Whippet

20-40 lbs
18-21"
England
Snap Dog, English Whippet

The Whippet, a graceful dog that is very similar to and descendant of the Greyhound, was developed in England and used to compete in rabbit-luring competitions at first, and rag races later on. They are thin dogs, but are very athletic and excel in various canine sports, like agility, flyball and luring, up to this day. They are very well behaved around children and other dogs, but will need to be supervised around small pets, including cats, as they might see them as prey. They would be good watchdogs as they are very alert, but are not aggressive enough to be guard dogs for your home.

purpose Purpose
racing, rabbit coursing
history Date of Origin
1800s
ancestry Ancestry
terrier, greyhound, spaniel

Whippet Health

Sketch of Whippet
Average Size
Male Whippet size stats
Height: 19-22 inches Weight: 25-40 lbs
Female Whippet size stats
Height: 18-21 inches Weight: 20-40 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Von Willebrand's Disease
  • Anesthesia Sensitivity/Allergy
  • Corneal Dystrophy
Minor Concerns
  • Cataracts
  • Lens Luxation
Occasional Tests
  • Blood Test
  • Dna For Vwd
  • Eye Examination
  • Physical Examination

Whippet Breed History

Dogs who are similar looking to the Whippet have been found in some artwork, such as carvings and paintings, for centuries. Their exact history is unknown, and there are a number of theories considering how these dogs came to be. Some think that the Whippet was bred from runt Greyhounds, leading to the smaller size. The crossing of Spaniels with Greyhounds is another idea. There are also some who believe that this breed was created from Italian Greyhounds and several types of Terriers, one of them being the Manchester Terrier. What we know is that these dogs were developed during the 19th century in England, and were used in rabbit-luring competitions. They quickly became popular among the working class in Northern England, and were used in the popular sport of rabbit-killing, where a hare would be released in an enclosed space, and the people would watch to see who’s dog could make the kill the fastest. The owners of these dogs had to eventually switch to a sport called rag racing when rabbit-luring was banned for cruelty. In this new hobby, a fur lure or cloth was used as bait and pulled down a long and straight road or field, as opposed to live rabbits. The townspeople would use these events as a way to meet up and gamble. When these dogs were not competing, they were still using their impressive hunting abilities to contribute to their family by hunting small game. It was the English Immigrants migrating to New Zealand who first brought this breed and its sport into North America between the late 19th and early 20th century. It was in 1891 that the American Kennel Club recognized the breed.

Whippet Breed Appearance

These stunning dogs are lean and graceful, with an appearance that is quite similar to the Greyhound, all but slightly smaller. They have a long head and muzzle, and a deep chest. These canines have bodies that are arched from the neck and the back all the way to the loin. Their ears will usually be held back, but when the dog becomes alert, they will become semi-pricked. The Whippet has teeth that will meet in a scissors bite, and eyes that will vary in color with each individual dog. They have coats that are smooth and hair that is short, lying close to the skin. These dogs can be found in a variety of patterns and in almost any color. Black, blue, white, fawn, cream, red and brindle are all color possibilities. The patterns that can be seen on their coat could range from blazes to spots to patches.

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

Whippet Breed Maintenance

These dogs are thin and will need a sweater to keep them warm while out in the winter time. These dogs love to hunt and will set chase to anything that moves. Therefore, a yard with a high fence, about 5 to 6 feet, will be necessary. Besides some time to run around outside, Whippets will need several walks every day, lasting 20 to 30 minutes each. These dogs should not have too much strain on their joints, and therefore should not be over exercised. They are also very intelligent, and house training should be a breeze. The Whippet loves to please and should be treated nicely; do not yell or be harsh with them, otherwise, they will not be motivated to cooperate with you. Besides basic obedience, these dogs are very skilled at luring, agility, flyball and other dog sports. 1 to 1½ cups of dog food each day, divided into two meals, should be a good amount for them. Keep your dog’s coat soft and shiny by using a hound glove or rubber curry brush to groom them weekly. They should not need to have baths very often. These dogs have thin coats, and can easily get scrapes and scratches. Check them over often to make sure that they do not have any serious injuries. Trim the nails once or twice each month, and every week the teeth should get brushed two or three times.

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

Whippet Temperament

Although these dogs can be intense while on the trail of prey, they are gentle and quiet while at home. Because of their still present hunting instincts, Whippets will require a fenced in yard and will need to be kept on their leash while on walks. They are very alert and can be great guard dogs, but do not have the powerful and intimidating bark, and are also far too friendly to be guard dogs. They are great with kids, as they are not too big to be intimidating or dangerous, but are not so small as to get easily hurt. Whippets will also enjoy the company of other dogs, and if you are gone often for long periods at a time during the day, some additional canine company will be greatly appreciated. If they are introduced as a puppy, Whippets can sometimes get along well with cats. However, the dog and cat should be separated when nobody's home, as the Whippet has an instinct to chase and hunt any small furry creature. Because of this trait, it is best for this breed to live in a house with no cats.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
10 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Whippet Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.8 cups
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

Whippet Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of Whippet at six months
Male Whippet size stats at six months
Height: 16.5 inches Weight: 17.5 lbs
Female Whippet size stats at six months
Height: 15.5 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of Whippet at 12 months
Male Whippet size stats at 12 months
Height: 20.0 inches Weight: 24.0 lbs
Female Whippet size stats at 12 months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 22.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of Whippet at 18 months
Male Whippet size stats at 18 months
Height: 20.5 inches Weight: 32.5 lbs
Female Whippet size stats at 18 months
Height: 19.5 inches Weight: 30.0 lbs

Top Whippet Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Whippet breeders of 2024.
Top Whippet breeder Liberty Akitas & Whippets
Liberty Akitas & Whippets
Sand Springs, Oklahoma
Top Whippet breeder Timbreblue Whippets
Timbreblue Whippets
Lexington, Virginia
Top Whippet breeder Sugar Valley Farm and Kennel
Sugar Valley Farm and Kennel
Sugar Valley, Georgia
Top Whippet breeder Sighthounds of Kemar
Sighthounds of Kemar
Donalds, South Carolina
Top Whippet breeder Karasar Kennels
Karasar Kennels
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Top Whippet breeder Meisterhaus
Meisterhaus
Louisville, Kentucky
Top Whippet breeder Merci Isle
Merci Isle
Stow, Massachusetts
Top Whippet breeder Hickory Tavern Farm
Hickory Tavern Farm
Hickory, Pennsylvania
Top Whippet breeder Piper Whippets and Dachunds
Piper Whippets and Dachunds
Milford, Ohio

Whippet Owner Experiences

Finnegan
10 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Finnegan is the Sweetest Dog. Loves Cuddles and sleeps in bed under the covers. Very Playful and loves a variety of toys. He is Extremely Food Motivated, to the point where he will leap up and grab food out of your hand or off your plate! It does make training easy, he will dog anything for a treat! We Love Him So Much, He Really Is Such A Fun Dog.
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Finnegan
10 Months
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Finnegan is the sweetest dog. Loves cuddles and sleeps in bed under the covers. Very playful and loves a variety of toys. He is extremely food motivated, to the point where he will leap up and grab food out of your hand or off of your plate! It does make training easy, he will do anything for a treat! We love him so much, he really is such a fun dog.
2 years, 8 months ago
3 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Run
Nap
Hunt
Fetch
Nose work
Eating Snacks
Whippets are great. They’re so unique and majestic. They’re a little easier to manage than a greyhound since they’re a touch smaller. They’re not very strong but their very fast. Name sure to fold on tight because they will lunge after small animals out of instinct. They love to chase. They can be a bit skittish toward strangers and other dogs.
6 years, 11 months ago
2 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Dog Parks
The whippet I walked was very gentle and calm. Got very excited once we got outside and loved socializing with other dogs and being in the dog run. It's important to give them a lot of time to run and fetch during the day as this is what they were bred to do.
6 years, 11 months ago
6 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walks
This was an interesting breed as I’d never had come across the breed until I began with Wag. I walked two that were friends but not blood related even though they were In the same house. They were very aloof and wiry as we walked. One tried slipping out of its harness and the other couldn’t figure out how not to get his leash wrapped around me. I’m not sure if they just weren’t well leash trained or weren’t comfortable In their harnesses, however the case, they were kind of difficult to walk. They also got very aggressive towards other dogs in the neighborhood and then in turn would lash out at each other. Again, this was my first experience with this breed. I’m sure with the proper obedience training and leash training, they’d be stellar dogs. I have an inkling their owner didn’t exercise them properly. That was just from what I gathered.
6 years, 11 months ago
2 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I have walked one Whippet who was such a sweetheart! He warmed up to me right when he met me and was so excited to go for his walk. He was a great and easy dog to walk. He stopped to sniff around just a bit and also enjoyed a good amount of running during our walk. He had a great amount of energy and did not seem to get too tired. Even with the energy he had, he didn’t pull at all. He enjoyed rolling around in the grass and saying hi to doggy friends. This particular Whippet was extremely friendly and sociable. He listened well to commands if needed. I didn’t have any issues with him and he was probably one of the easiest dogs I’ve walked.
6 years, 11 months ago
Blue
10 Months
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Very excitable, friendly, energetic.
4 years, 8 months ago
Blue
10 Months
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Nap
Playdate
She is very happy, excitable, and fast. We play fetch with her twice a day for 30 mins, as long as the gets a good run she is very relaxed at home. After a big run she tends to sleep for ages. Very happy to meet others and gets excited when she sees other dogs.
4 years, 8 months ago
Honey
3 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Throwing the ball.
Tug-of-war
toys
Our whippet is very playful when it comes to toys and love chasing after the ball. Our walks are rather short as we usually let her out and she either chases after the ball or plays with other dogs. She is rather greedy with eating food off the table or somewhere in the park. She will also not hesitate to run up to a picnic and decide to join in and devour some delicious cake... We are still working on her recall but it is not great as of course whippets have a strong prey drive. Apart from that she is a couch potato and can sleep till 12-1 pm.
4 years, 5 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd