Dogs

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - England

MOST SUITED AS - Racing dog and family pet.

SIZE
The shoulder-height is 47 - 51cm (18 1/2 - 20 in) for dogs and 44 - 47cm (17 1/2- 18 1/2 in) for bitches.

COAT
The short haired coat is fine and dense. It comes in many colours but the most common are white with streaked or yellow patches, black, black with white, blue, roan, or beige with darker mask.

CARE REQUIRED
Little grooming is required for these dogs. It is sufficient to brush them from time to time to remove dead and loose hairs. Some examples have a predisposition for tartar but this can be kept in check by regularly giving them some­thing to chew. Keep the claws trimmed short.

CHARACTER
These dogs are affectionate, cuddly, and lovely with children. They are also intelligent but not particularly obedient, cheerful, peaceable, playful, a touch obstinate, and sometimes also vigilant.

TRAINING
Introduce plenty of variety into a Whippet's training. The best results are achieved by interspersing games and running but remember that this will never be an unreservedly obedient dog.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Whippets are usually very good with children but they tend not to be too fond of strangers. They will invariably warn you of visitors. They are very tolerant of other dogs and there is rarely any difficulty.
The tendency to chase everything that moves quickly is inborn in them. The household cat, to which the dog has grown accustomed, will be left alone. Other cats, will be fair game.

EXERCISE
The Whippet is a small Greyhound, meaning that its entire body is built for racing and hunting. Understandably they need plenty of exercise. In some countries they may not be allowed to run freely off the lead, in common with other dogs that hunt by sight. In these circumstances cycle with the dog or join an organization that races Whippets so that you can let the dog live its life fully on the race track.