Origin

The Whippet was created by the farmers to kill rabbits. The Whippets were created by mixing the grey hounds and other terriers. The breed is very fast in their activities and that is the story behind their name. The name comes from the word whipping. The breed was highly used for dog races and they became a medium for earning money. Nowadays the Whippets are mainly used as a companion. They are used for racing.

General Description

The Whippet is medium sized about 21 inches in height. They have sleek body and they look like small Greyhounds. Their head is flat and narrow and they have a long pointed muzzle with a black nose at the tip. They have large hazel eyes and their ears are small and a bit folded backwards. The Whippet has a long muscular neck and a wide chest which touches the shoulders. They have narrow shoulders and their limbs and legs are long and skinny with arched toes. The breed has a long tail slightly curved and have a sleek stomach. They have a short shiny coat and may be found in many types of colours.

Character

The Whippet is very nice and gentle in nature and they are fantastic to kids. This is a very swift and enthusiastic breed and their speed is remarkable. They are very much athletic and very talented. They prove to be great watch dogs and are good hunters of rabbits. The Whippet is very fond of human companionship. This breed also loves human interaction and loves to be a part of the family. They are very timid by nature so they should have good training to get rid of that. They are aggressive to other animals and dogs. If properly trained they can get rid of this habit. They are not good at barking.

Temperament

They Whippet is very gentle and intelligent by nature. They are great racers and they are very enthusiastic and fun loving at the same time. The breed is very fond of human interaction and prove to be great companions of human beings. They love their family very much. The Whippet is very good to children but they do not mix with strangers well. They are aggressive to other animals and dogs. They have a great speed and are used for races. The Whippet is even a good guard dog and should be trained from an early age.

Training

The Whippet is a very intelligent a gentle breed. Harsh training methods are not recommended. Training must be done with politeness, firmness and consistency.

Health

Generally the Whippets are never affected by heavy diseases. They may suffer from hearing problems, eye problems and skin problems. Their average life span is 12-15 years. The most amazing thing is that they have a great speed but still they do not suffer from hip dysplasia.