Purpose of Whippets
A true sporting hound, the Whippet was bred for speed and is the fastest domesticated animal of its weight, capable of up to 60 kilometres per hour.
Today the Whippet is predominantly a much-loved gentle pet for all age groups. Not only is the Whippet a quiet, dignified, unobtrusive, creature of beauty and elegance in the household, with its agility and swiftness it also excels at catching rats and other vermin. But his true purpose in life is to be a loyal and devoted companion with the added bonus of being a wonderful living "hot water bottle" at the end of the bed. If you are working full time with no one home during the day your Whippet will become very lonely. They love you first and foremost but next to that they love each other's company. Consider taking on another Whippet if your dog is left alone a lot. Two Whippets don't take up much more room or eat much more than one. After all, it is well known they come in two's. We call them the "potato chip" dog; you can't stop at one.
Appearance
The Whippet looks like a small Greyhound. It is graceful and slender, but actually quite hardy and very muscular. The fine dense coat comes in many colours. The muzzle is long and slender and the overall impression is one of streamlined elegance. The Whippet is basically built for speed and as they say, is able to turn on a "sixpence". This "miniature" Greyhound has small rose-shaped ears, bright oval eyes set towards the front of its head, an elegantly arched neck, a deep chest with plenty of heart room, and its back is long and broad and arched over the loin. The abdomen is retracted, and the tail is long and carried low but is also used a rudder when the Whippet is in action. The Whippet is a picture of "S's". No sharp corners, just lovely long flowing ‘S' curves.
Whippet Temperament
The Whippet is the ultimate sprinter, unsurpassed by any other breed in its ability to accelerate to top speed and to twist and turn with matchless dexterity and although it may appear fragile, the Whippet's looks are deceiving. Tough would be a more accurate description, for the Whippet is still a strongly competitive breed that can take to the field at a moment's notice and handle the most rugged terrain with little effort. Far from being nervous, the Whippet instead shows an unusual cool and often aloof manner in most circumstances. In the home the Whippet stands out for its quietness with normal backyard vocalizing of the average dog, non-existent. Although if there is an unexpected intruder or anything else suspicious occurs it will let you know, but then let you deal with "it" and go back to lying on the couch.
The Whippet is intelligent, lively, affectionate, sweet and docile, as well as a devoted companion. This breed should never be roughly trained as they are extremely sensitive both physically and mentally. Be sure to introduce plenty of variety when training this breed. The best results will be achieved by including games and running but remember, although they are very intelligent and will learn quickly, you may never achieve "perfect" obedience from this breed due to their independent nature.
Whippets are good with children of all ages because they are not prone to snapping. But of course, as with any breed of dog, small children should not be left unattended at any time. Many whippets are enthusiastic greeters and when their owners return from long absences (of 10 minutes or more!) they may be greeted by wild displays of exuberance, so be careful if very young children are around as they may accidentally get knocked over. Whippets are really suited best to a calm quiet family and don't take kindly to too much rough and tumble. They will soon take themselves off to somewhere quieter if this occurs.
Quiet and calm indoors, they are content to spend much of the day sleeping on the couch and they cope well with apartment living if they are sufficiently exercised twice a day if possible. Outside, particularly when they are racing or lure coursing, they demonstrate their superb athletic skills and will pursue their "quarry" (even when it is an artificial lure) with the heart of a lion. To see these dogs in full stride, undertaking the "double suspension gallop" is a breathtaking sight to behold!
They are not generally aggressive with other animals, and although especially attached to their owners, they are usually friendly to visitors. They are not suited as guard dogs due to their trusting and unsuspicious nature but put to the test with their loyalty and devotion, the outcome may surprise you!
Male or Female?
Unlike many other breeds, the males are as easy to housebreak, and no more aggressive than bitches. Both sexes make excellent pets. Males tend to be slightly more loyal and enjoy repetitive play. Females can be a little more complex, aloof and strong-willed, but are equally devoted to their owners. When viewing a litter go along with an open mind.
Whippet Health
Given proper nutrition, exercise, and veterinary care, most Whippets live for 12 to 15 years. They are generally healthy, and are not prone to the frequent ear infections, skin allergies, or digestive problems that afflict other breeds. Whippets can become very easily over weight, which can put pressure on their back and limbs not to mention other associated health problems as well. People forget that a Whippet's stomach is very small if you compare it to the size of its body. The deep chest and long legs can be very deceiving. Whippets need to eat surprisingly little to keep them in good condition. A good indication for perfect "condition" is being able to see the three top vertebrae on the curve of the back and just slightly, the two hip bones. If you can't see vertebrae or rib at all, your Whippet is overweight.
Drawbacks!
This paragraph may surprise you, as up until now there were no "drawbacks". To the enthusiast, the following probably wouldn't even be considered drawbacks as such. Firstly trimming nails is a fact of life with Whippets. If you are squeamish about trimming nails regularly (at least once a month but preferable every two weeks) please be prepared to take your Whippet to a dog ‘beauty parlor' or Vet to have this done for you. A Whippet's body is not heavy enough to help wear the nails down with regular exercise even on concrete or asphalt. If you trim your puppy's nails regularly from a tiny baby, they soon become accustomed to this procedure and it will simply become a part of the regular grooming routine.
Next, if you want a dog that is built like a "Labrador", consider another breed. Whippets should be streamline in every sense of the word. Remember that Whippets don't have a dense overcoat to keep them warm so they do feel the cold immensely. Simply rug them if they are exposed for any length of time to the cold. Preferably, a bed in front of the fire, or snuggled under your doona is a suitable alternative.
Lastly, Whippets LOVE companionship. A loyal and loving breed like this begs to be a part of your family. If you leave him outside in a lonely backyard he will simply look for a way to "escape" to try and find a better place to live.
Read more about the Whippet from the The Whippet Association of Victoria, Inc.
