are lined with soft sherpa.

Fawn Italian Greyhound curled up in a red and teal Nordic print nap sac with pink sherpa lining — A sherpa lined nap sac gives a burrowing Iggy a warm pocket to curl up in.

UV sun wear

Our UV pieces are labeled UPF 50+. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun's rays. Browse the UV collection, read the 5 benefits of UV blocking tops, or get the technical version in UPF dog clothing explained.

Grey Italian Greyhound on a mountain meadow in a bright tropical floral UV 50+ bodysuit — A UV 50+ bodysuit with long legs on a mountain hike, covering the back and legs from the sun.

Choosing Italian Greyhound Clothing Fabrics by Season

Fabric choice does as much work as the cut. Every fabric we offer has a swatch page, and you can see them all on our fabrics page. The table below sums up what our product descriptions say about each one.

Season	Fabrics	What the listings say
Summer	Cotton Lycra, UV Sun Fabric	Cotton lycra is a spring or summer weight; UV fabric is 84% polyester and 16% spandex with a wicking finish
Spring and fall	Sweater Knit, French Terry, Microfleece	French terry has a looped backing for warmth; microfleece feels almost like sueded cloth
Winter	Fleece, Luxury Fleece, Sherpa, Quilted Nylon, Faux Fur	Luxe fleece is heavier and denser, and extremely warm in cold areas
Rain	Rain Wear	Used for the blanket style raincoat shell

Fleece earns its place in winter because of how it is built. Polartec, which makes fleece fabric, explains that the raised pile traps body warmth in its air spaces, which gives warmth without much weight. For a side by side look at the fleece family, see fleece vs sherpa vs microfleece.

Sizing Clothes for Italian Greyhounds

Our standard sizes run XS (back length under 12.5 inches, under 8 pounds), S (13.5 inches, 8 to 10 pounds), M (14 to 16 inches, 10 to 16 pounds) and L (17 to 18 inches, 16 to 20 pounds), plus Whippet (20 to 22 inches) and Greyhound (26 to 28 inches) back lengths. Please read the size details in each product description, and see our size guide.

Our full Italian Greyhound size chart guide covers in-between sizes, puppies and Biggy-Iggies (our name for a large Italian Greyhound). For the tape measure steps, follow our 4 step measuring guide: neck, chest, back length and leg length. Whippet owners can jump to the whippet clothes guide.

Custom vs Ready to Wear

Listings that start with "Custom" need your dog's measurements plus your fabric and style choices, and they are made to order. Production time depends on how busy the shop is, the quantity and the complexity of the design; custom items typically ship in about four weeks, and an order ships when its longest production item is ready. Because they are made to measure, custom items are not returnable.

The Ready to Wear collection comes in standard Iggy sizes and ships the next business day, but most styles are in limited supply. Browse the Custom collection for made to measure pieces, and read custom vs ready to wear if you are torn.

Safe Fit and Everyday Care

The AKC's guide to dog clothes says clothing should fit well and not be too tight, since tight clothes restrict movement and overly baggy clothes can make a dog trip or get caught. It also says not to leave clothes on a dog that is crated or unattended, because they could snag and become a choking hazard. Our fit checklist walks through the details.

For care, our standard instructions are simple:

Wash in cold water with a mild detergent.
Hang to dry.
Wool coats: dry clean, or hand wash with Woolite.
Check each product description for anything specific to that fabric.

Fabric by fabric detail lives in how to wash dog clothes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What clothes does an Italian Greyhound need?

Most Iggy owners start with a two-legged top or sweater for cool days and a warmer coat or fleece bodysuit for winter. If you spend time outdoors in summer, a UPF 50+ top or bodysuit is a useful addition. Your climate and your dog's tolerance decide the rest.

Can Italian Greyhounds wear regular small dog clothes?

Some can, but many generic small dog clothes are cut for a wider waist and shorter neck. On an Iggy that often means gaps at the chest, a top that rides up the back, or a collar that sits too low. Garments cut for the sighthound shape avoid those problems.

What size clothes does an Italian Greyhound wear?

Most adult Iggies fall somewhere between our XS and L, which are set by back length and weight. Measure your dog, compare with the chart, and read the size details in each product description. If your dog falls between sizes, a custom piece is made to the measurements you send.

Should my Iggy wear clothes all day?

No. The AKC advises against leaving clothes on a dog that is crated or unattended. Dress your dog for outings, chilly rooms and supervised lounging, and take layers off if your dog seems warm or stressed.

Do you make clothes for Whippets and Greyhounds?

Yes. We make outfits for Whippets, full size Greyhounds, Chiggys and other breeds, and our chart includes Whippet and Greyhound back lengths. For non-Iggy or unusual fits, use the Custom Order Quote form.

Find the Right Fit for Your Iggy

Start with what your dog needs most this season, then pick the style and fabric. Shop the Ready to Wear pieces that ship the next business day, choose a made to measure piece from the Custom collection, or send us your dog's details through the Custom Order Quote form and we will help you design it.

Sources and Further Reading

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