Hats and Snoods for Italian Greyhounds and Greyhounds: Keeping Thin Ears Warm
An Italian Greyhound hat or snood covers the two places a thin-coated sighthound feels the cold first on a winter walk: the delicate ears and the long, bare neck. A knitted hat suits quick outings and holiday photos, a snood adds ear cover to the coat you already own, and a snooded top builds that cover right into the shirt. The best pick depends on your dog, your weather and what they already wear.
Key takeaways
- Iggy ears are small and fine and the neck is long, so both lose comfort quickly in wind and cold.
- Snoods, knitted hats and snooded tops all cover ears and neck; they differ in what they pair with.
- Bucket hats in UPF 50+ fabric shade the head and ears in summer.
- Keep the eyes clear, check straps and pom poms, and only use headwear while you are with your dog.
Why Thin Ears and Long Necks Feel the Cold
The Italian Greyhound breed standard, published by the Italian Greyhound Club of America, calls for ears that are small and fine in texture and a neck that is long, slender and gracefully arched. The coat is short and glossy over fine, supple skin. It is a beautiful design, and it leaves very little between your dog's head and a January wind. The AKC sums up the result in its Italian Greyhound profile: a short-coated, low-fat breed that needs extra attention in cold weather.
Ears also sit at the far end of the circulation. VCA Animal Hospitals explains in its article on frostbite in dogs that in freezing temperatures, blood vessels near the skin narrow to protect the core, which can cut blood flow to the extremities. The paws, ears and tail are the most commonly affected tissues, wet or damp areas are more vulnerable, and signs at the ear tips can take several days to show. If you ever suspect frostbite, VCA advises getting veterinary care right away.
You do not need a frozen day to have a chilly dog, though. Greyhounds As Pets NSW tells owners to read their dog's cues: if the ears are cold or the dog starts shivering, add a light layer even in milder weather. Cold ears are an easy cue to check with your hand. For temperature bands and full outfits, see our guide to how cold is too cold for an Italian Greyhound.
Snood vs Hat vs Snooded Top: Which Fits Your Dog?
All three keep warmth around the head and neck. The real difference is how each one fits into your dog's wardrobe.
| Style | Covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Snood | Head, ears and neck | Adding ear cover over a coat or sweater |
| Knitted hat | Top of the head, ears and neck | Quick walks and holiday photos |
| Snooded top | Neck, with a long collar that pulls over the ears | Layering under a vest or coat |
| Coat with attached snood | Body, neck and head | Windy winter walks |
| Bucket hat | Top of the head and ears | Summer sun |
If your Iggy already owns a coat they love, a separate snood or hat is the simplest upgrade. If you are buying a new layer anyway, a snooded top or a coat with the snood built in means one less thing to put on at the door.
Our Knitted Italian Greyhound Hats
Our Ready to Wear Pom Pom Knitted Hats are hand knitted in variegated colors, so no two are exactly the same, and each has a single or double pom pom perched on top. They were designed just for the Italian Greyhound's unique head and neck, come in one size that fits most Iggies, and measure 4 inches wide and 8 inches long unstretched. Colors marked with a G in the drop down lean more feminine; the rest are unisex.
Hats for puppies and extra small Iggies
Tiny dogs get their own listing. The Extra Small Iggy Sized Knitted Hats are hand knitted in solid and variegated colors for Italian Greyhound puppies and extra small adults, made to keep ears and necks warm on chilly winter days. They come in one size that fits most tiny Iggies and are available in limited quantities for a limited time.
Greyhound hats, Biggy-Iggies and whippets
If you have a large Italian Greyhound (we call them Biggy-Iggies), the pom pom hat listing asks you to contact us, since a few are made in a larger size. Our knitted hats are sized for Italian Greyhounds, so whippets and full-size greyhounds usually get their ear cover from a snooded garment instead. Our Custom Whippet and Greyhound Fleece Bodysuits can be finished with either a hood or a snood at the neck. For a true hat in a bigger size, describe what you want on the Custom Order Quote form.
Matching hat sets
Some outfits come with a hat built into the look. The Custom Sherpa pullover vest and hat pairs a fluffy sherpa vest with a matching hat in any sherpa on our sherpa fabric page. The Custom Sailor Bodysuit and Hat has a snood finish at the neck that can pull over the ears, topped with a sailor hat for fun.
Reindeer Snoods and Snooded Layers
A dog snood is a soft tube of fabric that covers the neck and can come up over the ears. Our Ready to Wear Reindeer Snoods pair glittered reindeer antlers with soft sherpa to keep the head and neck warm in cold weather, a festive pick for December walks and photos. More festive pieces are in our guide to Christmas outfits for Italian Greyhounds.
Snooded tops put the same idea into a shirt. Our waffle weave snooded tops have cuffed sleeves and a slouchy snoodette collar that pulls up over chilly ears, and they work alone or layered under a vest or coat. The Custom Cotton Knit Long Sleeved 2 Legged Tops are made with a longer collar that can be pulled up over the ears for extra warmth.
Full-body pieces can carry a snood too. The Custom Summer Weight Cotton Lycra Bodysuit can be ordered with a snood that cowls around the neck and pulls over the ears when needed, snugged with a drawstring and sliding cord lock. The Custom Hooded or Snooded Sherpa Bodysuit comes with a hood or a snood to cover the ears. On our 2 piece quilted winter coat and fleece walking pants, a soft fleece snood is attached to the coat and closes with a drawstring and cord lock. Our post comparing Italian Greyhound coats and jackets covers the rest of the coat lineup.
Sun Hats: Bucket Hats for Summer Ears
Ears need cover in July as well as January. PetMD's veterinarian-written guide to dog sunburn lists the nose, ear flaps, belly, groin and the skin around the eyes as common sunburn spots, and it names Greyhounds and Whippets among the breeds prone to burning.
Our Custom Bucket Hats are made from UPF 50+ fabric to add extra protection for a sensitive head and ears, in any print from our broad collection of UV fabrics. You can also have one made from our cotton lycra fabrics, which the listing presents as a cute accessory for a unique outfit; only the UV versions are made from UPF 50+ fabric. The hats are sized for Italian Greyhounds and have a soft elastic band under the chin that can be adjusted in length. Some bodysuits in the UV collection come in prints that are also offered as a matching bucket hat, sold separately. If you want to understand what that UPF rating means, read our explainer on UPF 50+ dog clothing.
Fit and Safety Rules for Dog Hats and Snoods
Headwear sits right next to the eyes, ears and mouth, so it deserves a little more care than a shirt. The ASPCA's costume safety advice translates well: an outfit should not limit your pet's movement, sight or ability to breathe or bark, small dangling or easily chewed-off pieces can be a choking hazard, and ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on objects or on the pet. Our rules of thumb:
- Eyes always clear. Fold the snood or brim back so it frames the face and never slides over the eyes.
- Nothing over the muzzle. Your dog should be able to pant, bark and drink normally.
- Snug, not tight, under the chin. Adjust the elastic so it holds the hat without pressing into the throat.
- Check pom poms and antlers. Look them over before each wear, and take the hat off a dog who starts chewing it.
- Supervise. Hats and snoods are for walks, outings and photos with you, not for alone time or the crate.
- Swap wet for dry. Since damp ears are more vulnerable to frostbite, change a soaked snood after a wet walk.
- Take it off indoors. Once your dog is home and warm, the hat has done its job.
Introduce headwear slowly, with treats and short sessions, and stop if your dog seems distressed. For fit checks on everything else your dog wears, see how dog clothes should fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Italian Greyhounds need hats in winter?
Not always, but many are more comfortable with their ears and neck covered on cold or windy walks. The breed has fine ears, a long neck and a short coat, and VCA notes that ears are among the parts most often affected by frostbite. A hat, snood or snooded top is an easy way to add cover.
What is a dog snood?
A snood is a soft tube of fabric that covers the neck and can be pulled up over the ears. It can be a separate accessory, like our sherpa reindeer snoods, or built into a top, bodysuit or coat as a long, slouchy collar.
Can a whippet or greyhound wear an Italian Greyhound hat?
Our knitted hats are sized for Italian Greyhounds, with a few larger ones for Biggy-Iggies. Whippets and greyhounds usually do better with a snood on a bodysuit or coat, or a custom piece ordered through the quote form.
Are bucket hats good for dogs in summer?
A bucket hat made from UPF 50+ fabric shades the top of the head and the ears, which PetMD lists among common sunburn spots. It does not cover the nose, so ask your veterinarian about a dog-safe sunscreen for that area. Keep the chin strap comfortable and supervise while it is on.
Can my dog sleep in a hat or snood?
We recommend against it. Headwear is meant for supervised outings, and a hat can shift over the eyes while a dog sleeps. For warm nights in, a soft bodysuit or nap sac is a better choice.
Keep Those Ears Cozy
Our knitted hats are made by hand, and like most of our Ready to Wear pieces they are available in limited supply. Browse the Ready to Wear collection for hats that ship the next business day, check the Christmas Ready to Wear collection for reindeer snoods, or send a custom quote for a snooded piece made to your dog's measurements.