Whippet

In my own words

 

Never let it be said that I’m lazy, but I do love a snooze in a cosy armchair, especially if it’s yours. We Whippets love a good run, but we need a lot of snoozes to top up our energy levels. As you can see from my portrait, the eyes have it – no-one can resist, especially when I put my head on your knee and gaze up at you soulfully - it really works! I get strokes, cuddles and treats whenever I want! I’m a great family dog by the way – I’m gentle with children and love to play, especially Frisbee, that’s my favourite. I’m afraid I’m not the best of watchdogs, I like people too much, and I never was a great one for barking, it’s a waste of the energy I can use for chasing that squirrel that was in my garden yesterday. Do you think you’d have room for me in your life? I’m small and neat and will give you lots of kisses xxxx

Information essential about the Whippet

 

Kennel Club Group:

Hound

 

Size: Medium: Males 18 ½ - 20” (47 – 51 cm) Female 17 ½  – 18 ½” (44 – 47 cm)

Weight 19 – 22 lbs (7 – 10 kg). Whippets tend to be slightly larger in America and Canada.

Popularity:

 

Whippets are very popular among sight-hound aficionados. Increasingly popular as family dogs.

Breed History:

 

Descended from the Greyhound, small Whippet-like dogs have been used for coursing since Roman times, though the first time the word was actually recorded in English not until 1610. By the 19th Century, Whippet racing was a national sport, more popular than football, and this was when the breed was finally fully recognised, being registered by the American Kennel Club in 1888, and the English Kennel Club in 1890. Since then, the Whippet’s versatility as a hunting, racing, exhibition or companion dog has made it one of the most popular sight-hound breeds.

Character:

 

Your Whippet is a proud dog, well aware of his lean, streamlined good looks. He is also very sweet natured, kindly towards children and very playful. Your Whippet is above all things a sight-hound, and will chase anything that moves, from rabbits and pheasants to squirrels and next door’s cat, though he can live happily alongside your cat if taught that it is part of the family. Thus when you go for a walk or a run, keep him on the leash because if he sees a rabbit, he’ll be gone and all your calling will land on deaf ears. Your Whippet likes lots of rest, like most hounds, and will appreciate a cosy bed of his own somewhere warm. If you live in the country, you may like to find out where the nearest Whippet racing venue is, and run your Whippet - he can reach speeds up to 40mph and will enjoy chasing a lure.

Temperament:

 

Fond of any game, your Whippet will love to play with your children, and will always be kind, even to very young ones. His favourite games are fetch and Frisbee. He is an easy going person, who will get along with everyone, including strangers and other dogs, and because he hardly ever barks, he won’t be a good watchdog or guard dog. Whippets don’t like the heat or the cold, so a jumper for winter walks, and protection from the sun in summer will help him through these extremes. Your Whippet may not wear his heart on his sleeve like a Labrador might, and may seem a little reserved, but this doesn’t mean he won’t love you as much as any other dog and your whole family too. Your Whippet is a faithful soul.

Conformation:

 

Your Whippet should look like a medium sized greyhound. He should have a lean, balanced frame with a smooth, dense coat. His head should be slender, with a long muzzle. He should have rose ears and dark oval eyes with an enthusiastic, intelligent expression. The lean neck should lead to a firm back with legs that are strong without being thick. The tail should be long and tapering.

Colour:

 

Whippets can be black, chestnut (red), tiger striped, brindled, white or slate and can be one solid colour or mixed.

Training:

 

Your Whippet is fairly easy to train, but he does have a stubborn streak that might make house training a bit of a challenge, though with patience these trials can be overcome. You will also need to teach him which is your bed or chair, and which is his! Being a sight-hound, you will need to train your Whippet not to chase your other pets, like the poor cat, and remember that when you take him jogging, keep him on the leash because no amount of training will overcome his coursing instinct if he sees a rabbit.

Care:

 

Easy to keep, his short coat will only need a weekly brush and is easy to clean up after a muddy walk. Don’t forget, he will need a coat in winter because Whippets really do feel the cold. In summer, he can easily suffer from sunburn, so keep him out of the sun during the sunburn hours, and offer lots of water, even when you’re out walking. Your Whippet isn’t a marathon runner, he is a sprinter, so allow him lots of rest when he tells you he needs it.

Health:

Your hardy Whippet should have a healthy lifespan of up to 15 years with a correct diet, exercise and veterinary care. Being bred to course, work and race, they are structurally very sound, and hip dysplasia is unknown in the breed. Your Whippet is not prone to the ear infections, gastric upsets and skin allergies of other breeds, however does have an uneven heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia) when at rest. This is normal, if a little startling to first time owners and vets not familiar with Whippets. The heartbeat will be regular during exercise. Like all sight-hounds, your Whippet is intolerant of barbiturate-based anaesthetics due to his low body fat. It is a good idea to take him for regular dental check-ups when he has his annual boosters, as some Whippets have a tendency to build up tartar (plaque). He will appreciate a tasty dental chew in between visits

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