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A Whippet is a dog breed that originally comes from the UK. The breed is specially bred for dog racing, where it i.a. should catch rabbits. Therefore, a Whippet can run up to 60 km per hour. The name comes from the English term "whip it", which means to move fast, and refers to the dog's impressive speed.
A Whippet is one of the few dog breeds available that is bred specifically for racing. The breed of this racing dog began in the late 19th century in England, when dog racing was very popular. Typically, there were races where the dogs had to hunt rabbits, and the first dog that caught the rabbit and killed it won. They therefore had to develop a dog that was both lightning fast and able to kill a rabbit quickly and efficiently.
Typically, the well-known racing dog, a greyhound, was used for this purpose, but this dog breed was exclusively reserved for the upper class, so the middle and lower classes had to use a dog with which they could also participate in dog racing. They therefore bred a Whippet by crossing it with the popular greyhound and some different terrier breeds. Later, however, the races with the slightly barbaric rabbit killings were banned in England, and the Whippet was therefore instead used for hunting rats and mice, for example, or as a family and companion dog. However, the breed still participates in dog racing, but without rabbit killing.
The breed was recognized as an official race as early as 1890.
A Whippet looks like a greyhound or a hound. It has the same slender but yet athletic and streamlined physique. However, it is slightly smaller than e.g. a greyhound. A Whippet is between 44 and 51 cm tall and weighs between 12.5 and 13.5 kg. The males are larger than the females. Although a Whippet may look a bit porous and delicate, it is both a strong and confident dog. It has a small head, a narrow back, narrow hips and strong hind legs.
A Whippet’s coat is short, fine and smooth and consists of only a single layer. It therefore has an easy time getting skin problems or tears and wounds, as the coat is not very protective. Therefore, it is also not a dog that is suitable for cold areas. In winter, you should therefore give it a sweater or blouse, which is specially made for the breed. The coat is approved in virtually all colors and combinations.
As a family dog, a Whippet is a calm, affectionate and loving dog that is well suited for children of all ages. However, it may well be a bit reserved towards strangers. But as soon as it gets to know them, it is kind and gentle to everyone. It is not well suited as a watchdog, as it does not bark that often and is generally way too fond of people and kind of mind.
On the other hand, when a Whippet is out in the open, it is a very lively and active breed, which is both fearless and robust - and of course lightning fast. The only thing to be aware of with a Whippet is that it can easily hunt cats in the open if it is not used to them. It can therefore be an advantage to socialize it with cats when it is a puppy, so it does not learn to hunt them.
Due to the dog's very short coat, it requires only very minimal fur care. On the other hand, as previously mentioned, one must be aware of skin problems such as tears, wounds or infections.
A Whippet is generally a healthy and fit dog breed. Some Whippet owners mistakenly believe that their dog has heart problems, but a Whippet's heart just beats very slowly, even when it is active.
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