Anyone looking for Whippet puppies in order to make one a part of their lives would do well to take a look at some of its idiosyncrasies first. Any time a breed is chosen, the background, behaviors, and temperament should be understood. This will assist in revealing whether or not this breed is right for you.

Once Whippet puppies have matured, they ought to be lean, clean, and athletic with a fine and short coat. They excel in jobs that involve speed and hard work.  They are muscular and strong, and graceful and elegant. The Whippets make excellent companions. They have been successfully employed as racing and working dogs as well.

There are arguments as to the origin of the Whippet, and although such knowledge is not absolutely essential in the selection of a Whippet puppy, it will help you understand it’s behaviors a little better.

Some of the fanciers of the breed will tell you that this is an ancient breed that has been around since at least the fifth century A.D.  A more common belief is that the Whippet was purposely bred down from the Greyhound when small Greyhounds were crossed with Terriers to produce an exceptionally useful rabbit hound and racer.  At first called “Snap dogs”, these racy little hounds were used extensively for rabbit coursing by the local farmers in Great Britain.  In order to produce more stamina in the breed they were crossed with bull terriers at one point.

Regardless,  the origins of the whippet, this middle sized and miraculously balanced dog, are not aristocratic. These dogs were bred and wisely selected by the coal miners of North England. The whippets earned their keep (and sometimes more then their owner’s wages) running in short races.

These fast hounds were often coursed as many as twenty five or thirty times a day after the hares. The Whippet was often called “the poor man’s greyhound” and indeed they lived the life of their larger cousin , curled up by the fire on a winter’s night and running the rabbits daily during the summer months. When rabbit hunting lost its following, the little dogs were used as racing dogs and given a handicap based on weight. Because of this the smaller Whippet, weighing around 16-17 pounds, was more in favor than the larger Whippets that were formerly used for rabbit hunting, as those often weighed in at around 22-25 pounds.

The whippet is such a beautiful, easy, fun and yet undiscovered dog that somebody said that the whippet is the best kept secret of the pure breed dogs world.

Whippets are a very adaptable dog breed. They will equally enjoy country life or apartment living as long as they have a chance to be close to their owners. These medium size sighthounds match most but not any lifestyle.
They don’t require enormous amounts of food or exercise, take very little space in the house, are not obsessive barkers or diggers and are very easy to keep clean and tidy

Whippets are, despite their fragile appearance, very strong and healthy dogs and the best way to maintain your whippet healthy and good looking is a sensible diet.

A medium-sized sighthound giving the appearance of elegance and fitness, the Whippet denotes great speed, power and balance. In fact, the Whippet, an English Greyhound in miniature, is the fastest domesticated animal of his weight, capable of speeds up to 35 m.p.h. A very versatile breed, they can appear in a wide variety of colors and markings. Although keen when racing or coursing, they are quiet and dignified in their owner’s living room.

A Look Back

Having evolved for over a hundred years, it was not until 1891 that official recognition was given to the Whippet by the English Kennel Club. Used for racing early on, the breed was nicknamed “the poor man’s racehorse.” Whippets were first brought to America by English mill operators of Massachusetts, which for many years was the center of Whippet racing in this country. Later the sport moved south to Maryland, particularly in Baltimore.

Right Breed for You?

The Whippet is a natural athlete and needs regular exercise. As with any breed it is also important that the Whippet has proper nutrition, vaccinations, and regular veterinary visits. Whippets are particularly well adapted for human companionship and make excellent house dogs.

Another issue of concern when looking at litters of Whippet puppies, is the breeders from whence they come. Be sure to read our other articles on this site to see what it takes to find a reputable Whippet breeder.