Published with the kind permission of The Whippet Association of Victoria, Inc.
Whippets have been described as the perfect "all purpose dog." They make wonderful house dogs because of their very fine soft coat and dog free odour. The Whippet is classed as a medium size dog but much of the height is due to their length of leg. Their bodies are relatively small, females weighing approx. 8 to 12 kilos and males 11 to 15 kilos. This, along with their gentle affectionate nature makes them an ideal breed to bring up with small children. They are less likely to accidentally knock a small child over than a larger breed of dog.
Although the Whippet may look somewhat delicate, it is a true canine athlete, with a hardy constitution. It requires considerable galloping exercise to keep it in top show or racing condition. Having said that, the Whippet will fit in with whatever the family is doing. If it's too cold and wet for you to go walking, the Whippet is happy to forgo a walk for one day and like you, would sooner be home curled up by the fire. The main thing of course is that as long as he is with his family he is happy. Whippets are a very loyal and bonding breed, first and foremost, they like to be by your side.
History
As is the case with almost all the other breeds of dog, there is much speculation on the origins and the science of the breeding of the Whippet. One theory supports a breed of dog that dates to ancient Rome and Egypt. There is evidence found in paintings, statues, pottery, tapestries and artifacts that support the existence of a small type of Greyhound, with the Whippet's particularly rose shaped ear. The British Museum possesses paintings that date from 1350 that show a dog that remarkably resembles a Whippet. So for those people who believe that the Whippet is an ancient breed of dog, there is quite a lot of evidence to support that theory.
The second theory is that the Whippet evolved during the 18th and 19th centuries in Northern England. During this period of time in English history, and in that region of the country, to make a living, the average citizen was either a coal miner, a tenant farmer, or worked in the mills. The wealthy owned vast estates, and it is known that these estates possessed kennels and among the dogs kept in those kennels were Greyhounds.
Being large dogs and expensive to keep and maintain, Greyhounds were simply not an option for the average person. It is thought that the Whippet resulted from some English coal miners crossing small Greyhounds with terriers. The result from these crosses was a tough, rugged, agile little sight hound. The breed's distinct advantages in its swiftness, quietness and earlier small size did not go unnoticed by poachers who would hide the Whippet under theircoats away from the warden's suspicious eye and then sneak them onto the private grounds to hunt.
Some miners thought that crossing a Greyhound with terriers was a good idea because the working class needed a coursing (hunting) and racing dog. A popular pastime for the working class men was what was called "Snap-dog Coursing". This wagering event took place within an enclosure where rabbits, and sometimes rats were turned loose. A number of Whippets were placed in the same enclosure and the dog that snapped up the most number of rabbits, or rats, was the winner, and the owner collected on the bets. Humane societies worked very hard to get these contests outlawed and eventually were successful.
After rabbit coursing was banned because of its cruelty, track racing then became very popular and the Whippet became known as "the poor man's race horse". With a need for entertainment when not working, miners found that their dogs would eagerly chase a waving rag and ‘rag racing' became a popular pastime of the coal miners. Many people raced their family pet as a way to earn extra money. An entire week's wages might ride on the speed of the family hearth dog. A fast dog then was money in the pocket and special pride to the one who owned it. Whippets were considered one of the family, they hunted small game, mostly rabbit for the family table and often shared dinner and a bed with them.
These men didn't have fancy oval tracks, and had to arrange their races in back alleys and empty lots. The Whippet became a straight-away sprinter indicating they were more than capable of excelling in this new sport. The tracks used were both grass and cinder, with cinder tracks preferred by the owners because faster times were achieved. Handicapping was introduced when Whippets raced on straight courses. The Whippet is an amazing athlete and its acceleration ability gives it jack-rabbit starts, covering 200 yards in 12 seconds and being clocked at up to 37mph.
The Whippet rose to popularity during the 20s and 30s not only as a status symbol, but as a competitive track dog. Professional racing ended during the latter part of this era and has not been revived. Though the Whippet slowly faded from the public's eye during the 40s, it is once again back in popularity. The increasing awareness of its versatility and easy care in the home has brought it back into public eye as the "all purpose dog". All around the world, Whippets excel in racing (now just for the love of it), as well as obedience and associated disciplines. Due to their gentle, even disposition, they are also being used widely as therapy dogs in retirement and aged care facilities. They're recently being introduced into the pre-school and primary school education programmes, educating future generations on how to love and care for their family dog. What better an ambassador could we ask for than our Whippet?
Read more about the Whippet from the The Whippet Association of Victoria, Inc.
