Info on Whippets as a breed!

[Emma85]

Hi guys,

I have been wanting a dog for ages and a few days ago I met someone with 2 whippets - I have fallen in love!

They were gorgeous!

The thing is I dont really know much about the breed I was hoping somebody would be able to give me some first hand advise!

Are they ok with cats? Would they be ok to live in a flat? How are they at being left alone?

Thanks

Emma

[Yellow Dog]

Beautiful dogs! I don't really know a lot about them but maybe these links will help you?

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/whippet.html

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/whippets.html

I hope I helped you!

[skunkstripe]

Hi Emma :wave2: We have a couple of whippet owners here and I'm sure they'll be delighted to give you some first-hand info about these lovely dogs. :)

[KatzNK9]

Hi Emma! Great to have you with us. Good luck on your whippet search. Lovely breed, however, I don't know much about them that will help you.

[sheplovr]

Hello and http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k93/sheplovr100/th_blinkwelcome.gif to the Dog Forum if I missed you at first?
Whippets are great dogs for any home, they do not require tons of exercise. They are very docile dogs not like on the race track. They look like Grey Hounds, I think some smaller however. They are very gentle dogs also. I will give you a link so you can study up on them: http://www.canismajor.com/dog/whippet.html
Form, function, and appearance

The Whippet is a sighthound, a subset of the hound group that traces its history back to the days of the Pharaohs in Egypt and the nomadic tribes of the Middle East. Greyhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Ibizan Hounds, Borzoi, Salukis, Afghan Hounds and others share this common background and were of unparalleled value to their owners in the early centuries of civilization. Sighthounds hunt by scanning for movement, not tracking by scent, and so have keen eyesight to catch even the slightest disturbance in their surroundings. Once the game is sighted, all else pales into insignificance as the dog concentrates on the chase.
Sighthound structure is the key to both speed and stamina. Although the dog is slender in appearance, it must have well-laid-back shoulder blades, space between the withers to aid in shock absorption, well-sprung ribs for lung-power that allows endurance, and a well-muscled body for propulsion. The well-built Whippet may well be the fastest animal of its size; it can reach 35 miles per hour and cover 16 yards per second at full speed.
The AKC breed standard uses these phrases in describing the breed: “... the appearance of elegance and fitness”; “... covers a maximum of distance with a minimum of lost motion”; “power and balance without coarseness”; and “Symmetry of outline, muscular development and powerful gait are the main considerations.” The Whippet puts it all together in a package ranging from 18-22 inches at the withers and 25-35 pounds on the scale. As with many breeds, bitches are smaller than dogs.
The clean lines that give the breed its lovely profile are critical to its speed. The arched loin and the well-muscled rear contribute to the powerful drive that propels the dog forward into its ground-eating double-suspension gallop, a leaping gait that finds the dog completely off the ground at two points in the gallop sequence. A well-formed, muscular front end then pushes the dog into the second half of the gait cycle.
The Whippet head is long and lean with large, dark eyes and small, fine ears that tip over at the tip. Erect ears are undesirable. The arched neck is long and muscular, the tail is long and tapering. The coat is smooth and very short, and a variety of colors and patterns are acceptable. Whippets can be solid black or white or can be patched or brindled in red, fawn, blue, or cream.
Hope you can maybe rescue a good one as many of these and grey hounds are in rescues being reverted into being pets too. I wish you the best and if you get one Please send some photos.

[happysaz133]

Hello and welcome! I had a Lurcher, who was a Whippet cross Greyhound. She was smalled than a greyhound. They do make excellent pets though. Good luck!

[Emma85]

Thank You for the comments

The only thing concerning me is the fact that they like to chase small furries and i have 4 cats??

Dont wanna come back from work and find that the flat is destroyed!!

[sheplovr]

Yes, they are taught to chase a rabbit part of the dumb race training. I think a behaviorist could change that if you find one. Alot of breeds honey will chase cats. Mine did and I placed 4 in same home with two cats, she worked in Philly area in huge emergency vets and brought the cats home, they hide in the loft of the cabin she lived in. Finally they accepted them. I would not want to tell you what to get as you have a ton of dogs to choose from, I just wanted to point out that many people do not have lots of space and get a small dog that barks and barks cause lack of exercise. I have owned a few and they drove me about crazy. Let them out and they ran off. Whippets will take off also off leash till well trained. Just take your time and study each breed you find interesting.:D

[montanagal]

Not saying that you COULDN'T train whippets to leave the cats alone, I've heard of it being done, but when I was considering adopting a grayhound a while back I was told that I could never completely trust sight hounds with cats. Do your research carefully, and talk to knowledgeable breeders and rescue groups.

[Borzoi mad]

Thank You for the comments

The only thing concerning me is the fact that they like to chase small furries and i have 4 cats??

Dont wanna come back from work and find that the flat is destroyed!!

I have two Borzois and they live quite hapilly with my cat.

However introductions should be made slowly and the dog should not be left alone with the cat until you know you can trust him/her fully.

Good luck whippets are a lovely breed.:cheers:

[xcolbi]

Welcome! :)

Here are two pages of information that may help you:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/whippet/
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/whippet.htm

Hope this helps! :)

[MoJo]

Hello, I used to own a whippet. For answers to your questions, here ya go.

Catss- it depends if they grew up with them or not. Mine was very playful with the cats, but at times I had to tell her to stop because I was afraid she might go overboard and hurt them. I am not sure what a flat is, so I will skip that question. As for being home alone, my Whippet, and others I have met, hate to be left alone :( They are very highly affectionate dogs that want to be with you ALL the time. At your side. You leave, and separation anxiety will set in.

[Janimal]

Hi and Welcome to the forum.
whippets are a great breed but Im biased as I have three of them at the moment and have also owned two previous to these:)

They have a lovely nature, but dont be fooled they can be destructive and naughty if left just like any other puppy when bored.

I also have 3 cats and all my dogs get along with them fine, there have been a couple of moments but I keep them in check of course.

I would love to know if you do eventually chose a whippet, and of course see your pictures. Please keep us posted.

If there is anything specific you would like to know about the breed I would be happy to try and answer for you.