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Whippet

Dwarf Greyhound, Snap Dog

The Whippet looks fragile in appearance but has great endurance due to his strength and developed musculature. Not aggressive at all, he lives in harmony with others, both humans and animals. Cohabitation is very easy. The comfort of the home is more pleasant to him than life in the garden even if he cannot live without his daily outing to carry out his great passion, the fast race.

Height 44 to 51 cm

Weight 10 to 13 kg

Life expectancy 12 to 15 years

Hair Loss Low

Excercise Need High

Home country United Kingdom (UK)

Index

Personality Appearance Characteristics Price Breeders Tips Health History

Quick Overview of the Whippet

Temperament

Reserved and rather shy
Loves his family and children
Sociable and affectionate
Receptive to education

Appearance

Great strength
Impressive muscles
Elegant and graceful silhouette
Tight, short and very fine coat

Health

Excellent health
Rarely ill
Excellent life expectancy

Temperament of the Whippet

Reserved and rather shy, the Whippet has a character similar to other sighthounds. He loves to run, it is his only passion.

Apart from that, he loves his family and children. He is very sociable, affectionate and loves to cuddle.

The Whippet also enjoys the comfort of the cushions or sofa in the house.

He is very receptive to education and socialization does not cause him any issue. However, it needs to be firm enough to carry out his education. He is naturally docile and intelligent, and a good, firm education will be easy and will allow him to develop properly knowing in advance what is expected of him.

Breed Appearance

The Whippet has great muscle power and an impressive musculature for his size.

Height

Between 47 and 51 cm (18.50 to 20.08 inches) for the male
Between 44 and 47 cm (17.32 to 18.50 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 10 and 13 kg (22.05 to 28.66 pounds) for the male
Between 10 and 13 kg (22.05 to 28.66 pounds) for the female

Color

His dress can be very varied. All colours and blends are allowed.

Hair

His dense coat is short and very fine.

Morphology

His bright eyes are oval-shaped. His ears are small and of very fine texture. His nose matches the colour of the coat. His tail is slightly curved and very slender.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 10, section 3 and is #162

Characteristics of the Whippet

Does this dog suit your lifestyle?

Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.

Life in an apartment

Good first dog

Tolerates solitude

Tolerates cold weather

Tolerates hot weather

Affectionate

Friendly with children

Friendly with strangers

Friendly with other animals

Hair loss

Drooling level

Easy to care for

Robust health

Easy to train

Intelligent

Tendency to bark

Tendency to nibble

Protective

Instinct to hunt

Adventurous spirit

Energy level

Level of intensity

Need for exercise

Playful

Price and monthly budget

Whippet puppies near me

Tips About this breed

Very happy in a cynodrome (circuit for greyhound racing), the Whippet must be able to run every day.

It is not a game in his case, it is a passion and vital need. Racing is a vital part of his existence.

Due to his size, the Whippet can live anywhere. In an apartment or in the country, he will be very happy as long as he has the time and a place for racing.

The Whippet loves the comfort of soft cushions and the cosy corner of the fireplace.

Once his daily run is completed, he can relax on the sofa in the middle of the cushions and take his well-deserved nap after a well performed exercise.

Health of the Whippet

Despite his very fragile appearance, the Whippet is in excellent health and rarely gets sick. His life expectancy is generally very long. Races may increase the risk of injury or fractures, but otherwise, this dog is in excellent health.

Because of his short coat, he can sometimes be more sensitive to cold and drafts.

GROOMING

Even if his coat is short-haired, it is preferable to brush it regularly in order to remove superfluous hairs. No other special care is necessary.

History of this breed

Belonging to the greyhound family, the Whippet is thought to be a cross between the Fox Terrier and the Greyhound. Used as a hunter before the Industrial Revolution, the masters had to find ways to make him run during the migration to industrial regions.

That's when they made him run behind rags to allow him to exercise. The idea of sport was born. Although the Whippet races weren't as popular as Greyhound races, the original idea became a sport in itself.

Officially recognized in 1888, the Whippet entered the English Kennel Club around 1900.

Resembling Pharaoh's greyhound, he probably arrived in England around the 15th century. His name is a slight derivative of the English "whip it" meaning "whip him". He was recognized in England as the "racehorse of the poor" because of his involvement in greyhound racing.

The working class of the time was prohibited from owning Greyhounds because they were reserved for royalty, so they appropriated Whippet greyhounds to satisfy their passion for racing despite this prohibition.

The Whippet's speed can generally reach up to 40 km (25 miles) per hour. The fastest feat for a Whippet was recorded at 49 km (31 miles) per hour.

Even though his first use was for racing, he is now very much appreciated for his great qualities as a companion dog.

References

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maverick_the_Whippet..jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dog-020_(15875571685).jpg
https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/fr/view-image.php?image=214932icture=whippet