Longhaired Whippet

20-30 lbs
18-22"
United States
Silken Windsprite

The Longhaired Whippet has beautiful soft and silky long hair, quite unique to the Whippet breed which is usually short and straight. They are a new breed to the dog world, having only been developed about 50 years ago. Controversy over the nature of the dog as in whether they are a pure breed or not still rages today. But regardless of this, the Longhaired Whippet is here and has gained a following with their elegant and sweet temperament. This dog lives up to their athletic history and loves to run and play. They make fun companions for children and are kind and well behaved in nature. The longer coat protects this dog from the cooler weather, and yet it is surprisingly easy to maintain. The Longhaired Whippet likes to please their owner and this dog is willing to listen and learn. They are very people orientated and will want to be with their family, this is not a dog to park outside and forget. An apartment is fine for this quiet gentle dog, they are relaxed and calm inside. They make great companions and family pets, are good looking, easy to maintain, and have a lovely affectionate nature that is hard to resist.

purpose Purpose
Sighthound, Companion, Guardian
history Date of Origin
1968
ancestry Ancestry
Shorthaired Whippet

Longhaired Whippet Health

Average Size
Male Longhaired Whippet size stats
Height: 18-22 inches Weight: 20-30 lbs
Female Longhaired Whippet size stats
Height: 18-22 inches Weight: 20-30 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Multi-Drug Resistance Gene (MDR1)
Minor Concerns
  • Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
  • Eye conditions
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Ear Infection and Inflammation
Occasional Tests
  • Ear Examination
  • Eye examination
  • Regular Full Physical Examination By Veterinarian
  • MDR1
  • Complete Ophthalmologic Examination

Longhaired Whippet Breed History

Debate still rages around the development of the Longhaired Whippet. During the 1970's a breeder by the name of Walter A. Wheeler Jr. claimed to be successful when he selectively bred his own dogs with other Whippet breeders that displayed observable evidence of carrying the longhaired gene. While he claimed them to be bred solely from the Shorthaired Whippet stock, others believe he must have cross bred his dogs with other breeds such as the Borzoi or the Shetland Sheepdog - both breeds that Wheeler owned. Some breeders argue that the name Whippet should only be used for the Shorthaired Whippet as they are the original standard dog; as well, there was a strain of rough coated Whippets which sadly become extinct in 1957. While the debate about the pros and cons of the rare recessive longer coat gene or the recessive MDR1 allele that have influenced the breed continues, the fact remains that the Longhaired Whippet is now here to stay. With their lovely temperament and beautiful looks, they are gaining popularity amongst dog lovers around the globe. Another breeder named Francie Stull crossed Longhaired Whippets that originated from Walter A. Wheelers kennels with the Borzoi to create the breed now known as the Silken Windsprite. While the two breeds (the Longhaired Whippet and the Silken Windsprite) are almost identical, the latter is slightly smaller. The Longhaired Whippet is not recognized by the leading kennel clubs, although there are clubs set up for the breed - the Longhaired Whippet Association and the International Longhaired Whippet Club. Both clubs aspire to offer conformation and performance events that their members can utilize to gain acceptance for this lovely breed.

Longhaired Whippet Breed Appearance

The Longhaired Whippet is an elegant looking dog, lean and athletic in build, and they carry themselves with regal dignity. Medium in size, the Longhaired Whippet is almost identical to the Shorthaired Whippet but has a beautiful long silky coat and has fringe adornments on their legs, tail and around their face. The coat is a double coat with the thicker undercoat giving warmth and protection against the elements. With a broad muscular back, deep chest, and tucked up tummy, their appearance is one that hints at the speed that this dog can achieve. The long feathered tail, straight forelegs, and well muscled hindquarters assist the dog's speed. Their face is long and pretty, with a long thin head, large very dark eyes, and feathering on the ears. Coloring varies for this breed; shades range from black, red, shades of brindle, fawn and brown, all adorned with touches of white accents. The Longhaired Whippet is beautiful in temperament and exquisite in appearance.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Longhaired Whippet eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Longhaired Whippet nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Longhaired Whippet coat
Black
red Longhaired Whippet coat
Red
brindle Longhaired Whippet coat
Brindle
fawn Longhaired Whippet coat
Fawn
white Longhaired Whippet coat
White
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Longhaired Whippet wavy coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Longhaired Whippet Breed Maintenance

The Longhaired Whippet is remarkably easy to maintain, with the long silky hair only requiring a good brushing once a week. Elegant and graceful, this dog shouldn't be bathed often to protect the natural oils in the coat which make it easy to maintain. A very mild and gentle dog shampoo should be used whenever you do bathe this dog. Usual maintenance issues such as nail trimming, teeth brushing and checking their ears for signs of infection all apply. But caution should be used with worming drugs as this breed carries a recessive genetic mutation in the MDR1 gene, which can make them sensitive to certain drugs. Your veterinarian can check this by a simple cheek swab tissue test and can advise what is best for your dog.

Longhaired Whippets can suffer from a variety of health concerns. Secure pet health insurance today to avoid high veterinary care costs. Wag! Wellness lets pet parents compare insurance plans from leading companies like Figo and Spot. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!

Brushes for Longhaired Whippet
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Longhaired Whippet requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Longhaired Whippet Temperament

 

Funny, goofy, elegant and dignified - talk about a dog of character! The Longhaired Whippet has it all. Kind and sweet natured, full of fun and yet surprisingly calm and willing to take instruction to please their owner is all part of the package. These dogs are very people orientated; they love to be involved in all you do and are affectionate and cuddly. Their long thicker coat and fringing gives them an attractive appearance, and their refined head and dark luminous eyes hold a beguiling expression. While they may seem dignified at first glance, they are not above getting into mischief with the children. When things are quiet, you had better check out what they up to! Your Longhaired Whippet is kind of goofy at times when excited but demure at others. They accept other dogs' company, although other pets such as cats or rabbits can be subject to whether they have been raised together or not. This breed is not aggressive; they will bark to warn of strangers but are not built to tackle or defend, although they would give it their best if you were in trouble. Yappy they are not, which means they can do well in apartments as long as they get a daily walk. They tend to be less active inside the home, content to snuggle and snooze. Ever the consummate athlete, the adorable Longhaired Whippet is fast becoming a popular family pet.

Longhaired Whippet Activity Requirements

The Longhaired Whippet is like their peers the Greyhound and the Shorthaired Whippet, they are great runners. Built for speed, they make a great running buddy and will keep pace seemingly without effort. The breed excels in racing, agility work, lure coursing and other similar sports. The Longhaired Whippet also loves to play, and is not above a bit of goofing off with the children. Running and spinning around the kids, they are quite the clown when they decide to show off. They love to be included on walks, daily outings or to be included in anything really that you and the family want to do. They are also quite calm inside and happy to snuggle up and snooze on or near you. Daily exercise is important as it is for most dogs, but also include some mental games and some training. They are willing to learn and take instruction really well, therefore training takes less time than some other breeds.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes
activity minutes

Longhaired Whippet Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Longhaired Whippet Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Longhaired Whippet size stats at six months
Height: 11.0 inches Weight: 11.0 lbs
Female Longhaired Whippet size stats at six months
Height: 11.0 inches Weight: 11.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Longhaired Whippet size stats at 12 months
Height: 16.0 inches Weight: 21.5 lbs
Female Longhaired Whippet size stats at 12 months
Height: 16.0 inches Weight: 21.5 lbs
18 Months
Male Longhaired Whippet size stats at 18 months
Height: 20.0 inches Weight: 28.0 lbs
Female Longhaired Whippet size stats at 18 months
Height: 20.0 inches Weight: 28.0 lbs

Longhaired Whippet Owner Experiences

Princess
3 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Go to Park
Play
Run
Go to Beach
She's been rescued from the streets, and been with us for 1 year. She's the most affectionate and energetic dog I've had! She likes going to people to ask for snuggmles, running, and playing with other dogs. Although She likes to play sometimes, She's very quiet and not yappy at all
4 years, 8 months ago
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - New pet
Question

Hello, Can you find long haired whippets that are small enough to travel in the cabin of an airplane?

Answer
Animal Expert Question Icon
Question - My pet
Question

j'aimerais savoir ou jr peux trouver un bon éleveur de whippet à poil long merci et bien à vous Lorie-Anne

Answer
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd