The Whippet is sighthound that hails from England and is a medium size breed. The dog is treasured for its ability to hunt and outperformance in dog’s sports. It is a sweet natured and docile dog. It is bestowed with great agility along with endurance. The dogs love running games and needs opportunity to run in a secured fence. Inside home they will not mind being a couch potato and curling up under the blanket. Puppies can be rambunctious and mischievous but as they grow they turn into calm and composed breed.
It is in their imbedded nature to enjoy the luxuries in home. This breed insists on the luxury of being up on the furniture like sofa and bed. If you’re not comfortable sharing your furniture with a dog, this breed might not be the best choice for you. They are peace loving and polite dogs. They do well in multiple pet home. This breed has a welcoming attitude towards strangers too. As they are highly sensitive dogs, make sure there is no violence or stressful situation in front of the dog.
Whippet Origin
The Whippet is a 17th century dog that was developed in North England particularly Lancashire and Yorkshire. The dog is a result of cross mating of Greyhounds with fast, long-legged terriers. As the dog was medium sized and agile, it was used for hunting small games. Eventually this breed became popular among noble and working man who loved to see dog chasing small animals and killing them. They also enjoyed whippet racing competition. Today the dog is cherished for its charismatic look, even temperament and devoted companionship.
Whippet Highlights - Characteristics & Facts
- The dog belongs to England and is sighthound.
- It is a suitable dog for apartment living provided you give it running opportunity.
- They are calm with fairly low energy levels inside home but if they are not satisfied with their exercise they can turn destructive.
- The dog is amiable, quiet, gentle and affectionate in nature.
- Its lifespan is 12 – 15 years.
- The maximum running speed of this dog is 56 km/h.
- The dog is 48–56 cm in height.
- It weighs around 34 pounds.
- The dog should never be kept off-leash because they have strong desire to chase moving objects and prey upon small animals.
- The dog has sleek coat and its skin is prone to get affected by scrapes, tears, and nicks.
- They shed lightly.
- It develops strong attachment with its family member and in no terms it should be left alone in the backyard. They should live inside with their people.
- It is a suitable dog for kids of all ages.
- It is an animal friendly dog.
- It is not a hypoallergenic breed.
- The average price of the dog is $500-$800 USD.
Appearance
The dog looks like a tiny greyhound. It is lean and graceful in appearance. The dog has a long face and muzzle. In calm position, its ears are folded back but on alert state it gets erected. The dog has long and well arched neck with leveled topline. Its eyes are sharp and expressive. The dog has long tail which gets slightly curved towards the end.
Size and weight
Ideal height of the male breed is 19 to 22 inches and female is 18 to 21 inches tall. Male should weigh around 34 pounds and female should be 29 pounds.
Coat and Color
The dog has a smooth and short coat. Its coat lies close to its body. The dog comes in variety of color and pattern like black, red, fawn, blue, cream, or brindle with spot, patches or blaze pattern.
Temperament
- Personality- Whippets have a noble personality. They are both couch potatoes inside home and tireless speed machines in the yard. This makes them suitable breed for apartment. This breed has a very sophisticated nature. It is mild and gentle with everyone. Chaos inside the house can make them anxious. They love peaceful and serine environment. They get overly attached with their owner and as a result want their people always with them. It is not a dog to be left outside. Separation anxiety is common problem in them.
- Behavioral Trait – They appear well mannered and harmless and looks it doesn’t even hurt a fly but in reality, they have strong prey drive. Rodents, pests and small animals are under threat with this dog. If you do not fulfill its exercise dose, it will let you know by chewing your things. They are quiet breeds which mean they don’t make good watch dogs. Instead of barking at strangers, they will greet them as if they have met their long old friend. This breed makes good playmate to children of all age.
- Activities Requirements - Whippets excel in sprint running. They can reach to maximum speed of 35 miles per hour. You should give opportunity to this breed to run few times a week. Keep in mind that the dog is not meant for endurance exercise. It has lean body and few rounds of walk or run are apt for it.
- Trainability - They are sensitive dogs so make sure you treat the dog gently. They are never aggressive and harsh behavior towards them can cause them psychological harm. Make sure to socialize your dog at an early age because they are naturally shy and timid. Expose them to different people and animals, so that they get used to new surroundings.
Feeding
A well-balanced diet is essential for optimum development of its health. Whippet should be fed 250-300 grams of meat per day which should be supplemented with vegetables, flaxseed and fish oil. It is important to remove the excess visible fat from the meat like skin. This dog enjoys fruit and sees it as a treat. Carrot, beans and cucumber are great for dogs.
Lifespan
Life expectancy of this breed is 12 – 15 years.
Health issues
The dog is not hypoallergenic in nature. They are prone to suffer from following health issues,
- Anesthesia Sensitivity - Because of presence of low body fat, anesthesia dose can even kill a dog.
- Hypothyroidism - The body is not able to produce right amount of hormones which can cause infertility.
- Osteosarcoma - It is a deadly state of bone cancer. Large dogs are prone to this disease.
- Gastric Torsion (Bloat) - Stomach of the dog gets swelled up because of release of excess acidic enzymes.
Grooming
This breed requires brushing once a week to remove debris and mats. The dog is naturally clean, so bath it as required. The dog’s skin is thin hence prone to cuts and wounds. Make sure to clean its wound and apply antiseptic on it. Check its ears on a weekly basis for signs of infection, irritation, or wax build up. Trim its nails once a month. Brush the dog’s teeth daily to avoid bad breath.
Habitat
The dog can do well in urban areas provided it is given space to walk and do sprinting exercise. They cannot survive in extreme cold climatic areas.
Pet Names
- Phoebe
- Titan
- Rhea
- Beast
- King Kong
Things To Consider Before Buying
Pros
- They are soft natured dogs that can get along with humans pretty well.
- This breed is well mannered inside home.
- They will keep your house pets and rodents free.
Cons
- They are sound sensitive in nature and even a loud voice can affect its psychology.
- They are not hypoallergenic in nature.
- The dog lacks endurance to go exercise for long hours.
