Whippet

History of the Whippet breed

The official homeland of the Whippets is considered to be Great Britain, although there is a lot of evidence that their ancestors were never an aboriginal breed of the Foggy Albion. For example, during excavations in the territories of the Roman Empire, archaeologists have repeatedly found figurines of small graceful greyhounds. This gave researchers the opportunity to assume that the animals came to England with the conquerors before the beginning of our era.

The first breed that the British received from Roman greyhounds was greyhound . The maintenance of such a dog cost a pretty penny, since for a full-fledged hunt the animal needed to be fed well and preferably with meat. As a result: to breed greyhounds were preferred mainly by the British nobility, who had no problems with finances.

By the 19th century, when hunting and dog racing ceased to be a privilege of the beau monde, the working class began to show interest in greyhounds. And since this social stratum did not like spending money on pets, its representatives preferred to bring out a new unpretentious breed, with a moderate appetite. This is how whippets or "poor people's greyhounds" were born, as local breeders preferred to call them.

There is an opinion that whippets descended from a crossbreed greyhound and bedlington terrier . Allegedly, it was as a result of the unplanned mating of these two breeds that small mestizos were born, which the miners of South Wales began to breed. Anyway , by the end of the XIX century , relatives greyhounds have already performed at the races, hunting rabbits and other small game with the owners in their free time from racing. In 1890, Whippets became persona grata among the British elite – the breed was finally registered by the AKC, and in 1903 it had a separate appearance standard. By the way, the hypothesis stating that blood flows in whippets italian greyhounds is most likely erroneous, since in the middle of the XIX century levretki in England they were rare visitors, and in the northern regions of the country they were never seen at all.

In Russia, the first owner of the whippet was Peter I. You can still look at the stuffed pet of the autocrat today if you buy a ticket to the Zoological Museum of St. Petersburg. Subsequently, the breed was actively supported by the Empresses Anna Ioannovna, Elizabeth and Catherine II. However, over time, the hunting qualifications of whippets were relegated to the background, as animals were more often attracted to companion duties. As for the mass breeding of small English greyhounds, in our country it happened in the late 80s of the XX century, when about a dozen purebred puppies were purchased abroad.

Video: Whippet

Whippet breed standard

Whippet is positioned as a link between greyhound and levretka , however, he acquired an elegant physique relatively recently. As an example: the first representatives of the breed looked rough and looked very much like terriers. Over time, the Whippets' appearance acquired more aristocratic features, which elevated them in the eyes of breeders. In particular, the figures of small English greyhounds have become emphatically ascetic (minimal amount of subcutaneous fat + short hair), and their legs have significantly lengthened and strengthened. Today's whippet is rather a smaller copy of the greyhound , in which the genes of terriers are practically not guessed.

The breed standard provides for a height at the withers of 47-51 cm for males and 44-47 cm for females. The weight of dogs should be only 10-12 kg.

Head

The whippet should have a long flat skull, wide between the ears and narrowed in the muzzle, with a slight stop.

Jaws and bite

The small English Greyhound boasts strong jaws with an almost perfect scissor bite.

Nose

The classic color of the whippet lobe is black. Exceptions: individuals of blue color (lobe with a blue tint), liver color (lobe of liver shade) and dilute (any tone except pink is acceptable).

Eyes

The dog's neat oval eyes are distinguished by a pleasant shine and an interested and attentive expression.

Ears

The ear cloth is soft, small, pink-shaped.

Neck

The whippet's neck is elongated, well muscled, with a graceful curve.

Housing

The dog's body is harmoniously developed, with a slightly convex (not humped) topline resembling an elegant arch. A purebred whippet should have a broad, muscular and rather long back, "reinforced" by a strong loin, as well as a deep and prominent chest.

Limbs

The front legs of the whippet are set almost vertically and not too wide. In general, the breed has the limbs of a typical hound: with oblique shoulder blades, elbows that fit well to the body and springy pasterns. The hind legs of the dog are very strong, with moderately lowered hocks, developed shins and wide, compacted hips. The paws of the greyhound are elegant and medium-sized, ending in arched, split fingers.

The breed moves with a free, light step with a low outflow of the forelimbs and a deep entry under the body of the rear ones, which provides an energetic springy push.

Tail

The whippet's tail is long, arched, narrowed at the tip.

Wool

Smooth short coat tightly covers the dog's body, but it does not mask small external defects like scars and scratches.

Color

Whippet can have any color, but most often representatives of this breed can be found in tiger, black and gray colors.

Disqualifying vices

There can be a lot of reasons for excluding a whippet from the list of applicants for an exhibition diploma. Nevertheless, most often animals are disqualified for classic canine deformities like cryptorchidism, as well as for behavioral deviations (fearfulness, aggression).

Whippet Photo

Whippet character

Each whippet has its own character traits, so you can reread a bunch of books about the breed, chat for hours with breeders and kennel owners, and eventually get an animal with traits that you didn't know existed. If we describe an abstract, average breed type, then whippets are usually characterized as affectionate (to the point of importunity) and loving pets. Some owners attribute psychic abilities to small English greyhounds, but this is more a myth than reality. Of course, whippets are sensitive and attentive dogs, but they are far from full-fledged mentalists.

Attachment to the owner and an ineradicable desire to participate in all his endeavors – that's what distinguishes the breed in the first place. If you constantly stumble over a pet while moving around the house, don't get annoyed. For a small English greyhound, following the owner with the tail is almost a vital necessity. But dogs do not show such love for children, so as soon as the younger generation begins to overdo it in pranks, the whippet stops playing and proudly retires. However, animals do not feel any particular hostility towards the little ones, and if you want to make friends with a child and a dog, explain to the first one how to properly treat an animal.

Whippets manage to establish contact with other representatives of the domestic fauna without much effort. Especially greyhounds are kind to their relatives, but if necessary, they will tolerate a cat in the apartment. At the same time, the dog clearly demarcates the home territory and the rest of the world, so if a pet notices a neighbor's cat or other small animal on a walk, get ready for a furious race and a bloody fight. Anything that does not live in the same apartment with a whippet is regarded by him as a hunting trophy.

Every whippet's nightmare is loneliness and lack of attention from the owner. Hence – destructive behavior, pogroms in the home and inadequate reactions. If you communicate a lot with a dog, listen to its needs and give it plenty of fun on the hunt or training ground, peaceful neighborhood and mutual understanding become quite achievable goals. Remember, the small English greyhound is a grateful breed that responds to a friendly attitude with almost exemplary behavior.

Education and training

Representatives of this breed are intelligent touchy natures, and it is better to treat them delicately. Nevertheless, in the group of greyhounds, the whippet is considered the most easily trained and controlled dog. With the experience of training behind him, it is easy to mold an animal into not only a tireless runner and an enthusiastic hunter, but even a responsible shepherd or a champion of offense. However, it will not do without its subtleties either. In particular, no matter how zealously the Whippet takes up his studies, he will not achieve diligence and diligence of the shepherd. Accordingly, we will have to accept the fact that any action will be performed by the dog not according to the first, and sometimes not according to the second requirement.

Despite the fragile psyche of the breed, you should not play along and give in to whippets if you do not want to get a spoiled and destructive pet. Be able to insist on your own in any situation, but without rudeness and unnecessary authoritarianism, because greyhounds are tight with unquestioning obedience. But the breed has no problems with memory, so the teams from the basic programs of the UGC and OKD whippets learn quickly, which can be turned in their favor. For example, dog handlers recommend not to let the dog off the leash on walks until it begins to respond correctly to the call and learns the main rule for the breed: if the owner insists, it is necessary to return.

Whippet hunting

The main prey of the breed on hunting is rabbits and hares, but with proper training with its representatives, you can go to foxes, raccoons and other small game. Usually the whippet's mission is to detect a running hare, chase it and catch it. They are not afraid of dogs and burrows, so they willingly dive into any trenches. In addition, small English greyhounds are extremely jumpy, which is especially appreciated by hunters of feathered game. For example, in a jump, an animal is able to take a small bird like a grouse on the fly. Whippets hunt exclusively by sight, that is, in order for the dog to lose interest in the hunted animal, it is enough for him to simply disappear from sight. This breed either does not take a trace at all, or does it extremely unprofessionally.

Whippet at the dog race

The whippet loves running no less than hunting, so if you are indifferent to trophies, try to find your place with your pet in coursing. It is better to train a pet on special sites or in natural conditions. The main thing is that the ground is smooth and without asphalt coating. Usually two people are involved in the process: the first holds the whippet at the start, the second moves a few hundred meters forward, holding a bait pole with a tied rag or rabbit skin. Well, then the "launch" of the greyhound is carried out, which must race after the target. It is clear that the pet will catch up with the "pole holder" quickly, so then the trainers carry out a cunning maneuver. Wielding a stick with a bait, like a fishing rod, a person describes a circle with it, forcing the whippet to chase in a circle.

Another way to hone your running speed is cycling trips accompanied by a small English greyhound. The method requires skill, since to control the speed of the animal, the owner will have to drive the vehicle with one hand, holding a leash in the second. In addition, before such grueling tests, it is necessary to give the whippet 5-10 minutes to warm up. Initially, the speed of the trip should be low so that the dog can run at an easy trot. The maximum acceleration is allowed only in the middle of the way and no more than a minute and a half, so as not to plant a whippet heart. Train this way 2-3 times a week and you can count on prizes at dog races.

Maintenance and care

The modern whippet is absolutely not a yard dog, and taking it for aviary maintenance means dooming the animal to disease and death. Do not forget, the small English greyhound has a minimum amount of fat and poorly warming wool, so the first draft and frost will send the pet to the dog's paradise. A whippet should live in a house, and in a well-heated house, where the dog will have its own cozy corner with a soft mattress and the opportunity to lie in an armchair.

In addition to the down mattress, the little English greyhound will need a basic wardrobe in which she will go outside on cold days and bad weather. Usually it is a waterproof raincoat for walking in the rain and a couple of knitted sweaters or pajamas. By the way, about bad weather: whippets categorically do not tolerate autumn dankness and drizzle, so getting a pet out for walks in bad weather is still a task. As for the fantastic physical exertion that the breed supposedly requires, all these are horror stories of not very knowledgeable owners. In fact, the whippet is not such an energizer as they like to expose it. Yes, he is an excellent runner and hunter, but that's all.

To walk a greyhound, you do not need to wander around the street for hours. Two visits of 40-60 minutes will be enough for the Whippets behind their eyes to warm up and satisfy their own curiosity. The only thing you have to get used to is that the dog will constantly drag you on a leash. But this behavior is in the blood of all greyhounds, so accept it. Escaping whippets released from the harness is also common, so until the pet has learned to respond to the call, it will have to be walked on a leash.

Hygiene

Whippets are clean dogs who love to take care of each other, so their fur almost doesn't smell. However, exceptions to the rule also occur. If the pet smells too clearly of a dog or something worse, most likely he is unwell, or another whippet licked him too hard. The breed sheds seasonally, but the coat of individuals living in warm rooms can also be updated unscheduled. It is easy to guess about a sudden "hair fall" by the insignificant number of hairs on furniture and carpets. During this period, it is worth helping the pet and collecting dead hairs from the body with a wet rubber glove. In the intervals between molts, the whippet does not need daily combing, but to stimulate blood circulation, it is better to walk over the pet's skin with a brush once every 1-2 weeks.

It is necessary to wash the small English greyhound less often. Even experienced groomers agree that if a whippet does not have the habit of wallowing in mud and carrion, 4-5 bathing a year is enough for him. This approach is due to the fact that any dog cosmetics washes away the protective fat layer from the body. And if frequent washing does not cause significant harm to breeds with a full-fledged coat, then for short-haired lean whippets, a similar procedure can cause dryness of the skin and even alopecia. And of course, do not forget to dry the dog with a towel or a hairdryer after bathing. The slightest draft on the wet wool of a whippet – and he will go down with a cold. In summer, the animal should be taken to the beach: greyhounds can jump into the water from the shore and race in the pond to exhaustion.

The breed's eyes and ears are trouble-free, but you still need to keep an eye on them. In the morning, slimy lumps gather in the corners of the whippet's eyelids, which need to be cleaned with a soft cloth soaked in chamomile infusion. The ears are cleaned once a week or two, depending on the degree of contamination. The most affordable and cheap means to remove sulfur from the ear canal: soft cotton rags and hydrogen peroxide. Once or twice a month, a whippet should organize a "pedicure session", for which you will have to stock up on special tweezers or a claw cutter.

Feeding

The basis of the dishes allowed to whippet is lean meat (chicken, beef, rabbit), offal (tripe, heart, lung), cereals and vegetables. The portion size is calculated based on the pet's body weight – usually no more than 10% of the total weight. However, if you notice that the dog does not eat enough, put additives in the bowl.

Rice, oatmeal and buckwheat are suitable for small English greyhounds from cereals, and it is better to add oatmeal to broth or water at the end of cooking. It is useful to diversify traditional porridges with vegetables (pumpkin, squash, carrots). And be careful with the cabbage, so as not to provoke bloating and fermentation in the stomach. If you initially put your pet on "drying", select super-premium food for him, containing a basic supply of vitamins and amino acids. In the case of natural nutrition, you will have to additionally buy veterinary top dressing. It is not forbidden to periodically resort to proven folk remedies like vegetable oil, herbs and chicken yolk.

Important: like any representatives of active breeds, whippets are fed in small portions to avoid stomach inversion.

Starting from one and a half to two months, puppies of the little English greyhound are fed six times a day. By two or three months, babies become stronger, so they are content with five meals a day. After another one or two months, the number of meals can be reduced to four, and at six months, whippet puppies completely switch to a three-day diet. It is recommended to feed the greyhound twice a day after it turns one year old, but individual characteristics must be taken into account here. There are individuals for whom the transition to an adult nutrition schedule is difficult. In such cases, the three-time feeding regime is better to last up to 14 months.

Whippet Health and Diseases

It's hard to suspect big men in sophisticated lean whippets, but that's exactly what dogs are. There are not so many diseases that could spoil the breed's life. In particular, small English greyhounds suffer most from congenital deafness, various ophthalmological pathologies (cataract, inversion / inversion of the eyelid) and von Willebrand's disease.

How to choose a puppy

• At an early age, whippet puppies resemble a cross between a bull terrier and a Staffordshire terrier, so do not be surprised when the owner of the kennel shows his charges. Over time, the clumsy, well-fed lumps will grow into graceful creatures.
• Choose a puppy with the longest (within the proportions) head and a barely marked foot. A sharp transition from the head to the muzzle indicates that growing up, the pet will look more like a terrier than a greyhound .
• Evaluate the uniformity of the litter. Too much difference in the size of puppies is a sign that the breeder's producers are so-so.
• Correlate your own desires with the specialization of the nursery. Do not look for hunting whippets from sellers engaged in breeding exhibition and pets, and do not expect outstanding exterior from representatives of sports lines.
• The ear cloth of a newborn whippet does not immediately take a pinkish shape: this happens only at 3-4 months of life. Accordingly, taking a puppy of a previously designated age is a certain risk.

Photos of whippet puppies

Whippet Price

A whippet can cost both $150 and $600. In the first case, it will be a classic pet and, perhaps, a good hunter, in the second – an elite "product" of the dressing with an international pedigree and show prospects. By the way, you should not be afraid of such a price contrast, since the cost of most puppies in Russian kennels fits into the framework $250 - $300.