About Whippets

So, you think you want a whippet?? There are any numbers of reasons that make the whippet a good companion – and just as many that make them a bad match! Everyone I know chooses the whippet as their preferred breed for various reasons. Before deciding on a whippet (or any breed) it’s always best to do your homework; there is nothing worse than bringing home a wonderful dog, falling in love with it and then having to let it go because when all is said and done, the match just wasn’t right.

Everyone will tell you to read as much as you can! I also suggest that you visit the American Whippet Club and take their Quiz to find out some reasons why a whippet may or may not be the dog for you; and learn about the breed standard. Whippets, as a breed, are high on both prey and pack drive. These drives are typically well developed and play major roles in your relationship with your whippet. To find out more about these drives and read descriptions of major drives in dogs (prey, pack, fight, flight), visit Doberman Review.

The most important thing to do is to visit some whippets in their home environment. Find a local breeder or owner and arrange to visit; find hobby racing and coursing events; go to shows and watch the whippet ring; visit your local kennel club; enthusiasts are always willing to share their passion with newcomers – take advantage of it!!

Why is the whippet a good breed for me? I love the look and feel of the whippet; I love that they are companion animals; that they don't require my constant attention; and I love that they are relatively easy to care for. However, in order to maintain my whippets so that they have that wonderful look and feel, do not require my constant attention, and remain easy to care for I need to routinely provide them with what they need.

Whippets need exercise and they need to RUN.
- Even with proper exercise they will get the zoomies during the day
- When they don’t get proper exercise they can
  - Get stir crazy
  - Be downright annoying
  - Chew destructively
  - Get mopey, bored & depressed
  - Be generally annoying
Whippets need attention and companionship – they require a pack – we play a major role in that pack.
- Whippets do not do well being on their own all day long
  - Eight hours in a crate can make them stir crazy
  - Eight hours alone outside the crate makes them bored and lonely
  - When they are stir crazy, bored, and lonely they can get
Whippets don’t exist to make you happy.
- Like all hounds, they are bred to work independently
  - Because they are independent, sometimes they need a really good reason to do as you ask [fortunately, most are highly food motivated]
  - Whippets are bred to chase prey. Whippet prey drive tends to be quite high which means their recall will be unreliable if something has caught their eye.
Whippets like to be near you but not necessarily on you – they may follow you from room to room but will prefer their own space [i.e. your favorite chair] once you both get there.
Whippets do shed and need some attention to coat as well as nails and teeth on a regular basis.
- While whippets are low on dander, they do shed [some of them quite a bit] – there is always hair to be picked up.
- Some whippet lines (and sight hounds in particular] tend to build up tartar on their teeth. Attention to diet and oral hygiene will be important.
- Some whippet nails grow rapidly – weekly attention to nails may be required.
Whippets are companion animals and somewhat sensitive so loud voices and sharp corrections can be detrimental.
Visitors are always welcome:
- Whippets do not always bark and may not alert you to someone at the door or on the property (mine will usually stand quietly at the door and wag their tails)
- Whippets will think your visitors are long lost relatives, for about 5 minutes - the welcoming frenzy may be overwhelming for some visitors

Finally, there is a reason that the Whippet is in the Hound group. Like all hounds, whippets were bred to hunt. Even though we no longer ask them to poach hare from the landlord’s forest, they are keen hunters intent on performing their task. We have no bunnies in our yard; likewise, the squirrels stay on top of the fence. Birds, however, are fair game. If there are no squirrels, birds, or bunnies, our whippets will hunt lizards, frogs, and even snakes. Selection for less intense prey drive might yield a less intense hound but there is no way to train them from their natural hunting instincts. Many times a breeder might have an indication of the intensity of prey drive but it will never be absolute. If the thought of a small furry animal meeting its end in the jaws of your beloved whippet is troublesome, then this is not the breed for you.

For more excellent information about whippets we suggest visiting Timbreblue Whippets.
For information about whippets [dogs] and children please visit Diamonds in the Ruff.
For more information about the activities you can enjoy with your whippet, please visit the AWC activity page.

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