When these kind whispers of grace sailing past on their candle holder leg , it still render you pause to know they can on the spur of the moment break into a 30- to 40 - miles per hour dash ! This is just one of many captivating aspect of compare a whippet vs. greyhound vs. Italian greyhound : no matter how far and fast all these sweet sighthounds run , they’reloyal dogsand always eager to be right by your side .

Genna Mize , DVM , is a staff technical services veterinarian atVirbac Animal Health . In her experience with these breeds , she finds them to be similar in term of temperament , describing them as " calm , gentle , and affectionate with a propensity to be somewhat shy , particularly around strangers . " These three breeds have sensitive temperament and pick up on emotions easily . So it ’s a peculiar type of bliss when one of these elegant pups ultimately rests a slender nozzle on your knee , demonstrating a tranquil acceptance and a desire to be near .

Have we found that whippets , greyhound , and Italian greyhounds are full of beloved ? Good ! Let ’s explore a few more playfulness fact about these three sighthounds .

greyhound vs italian greyhound vs whippet dog breed comparison three dogs on a green and blue background

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An Introduction to the Whippet, Greyhound, and Italian Greyhound Dog Breeds

Since they share runway looks , blazing upper , and lap - seeking ability , it ’s easy to think these three beauties are simply different size of the same breed , but they ’re not ! However , they do share one special quality .

As sighthounds / gazehounds , these blackguard have an innate ability tohuntby sight rather than by smell . So you ’ll often get a line the characteristichigh prey driveassociated with them . Is this worrisome ? Not really , specially if you inquiry breeder and adoption agencies cautiously to empathize your pup of option .

Whippet

If you ’re more outdoorsy and trying to resolve on awhippetvs . greyhound , you might appreciate a whippet ’s more sporty nature . While these handsome pups from Northern England certainly know how to bebest in show , they also are a chip more sparky and Philomachus pugnax and spill — they’ve wondock divingcompetitions , for example . These active , brilliant puppersdon’t like being get out alone , so conceive a qualitydoggie daycareorregular Canis familiaris walkerso your BFF ( proficient furry protagonist ! ) stay put on his respectable behavior and is ready for a cuddlefest when all members of his human family return home .

Greyhound

Egyptian hieroglyphics depict queens and pharaohs with their trustygreyhounds . Prized companions , these notableAfrican dogsare considered one of the quondam breeds in the world . Yes , they ’re famous for being fast , but some people also refer to these beauty as " 40 mph couch potatoes . " They really do n’t mind stave off any agendum and just attend with you . ( We can bear on ! ) greyhound can be a little nervous , though , socalmtheiranxietywith relaxing routine andcounterconditioning . While they do n’t call for to be active all the time , they do nip chance each day for quick burst of activity followed by laid-back pass . Keepoutdoor gameshandy , and plan to teach them how to " drop it . "

Italian Greyhound

Italian greyhoundsare the petite gazehounds . With a lineage that dates back to the Romans , this pint - sized compounding of lively curiosity , adoring gall , and sweet charm made them canine darling throughout royal courts and artists ' salons for centuries in Greece , Turkey , Europe , and Asia . harmonize to theItalian Greyhound Club , an " IG , " as she ’s often called , is no shrinking reddish blue : she has a lot of energy to combust and answer well topositive reinforcement breeding . IGs are terrific nestling associate for seniors , Modern pet parents , orapartment dwellers .

Differences Between the Whippet vs. Greyhound vs. Italian Greyhound

seldom do these breed slow down and draw up in a words so we can spot their subtleties , so maybe this chart show the difference between each type of dog will facilitate .

Yes ! They could be three ! But as similar as they might be , here ’s the skinny on how they differ .

Appearance

little - hairedcoats , broad barrel chests , tucked tummies , thin curled tails , and recondite soulful eye are all lineament this tierce has in common . Here ’s what might alter :

Size

Comparing the greyhound vs. Italian greyhound size or an Italian greyhound vs. whippet size is uncomplicated . Just remember :

Health

Why are we talking about preserve these pups so warm ? Because Mize says sighthounds are particularly sensitive to the cold . ( We would be too with such little body fatty ! ) They ’re also broadly speaking more touched by anesthetic procedures than other breed . Here are some of her additional wellness notes :

Speed

Quality backyardfencingis a must if you want a whippet , greyhound , or Italian greyhound . They ’re famous for immediate sparks of energy . Even the ticklish Italian greyhound can sprint up to 25 mph if something in the bush catches her middle . While the whippet and greyhound ’s speed might beslightlyslower—30 mph on average compared to 40 mph — whippets can leap ! High ! Remember what we said about dock diving event ? Champions of that summercater .

Now that you ’re intimate with these striking sighthounds , test your knowledge of other canine spirit - alikes !

woman sitting in a field kissing her whippet dog

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woman on a beach kissing the top of her greyhound’s head

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woman wearing a leather jacket holding an italian greyhound wearing a turtleneck sweater outdoors

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infographic comparing greyhound, italian greyhound and whippet dog breed physical characteristics dogs on blue and green background

fotojagodka / Getty / jagodka / TrapezaStudio / Adobe Stock