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Is a Whippet the Breed for You?
Perhaps the most common misunderstanding about dogs is that
they're all pretty much the same animal in different natural
fur suits. In fact, the various breeds are really very different
from each other in a lot more ways than appearance. The following
notes about whippets may help you decide if the breed is right
for you and/or get off to a good start in deciding if a whippet
should be the new member of your family. As with any breed,
there are negatives as well as positives and it's important
to go in with your eyes open when you acquire any dog. Not
everyone who owns whippets will agree with all of this - some
may disagree with it! But it's a summary of what we have personally
observed about whippets as pets over the years, and what we
think you might expect. All whippets are individuals, and
there are exceptions to every rule...but don't get a whippet
and expect it to act like the Lab you had as a kid. It won't!
Personality
Whippets like being with their people all the time and if
given the chance, will want to share your bed as well as the
couch. In fact, if you are really fussy about dogs on your
furniture, you might want to reconsider choosing a whippet.
A Whippet in good condition has very little "natural"
padding and hard surfaces are distinctly uncomfortable. You'll
seldom see one willingly lying on a bare floor. Whippets love
their comfort; the softest chair or pillow your puppy can
find probably will become his/her favorite. If you use a crate,
provide a soft mat.
Whippets are sometimes referred to as "Velcro dogs."
You may have more company than you want in the bathroom, and
if you go out to the mailbox, you'll be greeted just as enthusiastically
upon your return as you would be after a two-week absence.
This is more togetherness than some people like, and if you
prefer an independent dog, a whippet is probably not for you.
You'll be wise to keep your whippet close to you, especially
at first--Whippets are mischievous!
Clever and cute (but annoying) behavior such as leaping to
the kitchen counter and surfing for food or tearing up a sofa
cushion to make it softer is common, especially in puppies
and young adults. This breed does seem to mellow out around
two or three years old, but as puppies, they can really be
monsters. These are not pups you want to leave loose in the
living room while you run to the store.
These are playful but gentle dogs. Rough handling, even in
play, is an absolute no-no and you'll get the best training
results with treats and praise. They respond very poorly to
force-training. Whippets are one of the most affectionate
of breeds; once they get to know you, nearly all will return
your hugs and kisses with extra and most are real snugglers.
Size, Weight, and Coat
The Whippet is the middle-sized one of the three greyhound-type
breeds. Smallest is the Italian Greyhound, a toy dog, and
the largest is the well-known greyhound. The whippet is 18"
to 22" at the shoulder, and generally weighs between
25-40 pounds. The coat is short and close, requiring little
grooming, but they do shed these short hairs.
History
The Whippet is a relatively young breed, originating in England
in the 1800s. Most commonly listed as its ancestors are the
Greyhound, the Italian Greyhound, and English White Terriers.
Whippets were once called Snapdogs, Snapdog competitions followed
the following general pattern:
A set number of rabbits (European rabbit, not hares), would
be caught, usually with the aid of nets and ferrets. A wager
would be laid between two dogs over a set number of rabbits.
A fenced area was used for the competition. Within this fenced
area a circle was drawn usually 25-30yds radius and a rabbit
would be held on the center spot. At a given signal the rabbit
would be released and the dog would also be released from
a spot ten yards from the center. This would be repeated for
each dog. The dog that killed the most rabbits within the
circle was pronounced the winner. Matches could be over any
number of rabbits. Twenty five each being normal. These poor
rabbits, taken from the wild, disoriented and confused had
no chance to escape. Rules could be varied. dogs held further
from the center, shortest time to kill the allotted number
etc.
Eventually this so called sport of Snapdog, Rabbit coursing
was made illegal.
The dogs that had been produced were programmed to chase anything
that moved with lightning speed, and latch onto the quarry
like grim death. Wave a rag and the new breed, "The Whippet",
knew what to do. Stand fifty to a hundred yards away and the
Whippet homed in on the rag with fanatical determination.
Whippet racing and the breed were born. Here
are some old pictures of early racing.
These early Whippets were often the most valuable item the
working man owned. They lived in their owners' houses, sleeping
by the fire or curled up in bed with their people. Instead
of placing a warm brick in the bed to warm the feet, they
could use their whippet! Many were said to be fed better than
the miners' families.
Housing
True to their history, Whippets are house dogs. They are not
psychologically or physically suited to being kept in a yard
and they are not usually happy as kennel dogs. They certainly
enjoy (and need) a daily romp in the yard or an hour or so
spent stretched out in the sun, but you should not plan to
leave your Whippet in the yard while you are gone all day.
Because of the low percentage of body fat they carry, these
dogs have very little natural insulation against the elements.
They overheat rather easily and they suffer terribly from
the cold. In the winter a coat or sweater should be provided.
If you don't plan on keeping your dog in the house, you should
choose a dog more suited to outdoor life.
Crate
Training
The crate is a wonderful and essential piece of equipment,
which makes raising a puppy an easy experience. Consider the
crate as your puppy's crib: his own bed, a sanctuary where
he knows he belongs and is secure. A person planning to have
a baby wouldn't resist using a crib because the baby couldn't
get out! As a crib or playpen is not cruel to an infant, neither
is a crate cruel to a dog. As a matter of fact, pups like
crates because they are similar to the "den" the
ancestral wolf mother provided in the wild.
A crate has many values. From your standpoint, the puppy
is safe when you're not home (not eating electrical cords)
and your home is safe from him. Those people who buy a new
sofa every year to replace the chewed one will agree that
a crate pays for itself in no time. A crate acts as a safe,
familiar place when you are visiting, be it relatives who
are not sure about your new acquisition, or the motel owner
who will not allow you to stay without a crate. It also performs
the function of a lifesaving "seatbelt" while your
dog is riding in a car.
It is your dog's right to have a crate as much as it
is his right to have his own food dish and it is priceless
as an aid to overcoming any differences of opinion you and
your puppy may have while he is growing.
Children
Whippets are not nearly as delicate as they appear and are
usually excellent with gentle children. As long as a child
is old enough to know how to treat them and is taught how
to play with dogs a Whippet is a good choice for a child.
A very young child should never be left alone with a dog of
any breed and interaction between a child and a puppy must
be closely supervised, for the protection of both.
Strangers
As a rule, Whippets are friendly with strangers, often even
if not introduced! They are rarely much good as watchdogs.
This is not generally a very vocal breed, and some hardly
ever bark at all. The most common reason for a Whippet to
bark is that he has learned that he gets what he wants by
barking. Whippets are too small to be at all useful for protection.
If you need a watchdog, a whippet might not be the breed for
you!
Cats
Whippets were originally bred to course and kill rabbits --
small furry prey that runs. The ones who are coursed and raced
are bred specifically for this prey drive. Very few Whippets
are born without it. Even if your dog is raised with your
cat and loves and plays gently with it, if he ever sees the
cat running outside, it won't be his beloved Muffy, but prey.
If you have several outside cats perhaps you should consider
a different breed.
Training
Whippets are sighthounds, bred to hunt without commands from
the hunter. While generally not stubborn, they're independent-minded;
not the easiest breed to train. Don't let that discourage
you: they are very intelligent and all can learn house manners
easily, like sit, down, and stay. Some do well with more advanced
obedience, including obedience competition. Most excel at
lure coursing and racing and are good in agility and flyball
competition.
Housebreaking
A Whippet's desire to please and to be clean make him one
of the easier breeds to house train. Using a crate will make
your job much easier. A new home can be stressful at first
so even a housetrained adult can make mistakes early on and
some males may 'mark' (lift a leg on) walls, furniture, etc.,
indoors. This usually happens only if there are other males
in the household. Neutering helps most of these guys.
Exercise
Whippets need a regular chance to run. A large fenced yard
is ideal. If you don't have that, a small fenced yard will
work if you can visit a neighborhood school football field
or other large fenced area three or more times a week. Whippets
are usually calm in the house but most have spells of running
and leaping about in play a few times a day. These 'tears'
are rarely destructive; Whippets are not given to body slamming
the bookcase or clearing the coffee table with a sweep of
the tail. If your Whippet is more active than you like, he
may not be getting enough exercise. Because very few owners
are able to leash walk a dog four or more times a day, every
day, year after year, Whippets under six years old are placed
in homes without fenced yards only under certain conditions.
The
Loose Whippet
Many dogs will stay around your home nearly all the time if
you let them out, but not your Whippet. Something (a cat,
a squirrel, a child ...) will catch his eye and he'll be gone,
at up to 35 miles-per-hour. Other breeds that run off will
usually come back in no more than a few hours if they don't
get hit by a car. Probably not your Whippet: he has a relatively
poor sense of direction and once he's off your property, he'll
soon be lost.
Most dogs can be taught to COME when called but very few Whippets
ever get 100% reliable. Again, it's training versus instinct.
Your Whippet must be either leashed or in a securely fenced
yard. A 4' fence is usually enough if a Whippet is not a jumper
or climber. Some do dig, but it's not too common a problem.
Security is critical. We don't even walk a Whippet from the
house to the car without a leash. It is amazing how quickly
the worst can happen. And the first time a sighthound gets
away from you can easily be the last. It's easy to become
casual about it when your Whippet is generally obedient and
calm. Remember that if he's okay off-lead 99 times out of
100, that 100th time could be the day you lose your best friend.
Nearly every week on the internet there is a Whippet reported
missing, and too often these stories end sadly.
Health
Whippets are one of the healthiest breeds. They require the
same routine care as any dog: trimming toenails, cleaning
of ears and teeth, occasional baths. They have to be kept
up to date on shots, free of heart worms and fleas, and checked
for intestinal parasites regularly. Though all breeds have
some genetic defects, none have proven to be a serious problem
in whippets thus far. Some isolated incidents of deafness
and some genetic eye defects have been reported, but they
are rare. Hip dysplasia is not a problem in whippets at this
time. Sighthounds are very sensitive to anesthesia and other
medications. Partly because of their low percentage of body
fat, these dogs are extremely sensitive to some very common
drugs; what may seem like a normal dose for a dog of his weight
could easily kill a sighthound. This is certainly not to say
that Whippets cannot be safely anesthetized or that they should
not take prescribed medicines; just be sure that your vet
is aware of sighthounds' special requirements and that he
knows which anesthetics are safe. Whippet skin is thin, rather
tightly stretched, and poorly protected by the scant coat.
What would be a small cut on another breed can become an ugly
tear on your Whip. Unless blood is actually spurting out this
is not an emergency but may require a vet to stitch him up
so the injury will heal.
Leads
and Collars
For outings we use very wide, flat lead-and-collar combinations
called 'sighthound leads'. Even the best-trained Whippet lunges
to the end of the lead when he sees 'prey' (anything small
and fast moving!) and the wide collar stops his progress without
injuring his throat. Never use a metal choke chain on a Whippet.
Be sure to keep an ID tag on your Whippet at all times, and
we recommend tattooing and microchipping in addition.
What
Does a Whippet Cost?
The price of a whippet puppy or adult varies from region to
region, it's in the ballpark of $500 - $1000. Prices may be
higher in the North East and California, and there are certainly
exceptions. At this price, the vast majority of breeders never
make money on their puppies. With genetic testing, routine
care for the mother, vet care for the puppies, and a dozen
other expenses, they seldom so much as break even.
Whippet
Activities
Many enjoyable competitive sports are open to pet Whippets.
Whippets, as their heritage would suggest, are outstanding
running dogs and are top competitors in lure coursing, straight
racing, and oval track racing. In these events, a temporary
track and lure system is set up. The lure is usually a white
plastic trash bag. All of these events are purely for sport,
and are put on for the enjoyment of the dogs and their owners.
Top competitors win ribbons and points towards running titles.
No betting is allowed. Thus, win or lose, every dog goes home
to be "king of the couch". With new methods of motivational
obedience training being used, Whippets are becoming successful
obedience dogs. Many enjoy flyball and agility. All of the
above activities are open to Whippets who are spayed or neutered.
For racing and coursing, your Whippet must not have any breed
disqualifications, such as being oversized (see Breed Standard).
The elegance and ease of grooming of the Whippet have made
it a popular show dog, but to be successful at this sport,
you must purchase a puppy who is considered by its breeder
to be show quality.
Should
I get a male or female?
Dogs make better single pets, they are more fun and
they have a stronger desire to please - bitches tend to regard
their owners as slaves to their comfort and are less likely
to put their own wishes second to their owner's. If you want
to compete at shows, racing, coursing or any other competition
your whippet can enter, dogs do not have long periods of inactivity
due to coming in season. In almost any sphere, it is easier
to win with a dog! Males tend to run one to two inches taller,
and three to six pounds heavier, than females.
Is
it a destructive breed?
I am at work for six to eight hours each day.
Any dog that is regularly left alone for hours is likely to
become lonely, stressed, noisy, anxious and destructive. If
you are out at work every day, you cannot offer a whippet
a suitable home but you could ring your local breed club secretary
(the Kennel Club will give you the details) and ask if there
is a breeder near you who would welcome some help on a regular
basis, either walking or dog sitting.
Do
they need a lot of heat?
They look such shivery dogs.
A whippet's coat is as fine as a racehorse's and there is
no undercoat as there is in breeds like the Labrador. This
means that if they get wet, they are wet to the skin. An active
whippet will not notice cold and rain while running about
but when he stops, he should be dried off with a towel or
coated up warmly. Whippets can develop thicker, coarser hair
if they are regularly left in the cold but as the sleek, satiny
feel of the dog is part of his attraction, this is not just
unkind to the dog but counterproductive for the owner. Because
they are so warm and silky to touch, whippets make excellent
PAT dogs. In winter or unusually cold weather, a whippet needs
a warm, waterproof coat while walking on a lead, or in a stationary
car. These can be bought by mail order, at breed club shows
or from the Rescue: your puppy's breeder will advise on what
to get and when. Inside the house, the whippet's favourite
place is lying by the fire or against a radiator. He will
appreciate being covered with a warm blanket at night (or
getting under the duvet with his owner) but he does not normally
shiver unless he is unwell or in an icy draught.
Anything
else I should know?
A whippet is an intensely affectionate dog who wants to be
with you at all times and will thrive with a touchy-feely
owner. At the same time, he is a hound, an inveterate hunter
and an inveterate thief. Anything left within reach is likely
to find its way into his mouth. He is a sporting dog with
boundless energy for country walks but once in pursuit of
a rabbit or a hare, he cannot be recalled until the chase
is over. At the same time, his keen desire to please his owner
means he will do obedience or agility against his natural
instinct. He is a wonderful companion and with a modicum of
training will earn you lots of compliments on your beautifully
behaved dog. He is sensitive, quick to learn, elegant to look
at, easy to feed and groom.
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FAQ adapted from Timbreblue
whippets and Moonlake
Whippets |
