Is a Whippet for me?
Whilst Whippets are a fantastic dog they are not for everybody.
If you want a dog to live out in the backyard and to spend lots of time by itself, then a Whippet is not for you.
Whippets are a dog that is suited as a family companion and they need to spend time inside and with their family. They do not handle extremes of temperature well and need to be kept out of high temperatures as well of course low ones. If you do not want a dog who loves to follow you everywhere or have your dog in the house, then the Whippet will not be the best breed for you.
They love to be with people and are a very gentle dog. They get on well with all sorts of other animals if they are raised with them, but some can have a higher prey drive and small furries like Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Rats are best kept well out of the way. My Whippets are raised with Cats, Guinea Pigs, Sheep, Cattle and Horses and all get along well, sensible precautions are taken.
They are a sighthound so have extremely keen eye sight. Due to this fact they should never be off lead anywhere near roads or cars or anywhere else they can get themselves into trouble. They are also extremely quick. They will have spotted a Rabbit and be a few hundred metres away before you have a chance to react. A recall is not something that comes naturally necessarily, but with careful and consistent training a Whippet will recall and well. They will not be reliable however, if you are trying to call them off chasing a rabbit.
They are fabulous companions and are very good with children. They have no dog smell, shed very little and are very quiet to have in and around the house. Whippets like a walk and a 20 minute off lead run in a secure area daily, but after they have done that they are happy to laze around. They do not require a huge amount of exercise. If your Whippet needs to spend time outside in the cool weather a nice warm coat is a must. They are a single, fine coated breed with minimal body fat and therefore feel the cold
Whippets are a medium dog weighing from an average of 11 to 15 kgs. The males are generally slightly larger than the females. Both males and females are equally smoochy and easy to toilet train. They are very social and love visitors so are no good for guarding your property. Any visitors lap is a potential snuggle spot, and if you sit still for long enough, you will most likely end up with a Whippet as a lap warmer.
They are a very sound breed that are generally healthy. The average life span of a well cared for Whippet is 12 to 15 years.