Whippet
🧠 Temperament & character
The Whippet unites two sides in one dog: indoors he is gentle, cuddly and downright lazy, outdoors he transforms into a lively, lightning-fast sprinter. He is closely bonded to his people, friendly and sensitive, barks little and shows hardly any aggression. His hunting drive, however, is pronounced - if something small moves, his chase instinct is quickly awakened. Overall he is an uncomplicated, easy-going companion who loves harmony and avoids conflict.
📜 Origin & history
The Whippet emerged in the 19th century in the industrial regions of northern England, where miners and workers needed a fast, inexpensive hunting and racing dog. From crosses of small greyhounds with terriers came an agile dog that was used in rabbit coursing and the popular 'rag racing'. Because he provided the worker with sport and meat for the pot, he earned the nickname 'the poor man's racehorse'. Today the Whippet has remained a popular family, companion and coursing dog.
✂️ Grooming, care & training
The short, smooth coat of the Whippet is about as easy to care for as can be and needs only occasional wiping down, but sheds discreetly all year round. As he has hardly any undercoat and little fat, he gets cold quickly - in the Swiss winter a dog coat does good service. He needs exercise in the form of short, intense sprints; afterwards he relaxes contentedly on the sofa for hours. He is sensitive and willing to learn and can be trained well with gentle, motivating methods, being one of the easier sighthounds to handle.
🩺 Health
The Whippet is regarded as one of the healthiest dog breeds of all and frequently reaches an age of 12 to 15 years. Like all sighthounds he is sensitive to anaesthetics because of his low body fat. Heart diseases such as valve problems occur occasionally; responsible breeders therefore have the heart and eyes examined. Overall, however, serious hereditary diseases are rare in this naturally built breed.
🏡 Who is this breed right for?
The Whippet is a versatile companion that suits families, couples and active individuals equally. Thanks to his calm nature and manageable size he also feels comfortable in an apartment, provided he gets his daily sprints. He is one of the few sighthounds that are quite suitable for beginners, and he gets on well with children and usually with other dogs too. Because of his hunting drive, however, cats and small animals should be introduced with care, and off-lead running needs to be well considered.