Hound GroupMedium
Whippet
Forty miles per hour outdoors; a motionless ornament indoors.
- Origin
- England, 19th century
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Height
- 44–51 cm
- Weight
- 10–13 kg
Temperament
GentleQuietAffectionateSprightly
The Study
The 'poor man's racehorse' of Victorian mining towns, the Whippet was bred to course rabbits and race down straight tracks. It remains the fastest dog of its size, yet its true character is revealed at home: quiet, clean and astonishingly still, folded into sofas like sculpture. Whippets are gentle with children, courteous with other dogs, and almost entirely free of aggression. They shiver theatrically in the cold and consider duvets a birthright.
Care & Keeping
Needs a daily opportunity to sprint in a safely enclosed space, then little else. Paper-thin skin and minimal fat mean soft bedding and winter coats are necessities, not indulgences.
Attributes
Energy Level3/5
Intelligence3/5
Trainability3/5
Grooming Needs1/5
Exercise Needs3/5
Affection4/5
