Whippet

Group:

Group: Hounds

Weight: 20-40 Lbs

Height: Male: 19-22, Female: 18-21 Inches

History Whippets have its origin in the Northern part of England. These sight hounds were bred from the Greyhound, and then crossed with terriers. At first these dogs were used for the hunting of rabbits and small game. The Whippet is one of the fastest dog breeds in the world.

Characteristics

The Whippet is a very playful and energetic breed. These dogs are however prone to being shy at times. Whippets do very well in working sports – they are also very kind dogs. Whippets will not do well in kennels, and does best when in a home environment. These dogs are extremely athletic, and love to sprint.

Temperament

Whippet gets along well with children, and they also make excellent family dogs. These dogs have a very good nature, and they are very fond of playing. These dogs train fairly easy, and will work well in an apartment seeing that they don’t shed a lot. Whippets prefer to live with one or more other Whippets, and will do best in such an environment. Whippet puppies can be very destructive, but this tends to even out as they get older.

Care

Whippets do not have very high grooming requirements, and is therefore suited to those with little time on their hands. Their coats can be brushed occasionally to keep it in a good condition. These dogs are very low shedding dogs, and will therefore not work well with people suffering from allergies. For more detailed info, take a look at the Whippet Grooming page.

Training

The Whippets are at their best when they are part of a family home, and handled in a gentle manner. Seeing that these dogs are very intelligent, they are also independent – and this requires the training to be diverse in order to keep these dogs interested. The Whippet does very well in working activities and obedience. This breed loves to run and does remarkably well in sprinting sports.