Medium
14 Years
19.1 Kg
Hound Dogs
Affectionate, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Lively, Quiet
The Whippet is a medium-size hound which has been called a miniature greyhound because it has the same sleek curve, long limbs and lean profile as that of the greyhound. Some of the prominent features of the breed include a long and lean head with a tapered muzzle and slight stop. The oval eyes are also very prominent which imparts very alert expression. Small rose-shaped ears sit high above the head, set widely apart. The teeth that form a regular scissor bite complete the facial features. A long, muscular neck carries the head elegantly and is supported by muscled shoulders. It has upright and straight front legs braced by moderate bladed bones with broad thighs on the back legs that carry the deep-chested and deep brisket body. Built for speed, the Whippet is cushioned to the ground by oval, thickly padded feet and balanced by a long, tapering tail with no feathering. The breed has a fine, short coat that comes in a wide variety of colours and marking patterns from pure black to pure white, red, fawn, brindle, blue, or cream with all sorts of spots, blazes and patches.
All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Whippet is a native breed of England developed for coursing game in hunting areas at high speeds. It is believed to come from a mix of small greyhounds and other small dogs and was used to hunt rabbits and other small prey. It may have gotten its speed from terrier breeds but its curvaceous outline is owed to the Italian greyhound. There were numerous depictions of greyhound-like hounds which go back to the time of the Roman Empire but the actual use of the word “whippet” was only in 1610. These greyhound-type dogs can be seen depicted on paintings from English and French artists. During the course of the 19th century, whippet racing became so popular in England that it surpassed football in popularity. Then, it was during the 1890s that the breed was granted official recognition as a distinct breed and was regarded as the “race horse” of the canine breed. Its versatility as a hunter, racer, and companion dog made it the most popular sight-hound.
In general, the Whippet is docile and generally quiet particularly when inside the house where it will be contented sleeping much of the day. It is not a suitable guard dog because it may or may not bark at the presence of strangers and due to the fact that it has a very trusting and unsuspicious behaviour. However, it may have the tendency to attack or kill stray animals onto its territory. Males are quite easy to housebreak and are slightly more loyal to its owner than females.
Whippets are an intelligent dog breed but they can still be quite hard to train just simply because they are not quick learners with new things like some other breeds might be. It takes a little more patience and time from the owner when it comes to teaching a Whippet new tricks. Like some breeds this dog breed will not respond well to harsh or heavy handed treatment and thus need to be handled gently during training to see responsive results.
The coat requires minimal grooming and should only be bathed when necessary. A substitute to bathing would be to wipe the coat with a clean cloth without the need for expensive kits as the Whippet has no doggy odour. However, the skin should be well protected from the sun because it can easily acquire sunburn. In cold weather, it should be provided with a sweater.
Sickness and accident aside, the Whippet can live up to 12 to 15 years on average. It is generally a healthy breed with rare cases of hereditary eye problems and like other sighthounds, is sensitive to barbiturate anesthetics. Cardiac-related problems are the second leading cause of death in Whippets.
It's best if the breed is given a balanced diet of lamb, poultry, wheat and corn mixture. Linseed oil will help keep its coat in excellent condition.
The Whippet needs constant human companionship and is not suitable to live outside in a kennel because the short coat will not provide the needed protection against harsh elements. It needs regular exercise similar to other breeds and requires mentally and physically stimulating activities to keep it in good shape. It is suitable for an apartment living provided that it is given the right amount of exercise on a daily basis. The Whippet will do best if it is allowed to run freely on an open but well-secured area, particularly a large, well fenced-in yard. When taking the dog in public places, it is required that it is always on-leash to avoid problems.
It is also generally not aggressive towards other dogs. It makes a wonderful household pet because of its calm and easy-going nature that loves playing gently with children. It is especially attached to its human family and is very friendly with visitors, typically very approachable even with first-time meeting. It is not a snappy breed and goes well with children of all ages.
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