Whippet
Group: Hound
Size: Medium
Coat length: Short
Grooming required: Once a week
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Small or Large House
Garden size: Small/Medium
Lifespan: Over 12 Years
Exercise: Up to 1 hour per day
They are a medium-sized sight hound that looks like a small Greyhound. Despite their power, everything about them is dainty and slender: long and lean head and muzzle, slender body and long, slim tail, often held between the back legs. Their coat is short and sleek and comes in all colours.
They originate in England and were bred in the nineteenth century as a small racing dog.
They are sweet natured but, like the Greyhound, very sensitive. They are also intelligent and, given sufficient exercise, will be quietly devoted and affectionate in the home. They may be wary of strangers but are fine with children as long as the child is not rough with them. They normally get on well with other dogs. They need opportunities to have a good run but have a natural urge to chase small mammals. They are also sensitive to cold so need a coat in winter.
Their short coat is easy to maintain with occasional brushing and combing and they have very little doggy smell. They are prone to upset stomach and skin problems.