Whippets, like
greyhounds,
pharaoh hounds,
Afghan Hounds,
Basenjis and
Ibizan Hounds, are a type of
sighthound: that is, a
dog that tracks prey with his eyes. Most sighthounds are more closely related to the
Asian Wolves and
Dingoes than to northern
Gray Wolves. These animals are
fast runners,
deep-chested with long skinny legs.
In appearance the whippet looks much like a greyhound (though their ears tend to stick out a bit more) they are about half the size of a greyhound and come in the same variety of colors: white, gray, black, brown,
bridle. They range in size from 20 to 35 pounds.
They are quiet and gentle
pets who must live indoors since they have little
body-fat or fur… not to mention the fact that they can get very lonely! That said, they are not overly
eager to please dogs who will nag you all the time (as
retrievers tend to) They also a sleep a lot…a whole lot…all over the place. (don’t trip!)
Despite their
petite appearance they have a sturdy “
real dog” bark which they use with discretion. (Some whippet owners swear their dog has no idea how to bark) They are hardy, and can live to be 11-15 years of age with few health problems. Since they were
breed to run, they enjoy a good
sprint every day, but afterwards are content to
sleep the day away on your couch.
You cannot prevent them from
sleeping on the couch, by the way… it’s not worth fighting about this. A whippet will find the softest place in the house and claim it as her own. You can’t blame the
poor dears, though, they’re so boney that resting on a hard surface could give them blisters!