Whippet: temperament, size, care and health

About the Whippet

The Whippet is a medium-sized sighthound with the lines of a small Greyhound: a deep chest, a tucked abdomen, long legs, a narrow head and a tail that tapers to a point. The coat is short and fine and comes in nearly any color or pattern. Adults stand roughly eighteen to twenty-two inches tall, with a light frame that gives a fast, flexible stride.

It was bred in England as a racing dog and a rabbit chaser for working people, sometimes called the poor man's racehorse. The Whippet is capable of speeds near those of much larger sighthounds over a short distance. At home it is a quiet, clean and affectionate dog that spends much of the day on a warm couch.

Temperament and family life

Indoors, a Whippet is calm, gentle and often shy. It forms a strong attachment to its family and is happiest close to people, preferably under a blanket. It seldom barks and does not make an effective guard dog, though it will alert to something unusual. Strangers are usually met with politeness and some reserve.

Most Whippets are good with considerate children, but the dog is fragile for its size and can be hurt by rough games. It tends to get along with other dogs, particularly other Whippets. The prey drive is strong, so cats and small animals that run are likely to be chased, although a dog raised with a cat may accept that one animal as a family member.

Exercise and training

The breed needs a daily walk and, ideally, a chance to run flat out in a securely fenced area a few times a week. After a short burst of speed it is happy to rest, so the total requirement is more modest than it looks. Never trust a Whippet off leash in an open area, because it will follow a moving target a long way and cannot be called back. Lure coursing and straight racing are good outlets.

Whippets are sensitive and respond best to gentle, reward-based training. Harsh corrections can cause the dog to withdraw. They learn quickly when the lessons are short and varied. House training can take time, and many dislike going out in rain or cold.

Grooming and shedding

The coat requires little care. A weekly wipe with a hound glove or soft brush removes dead hair, and a bath only when needed is fine. Shedding is light, though fine hairs can stick to fabric.

Skin is thin and tears or scratches easily on brush or rough play, so a quick check after outdoor time is wise. The dog has little body fat and a thin coat, so it feels the cold and wants a jacket or sweater in winter. Nails, teeth and ears should be tended regularly.

Health

Whippets are generally healthy and long-lived. Conditions seen in the breed include heart murmurs and mitral valve disease, eye problems, von Willebrand disease, a bleeding disorder, and skin that tears readily. Like other sighthounds, they have low body fat and can react unusually to some anesthetics, so a vet who knows the breed is helpful. A DNA test exists for a muscle condition that produces the so-called bully Whippet. Responsible breeders test hearts, eyes and, where relevant, genetic conditions. These notes on the Whippet are general, so a veterinarian should be consulted about the health of a specific dog.

History

The Whippet is generally traced to nineteenth-century England, where coal-mining communities in the north bred small Greyhound types, likely crossed with terriers, for racing and hunting rabbits. Straight racing, with dogs chasing a waved rag, became a popular sport. Mill operators brought the breed from England to Massachusetts, and the American Kennel Club recognized it in 1888.

Is the Whippet right for you?

A Whippet suits a quiet, calm home with a secure place to run and an owner who values a sensitive, house-loving dog. It can live in an apartment. It is not right for a household that leaves the dog alone for long hours, wants a guard dog or has small pets.

For a larger and more famous racer, look at the Greyhound. A smaller option with more fragility is the Italian Greyhound, and the Saluki offers a more independent, desert-bred alternative.