Italian Greyhound in a lavender fleece hoodie onesie with houndstooth legs and a polka dot collar

Pajamas for Italian Greyhounds, Whippets and Greyhounds: Do Sighthounds Need Jammies?

October 29, 2026

Many Italian Greyhounds do sleep more comfortably in pajamas, especially on cool nights, because the breed carries very little body fat under a very short coat. Italian Greyhound pajamas are simply a soft, full-body layer (fleece, thermal waffle knit or cotton lycra) that keeps a little warmth against the skin without the bulk of a coat, and the same idea works for whippets and greyhounds. Here is when jammies help, which fabric to pick and how they should fit.

Key takeaways

Sighthounds are lean and short-coated, so many feel the chill overnight, especially in a cool house.
Plush fleece is the cozy choice, thermal waffle knit makes a classic long john, and cotton lycra is the light layer for heated homes.
Good sleepwear is snug at the neck and ankles, easy through the body, and has nothing hard to lie on.
Watch your dog, not just the thermostat: shivering or a tight curl means add a layer, heavy panting means take one off.

Why Thin-Coated Sighthounds Get Chilly at Night

The American Kennel Club describes the Italian Greyhound as a short-coated, low-fat breed that needs extra attention in cold weather. The Italian Greyhound Club of America says much the same in its breed health guidance: with short hair and little body fat, IGs are not suited to prolonged exposure to very cold temperatures, even though many live happily in northern climates.

Their bigger cousins share the build. AKC's guide to dog winter coats names Greyhounds and Whippets among the naturally lean, short-coated dogs that can become cold quickly, and it notes that full bodysuits are especially useful for lean dogs with long legs.

Night is a common time to notice it, since many homes run cooler after bedtime. Greyhounds As Pets NSW, an Australian adoption program, lists the signs of a cold greyhound: shaking or shivering, a hunched posture with a tucked tail, curling into a tighter ball than usual while sleeping, and seeking shelter. Plenty of Iggies answer the chill by tunneling under the covers (see why Italian Greyhounds burrow). Pajamas give them warmth that does not slide off at 3 a.m.

Types of Italian Greyhound Pajamas: Fleece, Thermal and Cotton Lycra

Dog pajamas for sleeping are usually four-legged bodysuits that cover the back, chest and all four legs. The fabric is what you match to your house and your dog.

Plush fleece jammies

Our Ready to Wear Small fleece bodysuits are one-piece suits in soft anti pill plush fleece, finished underneath with soft fold over elastic for a more tailored fit. For the tiniest dogs, the Extra Small Christmas Plush Fleece Jammies use the same plush anti pill fleece in holiday prints. If you want your own fabric and a made-to-measure fit, the Custom Iggy, Whippet, Greyhound Fleece Bodysuit is made in fleece or luxury fleece, with the collar and cuffs snugged around the neck and ankles. Prints live on our fleece fabric page.

Italian Greyhound in blankets wearing a black print fleece bodysuit with lime green turtleneck and cuffs — A one-piece fleece bodysuit with a turtleneck collar and snug cuffs makes an easy set of winter jammies.

Microfleece for a smooth feel

Our Custom Iggy Microfleece Soft Bodysuits are made from microfleece so soft it almost feels like sueded cloth. The collar and cuffs snug at the neck and ankles, and the belly is finished with fold over elastic for stretch and recovery.

Thermal long johns

If you searched for greyhound long johns, this is our Iggy-sized version. The Custom Thermal Italian Greyhound Long John Waffle Bodysuit is cut from thermal waffle fabric, shown in a gingerbread print with a bright red flap across the back. You can order it in any of our thermal prints, or choose fleece for the body with a coordinating flap. For a whippet or a full-size greyhound, ask about it through the custom quote form described below.

Cream thermal waffle Italian Greyhound long john bodysuit with gingerbread print and a red buttoned rear flap — Thermal waffle long johns with a contrasting back flap. The flap color changes with the thermal print you pick.

Cotton lycra and cotton knit

For a heated home or a dog who runs warm, a cotton layer may be all the jammies you need. Our Ready to Wear Soft Cotton Knit Bodysuits are made of a cotton knit similar to T-shirt knit, cover all four legs, and snug at the collar and cuffs. The Christmas Cotton Lycra Bodysuits are a slimmer cut in cotton jersey that the listing calls just the right indoor touch for the holidays.

Fabric	How the listing describes it	Good match for
Plush fleece	Soft, cozy anti pill plush fleece	Cool rooms and chilly dogs
Microfleece	Almost feels like sueded cloth	Dogs who like a smooth fabric
Thermal waffle	Textured thermal waffle knit	A classic long john layer
Cotton knit or cotton lycra	Similar to T-shirt knit	Heated homes and light layering

The last column is general comfort guidance from us, not a veterinary rule. Your dog's behavior at night is the real test.

How Dog Pajamas for Sleeping Should Fit

Your dog wears sleepwear while you are not watching, so comfort beats a sharp silhouette. Our founder spent over 40 years sewing and tailoring human clothing before she started designing for Italian Greyhounds in 2012, and she puts it this way:

"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."

Here is what we look for in a pair of jammies:

Snug, not tight, at the neck and ankles. Our bodysuits finish the collar and cuffs to snug around the neck and ankles so they stay put without squeezing.
Comfortable through the body. The underside is finished with soft fold over elastic for a trim fit, and our custom pieces are cut to be comfortable to move in.
Nothing hard to lie on. Many of our bodysuits have no snaps, Velcro or buckles. They slip over the head, then the front legs, then the hind legs, and come off in reverse.
Not baggy. AKC advises that a dog garment should let the dog move comfortably and should not be so loose that the dog could get tangled in it.
The right leg length. Leg length matters for four-legged pieces, but it does not set the size on its own.

Start with the four measurements in our step-by-step measuring guide (neck, chest, back length and leg length), compare them with the size guide, and read the size details in each product description before you order.

Night-Time Temperature at Home: Warm, Not Hot

We could not find a veterinary source that names one bedroom temperature at which every sighthound needs pajamas, so treat this section as general comfort guidance. Greyhounds As Pets NSW publishes a simple guide to dressing a greyhound for the weather. Above about 59°F (15°C), it says most greys need no extra clothing. From about 45 to 57°F (7 to 14°C), it suggests considering pajamas and extra blankets at night. Below about 45°F (7°C), it warns that greys can quickly become hypothermic and should stay indoors with warm layers and bedding.

The other half of the rule is not overdoing it. A dog in fleece under a pile of blankets can end up too warm. AKC lists the early signs of overheating as heavy panting, rapid breathing, excessive drooling and bright red gums and tongue. If you see those, take the jammies off, move your dog somewhere cooler and call your veterinarian for advice. For outdoor temperature bands and layering, see our guide to how cold is too cold for an Italian Greyhound.

A quick bedtime check:

Cool house and a shivery dog: plush fleece or thermal long johns.
Heated house: cotton knit or cotton lycra, or nothing at all.
Dog who sleeps under the blankets: a lighter layer, since the blankets already add warmth.
Bed in a drafty spot: add a nap sac for a sheltered pocket to curl into.

Our Ready to Wear Nap Sacs have a printed exterior lined with soft sherpa and measure 28 by 36 inches, which makes them an easy partner for a light pair of pajamas.

Italian Greyhound curled up inside a grey sherpa lined pup nap sac on a couch — A sherpa lined nap sac gives a burrowing Iggy a warm pocket to curl into at bedtime.

Whippet Pajamas and Greyhound Pajamas: Sizing Notes

Everything above applies to bigger sighthounds; only the pattern changes. AKC lists Whippets at 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder and Greyhounds at 27 to 30 inches. On our own size chart, a Whippet has a back length of 20 to 22 inches and a Greyhound 26 to 28 inches, measured from the base of the neck to the base of the tail.

For whippet pajamas and greyhound pajamas, our Custom Whippet and Greyhound Fleece Bodysuits are one-piece polar fleece suits with cuffs that snug around the ankles and either a hood or a snood at the neck (the hood is removable). You pick the body color or pattern plus a complementary color for the cuffs, snood or hood, and send measurements as shown in the listing chart.

Brindle Whippet sitting on a dog bed in a blue and purple plaid fleece bodysuit with a turtleneck — A whippet in a plaid polar fleece bodysuit with a turtleneck. Long legs are why we ask for leg length on full-body pieces.

The Custom Iggy, Whippet, Greyhound Fleece Bodysuit is another option, and if your dog is larger than its listed sizes, the listing asks you to request a custom order. For any unusual build, the Custom Order Quote form lets you send measurements and a photo so we can see your dog's shape. The quote costs nothing.

Washing and Rotating Your Dog's Jammies

Pajamas get washed more often than coats, so owning two pairs makes life easier. Our care instructions are simple: wash in cold water with a mild detergent and hang to dry. For fabric-by-fabric detail, read our guide on how to wash dog clothes.

Plan ahead on timing, too. Ready to Wear pajamas come in standard Iggy sizes and ship the next business day, though most are in limited supply. Custom pieces are made to order and typically ship in about 4 weeks, depending on how busy the shop is, so order custom jammies before the first cold snap rather than during it. Custom items are made to measure and are not returnable, which is one more reason to measure carefully.

Grey Italian Greyhound sitting on a fluffy bed in a pink sparkle microfleece bodysuit with a turtleneck — Microfleece bodysuits have a smooth, almost sueded feel. A second pair means one can always be in the wash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Italian Greyhounds need pajamas?

Not every Iggy needs them every night, but many benefit. AKC calls the breed short-coated and low-fat, so a cool bedroom can leave them chilly. If your dog shivers, curls up tight or burrows all night, pajamas are worth trying; in a warm house, skip them.

Is it safe for my dog to sleep in pajamas all night?

A soft, well-fitted bodysuit is made to be comfortable to move and rest in. Check that it is snug but not tight at the neck and ankles, that it is not baggy enough to tangle, and that it has no hard hardware. Watch for overheating signs such as heavy panting, and if your dog chews clothing, supervise until you know how they behave.

What is the warmest fabric for dog pajamas?

In our range, fleece is the cozy pick, thermal waffle knit is a mid-weight long john, and cotton knit is the light option for heated homes. Our listing for luxury fleece walking pants describes that fabric as very warm and soft against the skin. For a full comparison, see our post on fleece vs sherpa vs microfleece.

Can whippets and greyhounds wear pajamas?

Yes. AKC counts both among the lean, short-coated breeds that can get cold quickly, and Greyhounds As Pets NSW suggests pajamas and extra blankets on cool nights. Our Custom Whippet and Greyhound Fleece Bodysuits are cut for their size, and the custom quote form covers anything unusual.

How many pairs of dog pajamas should I buy?

Two, so one set can dry while the other is worn. A light cotton pair for mild nights plus a fleece pair for cold ones covers most of the year.

Ready for Cozier Nights?

If you want jammies this week, browse the Ready to Wear collection for pieces that ship the next business day. If you want your own print and a made-to-measure fit for an Iggy, whippet or greyhound, start in the Custom collection or send us a custom quote. Either way, your sighthound gets a soft layer that stays put all night, crafted in the USA by a shop that has been sewing for Italian Greyhounds since 2012.

Sources and Further Reading

Back to blog