Dignified and calm, Whippets are elegant dogs that are beautiful inside and out. Known for being affectionate and social, playful yet gentle, Whippets are everyone’s friend - both big and small humans alike. Their favourite thing in the world is running: expect short, sharp bursts of speed every day as they hoon around outside (in a fully fenced secure area!). This is closely followed by snuggling up with you. Once their energy is expended, Whippets love nothing more than stretching out and snoozing the rest of the day away.
Whippet Facts
Growing up to 55cm, Whippets look like Greyhounds but smaller. They both rock the distinctive inverted S shape with long, lean legs and necks. Whippets come in a huge range of colours, including blue, black, white, red, fawn and brindle (subtle tiger-like stripes).
- Breed Group: Hound
- Height: Female: 45-53cm, Male: 48-55cm
- Weight: 11-18kg
- Life Span: 12-15 years
- Coat: Short, smooth
- Colour: Various including black, blue, fawn, red, white and brindle
What Does a Whippet Look Like?
Smaller than a Greyhound, but bigger than an Italian Greyhound, Whippets are the Goldilocks of dog breeds - just the right size. Whippets are still medium-size dogs however, so will take up a fair amount of your couch (and heart). You only have to think the word ‘Whippet’ and you imagine this sleek, streamlined, graceful hound that’s built for speed.
Their distinctive inverted S shape is what makes them look like a Greyhound - it’s the sighthound’s calling card. Whippets have a deep chest, slim waist, a narrow head with a long arched neck and a long, skinny tail. Add in 4 long slim and sturdy legs and you can see a Whippet is a natural-born athlete. Finishing off a Whippet are their small, folded ears and dark eyes that give them an alert expression.
Whippet
Whippet Temperament: Social Speed Lover
Whippets love 3 things most of all: speed, snoozing and being social. Note that’s speed though, not endurance. So although Whippets love nothing more than stretching their legs, it’s only for a short amount of time. Expect bursts of intense, high speed energy. And then, well, nothing much! Once their energy is out, Whippets will happily stretch, snooze and relax for the rest of the day.
Whippets are social dogs who love being around humans, both big and small, both family and strangers. Honestly, they make terrible guard dogs - Whippets rarely bark and aren’t aggressive or biters. Should an intruder come into your home, expect them to be welcomed by your Whippet.
Gentle dogs, Whippets make fantastic family pets who love to play with children. With a deep in-built instinct to chase, Whippets may not live nicely with cats and other small animals. But generally you can expect a Whippet to make friends wherever you go. Their social tendencies mean Whippets tend to experience separation anxiety so they do best in homes when someone can be with them most of the day. If you work outside the home, consider doggy daycare or a dog walker.
Keeping Whippets Healthy: 3 Issues to Watch Out For
Great news: Whippets are healthy, active dogs that aren’t prone to many health issues. Preventative care is the key to ensuring they live a long and happy life, so book in regular vet checks.
Thyroid Problems
Hypothyroidism causes a Whippet’s body to not make enough thyroid hormone, which can affect a huge range of their body’s functions. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, lethargy, no interest in exercise and dull, dry hair. It can be treated with daily medication.
Blindness
There are 2 conditions Whippets can develop that cause blindness. The first is corneal dystrophy. This is when small white crystal deposits develop in their corneas. Slow-progressing and pain-free, it results in blindness as there’s currently no treatment for it. The second is progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Symptoms include gradual loss of night vision, deterioration of day vision, and cloudy or grey eyes. Again, it’s pain-free but has no treatment. However, PRA is hereditary so responsible breeders should screen dogs for it. Many dogs adapt well to blindness and lead normal, full lives.
Deafness
Whippets can develop inherited deafness although again, as it’s inherited, responsible breeders should check breeding dogs for this issue. A Whippet with hearing problems will seem like they can’t hear you (not to be confused with ignoring you because they don't want to do what you’re asking!). Take your pup to the vet who can rule out other things, like ear infections.
Caring for Your Whippet Dog
A Whippet doesn’t need much to look as elegant and beautiful as they do - they’re surprisingly robust and low maintenance. Your biggest daily task will be making sure they’ve got enough opportunities to stretch those legs.
Grooming
Whippets have short, smooth coats that don’t shed much, don’t smell much and don’t need much brushing. You can get away with a weekly brush with a soft brush or grooming glove to help remove any dead hair.
Whippets aren’t big fans of water so keep baths to every 4 to 6 weeks unless they’ve rolled in something disgusting. After bathing, give their nails a trim or a grind. Like Greyhounds, Whippets have fast-growing nails which you’ll need to keep on top of.
The only other grooming task is daily toothbrushing to help remove plaque and tartar build-up. Unchecked, this can lead to dental disease which is both painful and expensive to fix.
Nutrition
You can see a Whippet’s ribs - that’s not ok, right? Actually, that’s normal and healthy for a Whippet, especially a young one. Young Whippets look quite gangly and often struggle to keep their ribs covered as they rapidly grow. Although you shouldn't be able to see adult whippets’ ribs, 2 to 4 vertebrae and the hip bones should be visible. A Whippet at a healthy weight might look skinny, especially if you’re used to bigger dogs.
Whippets shouldn’t become overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight for them is really important, as it’ll help avoid them developing orthopaedic problems and ensure they live a long, healthy, happy life. With very little body fat, even an extra kg or 2 makes a big difference to their health.
Whippets do well on quality dog food that’s suitable for their life stage (puppy, adult or senior). Although with their lower body fat, senior dog food might not contain all the nutrients and energy they need so it’s best to check with your vet. Keep an eye on treats too. Overfeeding them can lead to weight gain. Oh and thanks to their very low body fat, there’s nothing wrong with a Whippet in dog clothes, especially during the colder winter months. Stock up on coats and snoods to keep them snug.
Exercise
Whippets can reach speeds of up to 55km/ph - they’re true sprinters by nature. These athletic dogs need about 1 hour of exercise every day, which ideally involves off-leash running. With their in-built high prey drive, never let your Whippet off their lead unless you’re in a fully fenced secure area. You won’t be able to catch them if they take off! After a few high speed laps, expect them to slow down and fancy a more relaxed explore with you. They’ll need daily walks as well as running opportunities.
Although an off-leash dog park sounds like a good idea, Whippets really do love to chase things, including other dogs. Running sessions might be best suited to your fully fenced garden.
As well as their daily sprints, Whippets enjoy a vigorous play session, especially when it involves chasing and retrieving things, launcher toys will give them further to run. If you really want a happy Whippet, sign them up for dog sports, especially agility.
Training Your Whippet
Relaxed and calm they may be after a speed session, but young Whippets are mischievous! Smart and agile, young Whippets enjoy jumping and climbing. For their safety and yours, it’s important to supervise them or keep them safely confined when you can’t watch them.
As they grow up, Whippets are normally calm in the home so early training is more about socialisation and the basics to ensure they learn their manners around humans and other dogs.
Whippets are also known for being sensitive souls. They respond best to patient, kind and consistent training that involves plenty of praise, treats and toys. With their smart natures, Whippets will find ways to avoid doing whatever they don’t want to do. This includes training.
So, make training short and fun and pile on the praise. Keep them on their toes with varied training that mixes mental and physical stimulation. Expect some trial and error as you figure out the best training approach for you and your pup.