Whippet

Grooming Tips

The Whippet's coat only needs to be brushed with a hound mitt once per week to remove loose hair and keep the coat healthy. They only require bathing as needed. The thin coat of the Whippet does not protect well against cuts and scrapes, so he may be more prone to minor skin injuries than other breeds. Be sure to clean all wounds, even minor wounds, to prevent infection.Check the ears on a weekly basis for signs of infection, irritation, or wax build up. Cleanse regularly with a veterinarian-approved cleanser and cotton ball. Brush the teeth at least once per week to prevent tartar buildup and fight gum disease. Additionally, nails should be trimmed once per month if the dog does not wear the toenails down naturally.

Exercise Tips

Open fields and daily walking should be considered requirements for this eager-to-run animal, and you’ll want to be careful about taking it in parks without a leash as it will be prone to attacking small critters.Whippets are sprinters by nature, and adequate exercise could take the form of several vigorous retrieving sessions a week with a ball or flying disc, regular walks, or play sessions with another dog in a safely fenced area.Always keep your Whippet on a leash when not in a fenced area. Organized activities such aslure-coursingandagilityalso provide healthy outlets for the breed’s energy and athleticism.

Feeding Tips

The Whippet has a large frame but its overall build is still light, so feeding your Whippet too much can become a habit to avoid.Resist the temptation to overfeed and make sure your Whippet works up a good appetite with a daily workout regimen. A Whippet should remain light and maintain its speed over the majority of its lifetime in order to remain healthy.They should do well on high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to gettingoverweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level.Treatscan be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about whichhuman foodsare safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Health Tips

The average life span of the Whippet is 13 to 15 years, making it a particularly long-lived breed. Health concerns may include corneal dystrophy,cataracts, lens luxation, vitreal syneresis,progressive retinal atrophy, cutaneous hemangioma and a number ofskin disorders.This breed has a greatly increased and adverse susceptibility to thiopentone. This drug is not recommended for use in the Whippet breed.

Trainability

Whippets are actually known as sensitive breeds, which means they should not be overtrained. Special care should be taken to avoid negative reinforcement. Instead,positive reinforcementwill help develop natural and healthy self-esteem, as it is easy to “cross over the line” with Whippets and confuse them as to why you’re angry or impatient. A good trainer will be able to handle a Whippet with relative ease.

The Whippet was developed at the end of the 19th century through crossing among theGreyhound, theItalian Greyhound, and another terrier type dog. Its name derives from the expression "whip it," meaning “to move quickly.”The Whippet is an outstanding track racer over short distances, reaching speeds of up to 37 miles per hour (60 km per hour), reaching those speeds in seconds!Coursing these dogs was an entertaining form of gambling for the lower classes in England and the Whippet was nicknamed "the poor man’s racehorse." The Whippet was recognized by AKC in 1888 and by the English Kennel Club in 1891. Some of the Whippet's talents include hunting, sighting, watchdog, racing, agility and lure coursing.