Whippet Dog Breed Information and Interesting Facts

Whippets are lovely gentle dogs without any aggressive tendencies, and they love their humans unreservedly. Even though they love to exercise and, for their size, are incredibly fast, they can make excellent apartment and city dogs, providing you can exercise them at least a couple of times each day.

If you don't mind or encourage your dog to be on your furniture, you and a whippet will get on famously because they don't like to sleep on hard surfaces. Whippets also detest cold weather, so in the winter months, you'll need to provide your whippet with a coat.

The Whippet
Personality: Lovely, affectionate, lively, quiet, gentle, friendly, and intelligent.

Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years.

Size & Weight:
● Weight: 25 to 40 pounds.
● Size: 19 to 22 inches tall (males). 18 to 21 inches tall (females).

Characteristics:
● Coat: short and sleek coat that lays flat to the dog’s body.
● Colors: various colors, all within the breed standard.
● Grooming: Low-maintenance.

AKC Group: hound group.

AKC Popularity: 61 out of 197 breeds.

Whippet Features

Whippets look like miniature greyhounds, except the whippet has a few more curves and a deeper arch at the dog's loins; other than those minor differences, only the size can tell them apart.
Whippets are built for speed; with long, slender legs, narrow-body, over-sized chest, and rippling muscles under the skin, it seems like every part of the dog is poised to run.

The whippet is small enough to sit on your lap, just; which is just as well because these dogs are the consummate lapdog.

The Whippets' coats are short, flat against their bodies, and feel incredibly soft. Because of its shortness, you can see the ribs and muscles through the skin; other than the short coat, their low body fat is another reason why they feel the cold so much. Whippets constantly search for warm areas in the house, and if they can cuddle up to you, they will at every opportunity they get.

Whippet Personality

The two things that whippets enjoy most are opposites; one is running, the other is curled up sleeping, somewhere warm. They are not renowned for their barking, but they will alert you to any stranger that calls.

When they're outside, they will chase smaller animals; they are sighthounds, and anything that moves in their vision is fair game, so best to keep them on a leash; you won't catch your Whippet if he does decide to chase something.

If you raise a Whippet with pets in the family, they'll get along fine, and they are kind and loving towards the family's children.

They are intelligent dogs, so they can be stubborn because they have a mind of their own. But with consistent and patient training, you can get them to do as you want.

Outside of the family circle, Whippets can be aloof, and they tend to be wary of strangers.

Living With A Whippet

If you live in an apartment and think of getting a Whippet, you'll be fine as long as you give him enough exercise each day. Whippets have to stretch their legs and run; they also need to run at top speed for a few minutes; without this, they can quickly become frustrated.

Cold weather is something else a Whippet dislikes; if you live in an area where winters are cold, buy him a coat when you take him outside.

Whippets are happiest when they spend time with their family; they love to curl up on the sofa and be close. You might need to rule that he cannot go inside your bedroom because a Whippet will attempt to try and get in bed with you. If you're ok with sleeping with your dog, then you have picked a winner with the Whippet.

Final Thoughts - Whippet

If a Whippet is top of your list, only get one if you can provide the running exercise he needs. They don't need to run miles every day, but they are bred to be sprinters and to keep a Whippet in top-class condition, you must allow him space to run and get it out of his system.

However, you need to be cautious because they are sighthounds and have a high prey drive; if they spot something running, they'll likely take off, and you'll have a job getting them to come back.

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