While whippets are related to the greyhound and Italian greyhound from cross - breeding hundreds of age ago ( and are often mistaken for these similarly shaped click ) , this sleek and friendly breed is in a class of its own . Often called the " Linosyris vulgaris " of dog stock , they ’re mid - sized Canis familiaris with few grooming requirements , mean exercise needs , and an easygoing disposition .
Appearance
Whippets are magniloquent but slender dogs : Males are 19–22 inch improbable , while females measure 18–21 inch , consort to the breed standard . They weigh 25–40 pounds , so do n’t be alarmed if you see a tight fitting - expect whippet ; grownup whippets at a healthy weight should actually have two to four visible vertebrae .
According to the whippet breed standard , their color is " immaterial . " In other word , you ’ll obtain whippets in all kind of colour combinations and mark convention , from grayish brown to cream , black to blue . However , the American Whippet Club notes you will not see a merle , tricolor , or harlequin whippet — if you do , this coloring betoken you ’re looking at amixed stock .
optic colour can also change , but large , coloured eyes are abundant in sodding - stock whippets . The whippet ’s large ear are rose - shaped , with a fold even when zippy . This — combine with their large , dark eyes — gives them an irresistible , elfin charm .
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One thing to observe : " The whippet breed standards are supposed to have low quarter go-cart , " says Karen Lee , the public education chairperson and AKC delegate at theAmerican Whippet Club . They do n’t have their nates tuck because they ’re scared or flighty , she says , so do n’t occupy when you see a whippet with its hind end between his wooden leg .
Temperament
Whippets need amoderate amount of physical exertion . " They ’re burst exercisers , which means they can get all the exercising they postulate in a inadequate amount of time with a dash , " Lee explains . As sighthounds , whippets were bred to trail down rabbits and other belittled plot in clear field . But once they ’ve had their recitation , they ’re contented to mill around around the house for the rest of the day .
" You do need to offer them exit for speedy bursts of gallop , that would be after a ball or a Frisbee , five to 10 instant a day . And , you know , anice footling walkin between , " Lee says .
compare to other sighthounds ( such asgreyhounds ) , whippets are much less eminent - strung , saysBradley Phifer , CBCC - KA , CPDT - KSA , executive music director of theCertification Council for Professional Dog Trainers .
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" They ’re a little act more lively , " he enjoin . " They can reverberate back from emphasis . " That being said , a whippet leave alone for long stretches or without exercise can grow unsuitable behaviour to keep himself interfering , like wipe out through the curtains and couch .
Fun Fact
One of the newest dog play to emerge in the last 20 year isdock diving , in which a pawl vaults off of a dock into a pool of water - the frank that leaps the farthest wins . As it turn out , whippet are quite adept at dock diving event . So good , in fact , the three cad who ’ve held the Guinness World Record for the farthest bob - diving jump are all whippet : sounder ( 2019 ) , Slingshot ( 2018 ) , and Cochiti ( 2012 ) .
Living Needs
The ideal support situation for a whippet include asecurely fenced grounds — for whippets , this think of a fencing that is at least 6 foot eminent because these hound are highly nimble . However , whippetscan live in apartmentsas long as their possessor are dedicated to arrest them outside for day-to-day walking and exercise . Once they ’ve work out their long legs , whippets sexual love to lounge on couches and cuddle on laps . If you ’re ineffectual to provide an exercise outlet , Lee suggests wait intoadopting a senior whippet .
Whippets arewonderfully gentle with childrenand elder . They get along with other weenie in universal , but small animals mightexcite their quarry drive . He might not be able to reject chase after a Caterpillar run through the K , for exercise , or a preferent rabbit hopping across the living elbow room floor .
Because the whippet has such depressed body fat , they ’re moretolerant of warm weatherthancold weather . " Whippets are great in the summertime , " Phifer says . " But you ’re going to have to make accommodations for them in the cold atmospheric condition calendar month if you know in a cold climate . "
Lee agrees . " They appreciate have acoat or a sweater … perchance even some jammies if [ your ] sign of the zodiac get cold at night , " she says .
Care
While whippetsdo shed some , theircoat is very shortand easy to manage for . " The vantage to the whippet is minimalgrooming . They ’re kind of wash - and - wear with that light coat , " Phifer says .
Lee also notes whippets have a very abject " doggy olfactory perception , " so they won’tneed regular baths , and their auricle do n’t continue wet like some other breeds do . She adviseskeeping their nails shortand wiping them down after a romp outdoors . " They ’re incredibly low - maintenance , " she tell . On top of being well-off to groom , their coating are also diffuse and satiny to the touch .
Whippets do not skin very much and be given to be better companion dogs than sentry dogs , and they can betrained for agility competitions . Because of the intense prey drive they were bred for , it ’s passing authoritative to keep your whippet on a leash in any out-of-door , unfenced situation — if he take after a squirrel , he ’ll beverydifficult to get .
Lee offers another countersign of carefulness : " whippet do not do well as only cad leave alone for farseeing stint of the day , " she says . They ’re very social and necessitate human and/or canid companions , which means it ’s best to reconsider take over a whippet if you plan to go forth the dog alone for the day .
" That is seek to make a frump with terrible , stark separation anxiety , " Lee admonish . She suggestsdoggy daycareorhiring a Zimmer frame for your dogif you must be gone for long hours .
Health
According to the American Whippet Club , this isone of the healthier purebred dogsout there . That being said , it ’s important to help your whippetmaintain a healthy weight — after all , his slender human body was not progress for redundant pounds .
One extremely rare genetic condition that only strike whippets is called Bully Whippet Syndrome , a gene mutation dissemble musculus outgrowth . When one mutate myostatin factor is present , it can increase sinew mass and make for a stronger , quicker racing hotdog . But when two recessive myostatin genes combine , the resulting wiener is abnormally muscular — cogitate Arnold Schwarzenegger in dog form . ruffian whippets ' normal - sized hearts must support these extra - large bodies , lead toheart issue .
Genetic testing can find Bully Whippet Syndrome and other stipulation that can affect your pup . The Canine Health Information Center recommends screening your whippet forhip dysplasia , deafness , andhypothyroidism , as well as conducting cardiac and centre exam .
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History
The whippet originates in Northern England , and their likeness has been attend in art throughout antiquity , the Middle Ages , and the Renaissance , accord to the American Whippet Club .
" Back in the mid - prissy epoch , workings - socio-economic class people were n’t allowed to really have greyhounds if you were n’t down aristocracy or aristocracy , " Lee says .
So the miners and other working - class family line of the part cross - bred more rugged and cordial terriers with the fleet - footed greyhound , result in a smaller , hardier , and still - rapid detent .
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" They could put a lapin in the pot to feed the family line . They made an first-class mob pet , " Lee says . " They also provided gambling summercater on the weekends . " One of the most democratic whippet sports was " rag week - racing , " in which whippets would race each other toward flutter rabbit tegument ( and later , rags ) at the end of the course of action .
As time decease on , the breed get the tending of moneyed hotdog enthusiast , who crossed in a little moreItalian greyhoundto make a slightly more elegant form . The whippet crossed over into America with English immigrants , and The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1888 .
Whippets became specially popular in the early days of California , where they were raised as racing dogs . Douglas Fairbanks , the silent picture show star , even had a racing whippet .
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Whippets
The AKC Whippet Standard . The American Whippet Club .
Farthest jump by a pawl ( pier jumping ) . Guinness World Records .
