Whippet

Whippet is a short-haired, medium-sized greyhound with an elegant silhouette. Gentle, behaves very calmly at home, but he must be able to run outside. He is smart and has almost all the characteristics of an ideal family dog.

Nature

Whippet English Greyhound is the epitome of subtlety, grace and elegance. Has the characteristics of an ideal family dog ​​- non-conflict character, moderate temperament and cheerful disposition. He quickly finds himself in new conditions, is very clean, undemanding and quiet.

It doesn’t happen that he makes his neighbors’ life buckling, though he is vigilant. There is also no developed territorial instinct and a sense of ownership, so it will not work as a guardian. He is trusting and cordial towards strangers, willingly making friends, although some individuals may be shy at first.

Patient, calm and extremely gentle, he is considered a good companion for children. He is happy to take part in all games, but you must remember to teach your children how to handle it from the beginning. Whippet is sensitive and strongly attached to the guardian, but not obtrusive. The very presence of man makes him happy.

Thermophilic, he values ​​comfort. Lounging on couches or curling up in a chair is a set of his preferred activities. He will not despise the owner’s bed and attempts to get him to change his habits usually fail.

A dog of this breed does not like to be alone, he feels best in the company of another dog (especially his own breed) or even a cat. He can easily accept other pets – but his tolerance of small creatures ends just outside the door. Whippets usually get along easily with foreign dogs that try to encourage fun.

The representative of this breed does not need a large space and will accept even a small apartment. At home, he behaves calmly, because he discharges energy on walks.

There is a common belief that greyhounds require a huge amount of movement and time-consuming training. In fact, they are no different in this respect from other quadrupeds. Whippet is active and lively, but it does not have to run for hours – it is not a long-distance runner. It develops dizzying speeds (up to 50 km / h), but on short distances.

All he needs is a few walks a day, combined with fun with the owner or kinsmen. It can also accompany a cyclist or a person jogging. However, you should not start such training with a very young pooch.

Skills

Whippet was bred for rabbit hunting and popular at the end of the 19th century. Currently, it is primarily an elegant companion dog, although it also works well in dog sports.

He can take part in track greyhound races, coursing (chasing the lure in the open) or work trials. Agile, lively and clever, it works in agility, flyball, frisbee or obedience.

Whippet. Training and education

Whippet contradicts the common opinion about the low intelligence of greyhounds. He is smart and cooperative. He learns very quickly if he is gentle and consistent, and he enjoys learning. This happens when we use positive incentives and rewards. Screams or physical violence cause the whippet to lose confidence in the owner and closes in on itself.

Although he willingly carries out the instructions, he does not like uniform training and repeated the same exercises repeatedly. He will never be absolutely obedient.

Puppies require a lot of attention and patience. From the beginning, you must teach them the basics of obedience. The toddler should visit new places, get to know the traffic, meet different people and other dogs. Dog-kindergarten classes will also be useful. Such training will increase his self-confidence and strengthen his bond with the guardian.

Greyhounds show a strong instinct for pursuit – a bird, squirrel or leaf raised in the wind can break them into the run, so it’s better to lead a dog on a leash on the street.

Away from traffic, our pet can enjoy freedom without restrictions, provided that we take care of something so that he does not look for impressions on his own paw.

Who is this race for?

Whippet is suitable for people who are looking for a nice, clean and easy to maintain the dog. A representative of this breed can be recommended to families with children as well as people who prefer sports lifestyle.

Whippet. Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• not very resistant to low temperatures
• shows a strong instinct for the pursuit

Advantages

• attached to the owner but not obtrusive
• gentle and friendly
• intelligent, eager to learn
• can play dog ​​sports
• gets along well with his friends
• suitable for children
• easy to care for
• does not emit a dog’s smell
• suitable for housing

Whippet. Health

Whippet is a resistant dog, enjoying good health. Despite its subtle appearance, it is not weak or excessively sickly. Occasional allergies occur, and cardiological problems occur in old age. Dogs of this breed are also hypersensitive to agents used under general anesthesia.

Some individuals have a tendency to excessive tartar build-up, which must be removed regularly. Delicate and thin skin is susceptible to cuts and cuts, and paws for minor injuries, so after trips to meadows or fields you need to carefully examine the dog.

Whippets are medium resistant to weather conditions. Due to short hair and a small amount of body fat, they don’t like rain, moisture and frost (sometimes they catch a cold). You can put on clothes for them, but overheating is also not recommended. Winter walks will not hurt them if we adapt their duration to the prevailing conditions and activity of dogs.

Representatives of this breed willingly lie in the sun, but in hot weather they need to be protected from overheating, providing shade and access to water. Long walks should take place in the early morning or evening.

Feeding

Whippet usually has a good appetite and is not fussy. He can eat a lot, so you need to control the amount of food. You can give ready-made high-quality food (important for puppies) or prepare meals supplemented with calcium-vitamin and mineral preparations.

Whippets have a fast metabolism, which is why their menu must contain a lot of easily digestible animal protein. Dogs playing sports should get high energy feeds.

The daily dose is best divided into two parts and ensure rest after a meal. Because of the long neck and limbs, leaning to the floor may be uncomfortable for the whippet, so it is worth placing the bowl on a slight increase.

Care

The dog of this breed does not molt seasonally, but loses small amounts of fur throughout the year. Hair is fine and hard, it easily sticks into upholstery or clothes and is difficult to remove.

The whippet’s short coat is easy to care for. You can comb your pet once a week with a rubber brush or glove. Finally, wipe it with a slightly damp cotton towel or chamois leather to remove dead hair and small debris. You need to remember to check your ears systematically and remove the claws if they do not wear off themselves. An undoubted advantage of the representative of this breed is the lack of a specific canine smell.

Whippet does not require special preparation for the exhibition. A bath in a mild shampoo for short-haired or hypoallergenic dogs is recommended. We put a balm or a spray conditioner on the hair, which will make it soft and shiny.

The longer hair on the tail needs to be cut with scissors with thinning scissors (if you do not have practice, ask a specialist for help) so that it does not form a feather. It is necessary to learn proper behavior in the ring – running at a trot, standing in the exhibition position and showing teeth. We present the whippet on a delicate chain and short leash or on a thin ring adapted to the color of the coat.

Accessories

Whippets have very narrow heads, so they should walk in wide collars – preferably leather lined with soft material – too hard they cause neck abrasions.

The leash can be ordinary or automatic. Dogs of this breed like to lie down, so their beds should be soft.

Whippet. History

The English Whippet Greyhound was bred in the industrialized counties of northern England and southern Scotland and was called the poor racehorse. He gained the greatest popularity among miners, workers and small shopkeepers, who could not afford to maintain a much larger and dog-like greyhound aristocracy.

It is recognized that the breed was established in the first half of the nineteenth century, although apparently the images of quadrupeds resembling whippets can already be found in the art of the Roman period, as well as in the paintings of masters creating in the fifteenth century. For the first time, the term “whippet” in relation to the dog in this type was probably used around 1610. Some cynologists derive the ancestors of this breed from 17th-century France. Apparently, two little greyhounds got into the hands of Henrietta Anna Stuart, daughter of the King of England Charles I.

Probably English greyhounds, Italian greyhounds and high-legged terriers ( Manchester Terriers and old English Terriers, which no longer exist) have participated in the creation of whippets. The evidence for the admixture of the blood of the latter was to be the extraordinary sharpness and strength of these filigree dogs, as well as the rough coat that was quite common in the population in the interwar period.

The first breeders sought to obtain a quadruped, which in appearance would resemble a greyhound, but much smaller than it, with better proportions, undemanding and cheap to maintain. According to experts and lovers of the breed, whippet is an ideal racing dog in terms of body build, height and speed.

In 1890, the English Kennel Club officially recognized the breed, dogs began to regularly participate in exhibitions. Breeding books have also appeared. In 1899 the Whippet Club was founded.

Template

Whippet – group X FCI, section 3, reference number 162

• Country of origin: Great Britain
• Size: height at the withers of dogs 47-51 cm, bitches 44-47 cm
• Coat: short, delicate, close fitting
• Color: all colors and their combinations
• Maturity: 1.5 years – 3 years
• Lifespan: approx. 13 years
• Weather resistance: medium

Interesting facts

Whippet is an excellent family dog. He feels equally well in a small apartment, as well as on coursing. Despite its seemingly delicate structure, it is strong, durable and has steel muscles.