18 Dog Breeds That Start with I: From Ibizan Hound to Italian Sighthound
October 10, 2026
Only a handful of letters in the alphabet produce as much variety in the dog world as the letter I. Dog breeds that start with I range from a 5,000-year-old Egyptian-looking sighthound to a scrappy Irish terrier bred to hunt rats in cottage walls, with a few rare Balkan hunting hounds and Indian street dogs thrown in for good measure.
Every dog on this list is a member of the domestic dog species, Canis lupus familiaris, yet each breed developed its own body type, coat, and job description in a different corner of the world. Some, like the Icelandic Sheepdog, come in solid black, cream, or chocolate coats, which means a few of these I-breeds double as options for anyone specifically researching black dog breed characteristics before adopting.
Below is a breed-by-breed look at all 18 recognized and emerging dog breeds that start with I, including size, temperament, origin, and what kind of household each one actually suits.
Quick reference: the table below summarizes size, origin, and standout trait for every breed covered in this guide before the full write-ups.
| Breed | Type | Approximate Size | Standout Trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibizan Hound | Sighthound | 45-65 lbs | High-jumping rabbit courser |
| Icelandic Sheepdog | Herding spitz | ~30 lbs | Iceland’s only native breed |
| Indian Pariah Dog | Primitive/street dog | 40-60 lbs | Naturally occurring for millennia |
| Indian Spitz | Companion spitz | 15-30 lbs | India’s homegrown Pomeranian look-alike |
| Irish Setter | Gundog | 60-75 lbs | Mahogany-red bird dog |
| Irish Wolfhound | Sighthound/giant | 105-180 lbs | Tallest AKC-recognized breed |
| Irish Terrier | Terrier | 25-27 lbs | Fiery “Daredevil” nickname |
| Irish Water Spaniel | Gundog | 45-65 lbs | Curly, waterproof “rat tail” coat |
| Irish Red and White Setter | Gundog | 35-60 lbs | Rare pointing setter |
| Irish Doodle | Designer crossbreed | 25-70 lbs | Poodle x Irish Setter mix |
| Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier | Terrier | 32-40 lbs | Quietest of the Irish terriers |
| Irish Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier | Terrier | 30-40 lbs | Low-shed wheaten coat |
| Istrian Shorthaired Hound | Scent hound | 35-45 lbs | Ancient Balkan rabbit hunter |
| Istrian Coarse-Haired Hound | Scent hound | 26-60 lbs | Weather-resistant wiry coat |
| Istrian Wire-haired Hound | Scent hound | 26-60 lbs | Regional name variant |
| Italian Greyhound | Toy sighthound | 7-14 lbs | Miniature greyhound build |
| Italian Segugio | Scent hound | 40-62 lbs | Italy’s national hare hound |
| Italian Sighthound | Sighthound group | Varies | Mediterranean coursing heritage |
Pro Tip: Match energy levels before appearance. Several breeds on this list look similar in photos (the three Istrian hounds, for example) but have very different exercise and socialization needs.
1. Ibizan Hound
The Ibizan Hound looks like it stepped straight off an Egyptian tomb painting, and that resemblance is part of the breed’s appeal. The Ibizan Hound resembles dogs found on Egyptian artifacts as far back as 3,400 B.C. and was likely brought by Phoenician sailors to Ibiza in Spain in the 8th century B.C. The breed developed its speed and jumping ability hunting rabbits across the rocky terrain of Spain’s Balearic Islands.
A full-grown Ibizan Hound stands 23–27 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 45–50 pounds, with a short coat that is red, white, or a combination of the two, and can be smooth or wiry. Owners describe them as affectionate at home but among the gentlest and most easy going of dogs, getting along well with other dogs and children, though reserved with strangers and even somewhat reserved with their family. Like many sighthounds, including the Saluki, they need a fenced yard rather than an off-leash park, since their prey drive overrides recall almost every time.
2. Icelandic Sheepdog
The Icelandic Sheepdog is a spitz-type herder with a curled tail and a cheerful bark that Iceland’s early settlers depended on for moving livestock across volcanic terrain. Also known as the Icelandic Spitz, the Iceland Dog, the Friaar Dog, and Canis Islandicus, this ancient breed sailed with the Vikings to the land for which it is named over 1,000 years ago.
The breed boasts fur that is black, cream, or chocolate, with a coat that is waterproof, thick, and dense to enable the dog to survive in cold weather, and typically weighs around 30 pounds and can stand up to 18 inches. Because it comes in a genuine black coat alongside cream and chocolate, it’s one of the more approachable black dog breeds for families who want a vocal, herding-driven companion without the size of a working Norwegian Buhund. Modern Icelandic Sheepdogs channel that herding drive into agility, obedience, and dog sports rather than actual sheep work for most American households.
3. Indian Pariah Dog
The Indian Pariah Dog is not a modern breed so much as a naturally occurring population that has shaped itself through survival rather than a breeding program. With roots that reach back 4,500 years, this native of India is commonly thought of by a word in its official name: “pariah,” or “outsider”.
Coat colors run from solid black to brown, white, and every brindle combination between, which puts this ancient population among the world’s more common naturally occurring black dog breeds, though color was never the point of the breed. While some have taken on the roles of police dog and guard dog, most members of this breed live off of their wits as street dogs. Their closest primitive cousin in appearance and independence is arguably the Basenji of Central Africa, another breed shaped more by natural selection than a show ring standard.
4. Indian Spitz
The Indian Spitz is one of the most common household pets across urban India, developed from European Spitz breeds brought over during the colonial period and then bred locally for generations. It typically comes in white, black, brown, or parti-color coats, and the solid black variety remains one of the more popular small black dog breeds sold through Indian breeders and pet markets today.
Physically, the Indian Spitz resembles a compact Pomeranian, with a fox-like face, pricked ears, and a plumed tail carried over the back. It is alert, vocal, and forms close bonds with one household, which makes early socialization important if the goal is a dog that’s relaxed around visitors and other pets.
5. Irish Setter
The Irish Setter is instantly recognizable by its glossy mahogany coat and joyful, almost goofy energy in the field and at home. The Irish Setter is a beautiful, happy-go-lucky dog that was bred to hunt enthusiastically with lots of energy, and today makes a fantastic companion with both adults and children as long as there is enough activity to keep him active and happy.
The breed usually stands 28 inches tall, and its coat is relatively long and will, in most cases, assume a red color, with feathering along the ears, chest, legs, and tail. Families comparing gundogs sometimes cross-reference the Irish Setter against the closely related Gordon Setter, which shares the setting instinct but carries a black-and-tan coat instead of solid red.
6. Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest breed recognized by the American Kennel Club, a gentle giant originally bred to course wolves and elk across the Irish countryside. Despite the imposing size, the breed’s temperament is famously calm and even-tempered indoors, earning it a reputation as one of the more laid-back large sighthounds a family can own.
Accepted coat colors include gray, brindle, red, fawn, pure white, and black, so among large black dog breeds the solid black Wolfhound is a real but less common variation on the standard brindle or gray coat most people picture. Like other giant breeds, including the Leonberger, Irish Wolfhounds have shorter average lifespans than mid-sized dogs, so prospective owners should research a breeder’s health testing before committing.
Common Mistake: Assuming a giant breed like the Irish Wolfhound needs a huge yard to be happy. What it actually needs most is a couch to stretch out on and moderate daily walks, since intense exercise can stress developing joints.
7. Irish Terrier
The Irish Terrier is one of the oldest terrier breeds still recognized today, with a fiery temperament that earned it the nickname “Daredevil” among Irish dog fanciers. One of the oldest terrier breeds, the Irish Terrier first served as a ratter in its homeland of Ireland, and today the red-haired breed is nicknamed “Daredevil,” a hint at its fiery personality and love of adventure.
Owners should expect a confident, opinionated companion. Irish Terriers are often dominant with other dogs, and most have strong guarding instincts which, when controlled, make them excellent alarming watchdogs. That same terrier grit shows up in the Kerry Blue Terrier, another Irish original that shares the Irish Terrier’s need for early, consistent socialization.
8. Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel is easy to spot thanks to its tight, curly liver-colored coat, topknot of loose curls, and a smooth “rat tail” that has no curls at all. It ranks among the oldest spaniel breeds and was developed specifically to retrieve waterfowl in cold Irish marshes, giving it a naturally water-repellent double coat and powerful webbed feet.
Beneath the unusual look is a genuinely clownish personality; the breed is known for a dry sense of humor and a strong bond with one family. Retriever enthusiasts sometimes compare its curly coat and swimming ability to the Curly-Coated Retriever, another rare, water-loving gundog with a similarly tight curl pattern.
9. Irish Red and White Setter
The Irish Red and White Setter predates its solid-red cousin and nearly disappeared from the breed record entirely. Starting in the 1600s, the telltale “frozen” form of this gundog would silently signal the proximity of gamebirds to hunters, making it a forerunner of the modern Irish Setter.
The Irish Red and White was almost lost to the world in the 19th century, and although the breed is still relatively rare, with only around 500 in North America according to a 2021 DogTipper report, its population began to rebound in the 1920s thanks to the efforts of breeders. It shares its pointing instinct and athletic build with the Vizsla, another rare-in-America gundog bred for stamina in the field rather than the show ring.
10. Irish Doodle
The Irish Doodle is a modern designer crossbreed combining an Irish Setter with a Poodle, aimed at pairing the setter’s affectionate, family-friendly nature with the Poodle’s low-shedding coat. Size varies widely depending on whether the Poodle parent was standard, miniature, or toy, so litters from the same breeder can range from under 30 pounds to well over 60.
Most Irish Doodles inherit a wavy or curly coat in red, apricot, or cream, along with high energy levels from both parent breeds. Because neither parent breed is a couch potato, this cross needs daily exercise and mental stimulation, not just a walk around the block, to avoid destructive boredom.
11. Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier
The Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier takes its name from a remote valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, where it worked as a farm dog capable of dispatching vermin, badgers, and foxes on short, sturdy legs. Compared to other terriers on this list, it’s noticeably quieter and less prone to constant barking, a trait that made it a practical farmhand rather than a flashy show dog for most of its history.
The breed carries a harsh, medium-length double coat in wheaten, blue, or brindle, and its low-slung, muscular build gives it surprising strength for its size. Terrier fans comparing calmer options against a fiery Tibetan Terrier or a livelier Irish Terrier often land on the Glen of Imaal as the steadier middle ground.
12. Irish Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
The Irish Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier is named for its distinctive coat: soft, silky, and wavy in a warm wheaten color that ranges from pale beige to a deeper gold. Unlike wiry terrier coats, this one sheds minimally, and many owners with mild allergies tolerate it better than other breeds, though no dog is truly hypoallergenic.
Wheatens are famous in the breed community for the “Wheaten greeting,” an exuberant jumping welcome given to anyone who walks through the door, family or stranger alike. Historically bred alongside the Kerry Blue Terrier and Glen of Imaal Terrier as an Irish farm dog, the Wheaten today is better known as a friendly, food-motivated family companion than a working terrier.
Pro Tip: Wheaten and Kerry Blue Terrier coats both require regular professional grooming, not just brushing at home, to prevent matting in the soft, dense fur.
13. Istrian Shorthaired Hound
The Istrian Shorthaired Hound comes from the Istria region of Croatia and is considered one of the oldest hound breeds in the entire Balkan region. The breed originated in Croatia and dates back to at least the 1300s, and Istrian Short-Haired Hounds are calm, docile dogs with exceptional hunting abilities that are also gentle, devoted, and easy to train.
These noble-looking scent hounds have a snow white coat broken by lemon-orange markings, a fine, smooth coat, and a clean, long, narrow head. The FCI published the first standard for the breed in 1955, and the United Kennel Club recognized it in 2006; today, Istrians are rare, found primarily in their native land, which means US buyers will have a genuinely hard time locating a breeder.
14. Istrian Coarse-Haired Hound
The Istrian Coarse-Haired Hound is the longer-coated counterpart to its shorthaired cousin, built for the same rugged Balkan hunting grounds but with a weatherproof wiry coat instead of a smooth one. It is a rough-coated scent hound still kept primarily as a hunting dog rather than as a pet, and dogs of this breed can vary considerably in size since more emphasis is placed on performance than specific appearance requirements.
The color is white with yellow or orange markings, usually on the ears, and because the breed has been bred primarily for hunting rather than as a companion, it tends to be willful and more challenging to train than many other breeds. Its working drive puts it closer in spirit to a Rhodesian Ridgeback than to a typical companion hound.
15. Istrian Wire-haired Hound
The Istrian Wire-haired Hound name is used, largely outside the Balkans, as an alternate translation for the Istrian Coarse-Haired Hound rather than as a distinct third breed. Kennel clubs and regional fanciers sometimes render the Croatian “oštrodlaki” as “coarse-haired” and other times as “wire-haired,” which has led to some understandable confusion in English-language breed lists.
Whichever name is used, the dog underneath is the same wiry-coated Balkan scent hound built for stamina over rough terrain rather than for the show ring. Its rarity in North America rivals that of the Xoloitzcuintli, another breed that most American dog owners have never seen in person.
Important Note: All three Istrian hound varieties are still bred primarily for hunting in Croatia and are rarely available as pets in the United States. Anyone drawn to their look should research whether a similarly built scent hound breed is actually available locally before falling in love with a photo.
16. Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is a true greyhound scaled down to lap-dog size, developed centuries ago as a companion for Italian nobility rather than a working courser. Standing at a mere 13 to 15 inches at the shoulder, this breed boasts a sleek physique, fine bone structure, and a graceful gait, and beyond their poised appearance, Italian Greyhounds are affectionate, playful, and thrive in close companionship with their humans.
Coats come in black, blue, red, fawn, cream, and white-marked combinations, and the solid black variety is one of the more sought-after examples among small black dog breeds for apartment living. Their thin coat and low body fat mean they run cold easily, so a sweater on winter walks isn’t vanity, it’s necessity. For anyone weighing a toy sighthound against a slightly larger, leaner build, the Whippet is the natural next comparison.
17. Italian Segugio
The Italian Segugio refers to Italy’s family of native scent hounds, officially split into smooth-coated and rough-coated varieties, both developed to hunt hare across the country’s varied terrain. One well-known regional type, the Segugio dell’Appennino, is bred specifically to hunt hare and may be either smooth-haired or wire-haired, and it is one of several closely related Segugio breeds recognized in Italy.
The rough-coated Segugio Italiano a Pelo Forte carries a coarse coat, not over 5 centimeters long, in colors ranging from pale to dark red fawn or black-and-tan. These hounds hunt largely by scent rather than sight, which sets them apart from Italy’s sighthound tradition, and they remain far more common in the Italian countryside than in American homes. Working-dog fans researching Italian breeds often pair the Segugio with the livestock-guarding Maremma Sheepdog, another Italian original built for a completely different job.
18. Italian Sighthound
The Italian Sighthound designation covers Italy’s broader coursing-dog heritage, of which the Italian Greyhound is the most familiar example today. Italy’s Mediterranean coastline and islands produced several related primitive sighthound types that hunted by sight, scent, and hearing combined, a trait shared with breeds like the Ibizan Hound covered earlier in this list.
Related Italian and Mediterranean sighthound-type breeds include the Cirneco dell’Etna, Pharaoh Hound, Podenco Canario, and Portuguese Podengo Grande, all of which likely share distant ancestry through ancient trade routes across the Mediterranean. Anyone drawn to this hunting style might also look at the Saluki, one of the oldest sighthound breeds still recognized worldwide and a distant cousin in build and purpose.
From the athletic Ibizan Hound to the compact Indian Spitz and the rugged Istrian hounds, dog breeds that start with I cover an unusually wide range of jobs, sizes, and origins for a single letter. A few, including the Icelandic Sheepdog, Indian Pariah Dog, and Italian Greyhound, also happen to come in solid black, so this list doubles as a starting point for anyone specifically comparing popular black dog breeds rather than searching by letter alone.
Whatever your household needs, whether that’s a low-shedding terrier like the Wheaten, a rare Balkan hunting hound, or a mellow giant like the Irish Wolfhound, there’s an I-breed built for a genuinely different lifestyle than the one next to it on this list. If this alphabetical approach to breed research is useful, the same format continues with dog breeds that start with U and dog breeds that start with Y, along with cross-species guides like horse breeds that start with E for anyone building out a broader animal reference library.