Whippet - breed description and dog character

If you decide to have a pet, you need to try to predict in advance all the problems that may arise in the process of keeping it. If your choice has fallen on the dog, it is important to consult with a dog handler or veterinarian. After all, the breed of the dog is not chosen solely by external signs and the banal "like / dislike." When choosing a dog of a certain breed, you need to analyze your temperament, future living conditions of the animal, the presence of other household members, etc. If you are an active person, but as a dog breeder, you are still inexperienced, if you have children and you live in an apartment, a whippet can be a great solution. This is an amazingly fun and agile dog that has high speed and hunting data. What is the peculiarity of keeping and raising dogs of this breed, let's try to figure it out.

History of breed origin

If you are familiar with dog breeds, you will notice that the whippet is very similar to another greyhound breed - greyhounds. Indeed, these large hunting dogs were the progenitors of the humble Whippets. However, not everyone could afford to keep such an animal, especially in England, where the breed was very common. For people with average incomes and less spacious housing, the breeders decided to bring out small greyhounds. They began to choose the smallest representatives of this breed and cross them with Italian greyhounds and Bedlington terriers. The result is whippets - small, graceful, fast dogs with long legs.

Initially, the dog was often used in hunting, the whippets were so fast that they could easily catch even a hare. In the 19th century, dog races became popular in London, in which whippets gained extraordinary popularity, the dog could accelerate to 60 km / h. In this case, the animal could dramatically change the trajectory of its movement, without falling and without losing speed. Dogs of this breed began to be bred everywhere - on the one hand, the dog was economical, the owner's spending on food was moderate, the dog was rarely sick. At the same time, whippets could bring real money into the house, since they had to use bets on the run. At the end of the 19th century, whippets were officially recognized by many cynological organizations. Modern whippets have become even more graceful and refined.

What does a Whippet dog look like?

As for color, the Whippets have no standard in this regard. The dog can be of any color. The only thing is that albinos are not used in further mating. Very often, whippets are compared with other similar dogs - greyhounds or Italian greyhounds. Whippet is not difficult to distinguish. Unlike the greyhound, the dog is quite small, it can be immediately seen if you put two representatives side by side.In addition, the greyhound is always measuredly calm and inactive, and the whippet remains a playful child who constantly runs and jumps. Italian greyhounds are less than whippets, they often tremble, in a word, these are not hounds. Italian greyhound should have a uniform color, but whippet allowed any color of coat. An experienced breeder will immediately determine the breed of dog that is in front of you.

Whippet dog character

This is a very active, companionable and funny dog ​​that gets along well with children. However, getting such a dog is worthwhile only if the children are old enough and understand that the dog should not be harmed. Whippets are friendly to the person, but only in relation to their master. This breed of dog, which does not bark without special need, is only in really extreme cases. Whippets live beautifully in apartments, you can’t leave a pet on the street, because he is very bored without a master. Dogs of this breed constantly want to be in the company of man, love to play on the street. If the house has a fairly adult child of school age, Whippet is a wonderful pet who will not get tired of playing for hours.

But whippets treat strangers with extreme caution - if strangers are often present in the house, this is not at all the breed of dog that you need. The dog gets along well with dogs, because by nature he was bred to participate in races, and there is no time to sort things out. In order for a whippet to rush at a relative, something out of the ordinary must happen. But whippet is less loyal to cats and other small pets - hunting instincts can take their toll, and the dog will begin to look for a victim.

High speed and unprecedented excitement - these are the reasons why a dog can not be released on the street without a collar. If the whippet sees a squirrel or a cat, it will be impossible to keep up with the dog. Moreover, the pet will be so passionate that you can’t turn it on yourself, the dog just won’t respond. That is why the dog must be walked with a collar and released only in safe areas. Despite the fact that whippet is very active in nature, at home it is a real sloth who likes to sleep. For this character trait, a dog is often loved by older people - the dog spends energy on the street, but does not bother in the house.

In training, the dog is very smart, remembers and fulfills commands well, tries to please its owner. But dogs of this breed have a rather thin and sensitive nervous system. You cannot shout at a whippet, and even less, use force against it. The dog may get confused and refuse to execute the command; in some cases, the dog no longer wants to do what was previously well learned and fixed. There are no other reasons for the dog to refuse to fulfill the command. Whippet is believed to be the most easily trained dog from the entire breed group. You can achieve good results with affection, care and tasty encouragement.

It is believed that whippets cannot become good watchmen or security guards, since there is little aggression in them. Indeed, there is some truth to this. If you need to raise certain watchdog qualities in your dog, you need to practice your puppy from an early age.

How to care for a whippet dog?

To make his pet's life as comfortable as possible, he needs to ensure proper care.

1. Clothing. A feature of this breed is the absence of undercoat and subcutaneous fat. Because of this, the dog becomes incredibly sensitive to cold, frost and wind, especially in our lane. To solve the problem, you must have several suits for walking - a warm jumpsuit and something like blankets, which will protect the pet from rain and wind. The dog is sensitive to cold - this is another reason why whippets should definitely live in an apartment or in a house.Due to the fact that the dog’s ribs are practically visible, the pet will be uncomfortable sleeping on a bare and hard floor. Be sure to arrange for the dog a soft and warm bed without drafts. Some overly caring owners additionally purchase shoes for the dog - this cannot be done. Whippets must run a lot, and shoes cover them with claws, which are necessary to maintain balance at high speeds.
2. Wool, teeth and claws. Whippets have a short, smooth coat, which does not bring any inconvenience. 1-2 times a week, it is enough to comb the pet. Shedding occurs twice a year, at which time the dog needs to be combed daily to prevent the appearance of wool scattered around the house. Bathing occurs as needed, once every few months. Dental care is exactly the same as that of other dogs - periodically you need to examine the oral cavity for tartar and take the dog to the veterinarian for cleaning. Ears are wiped every two weeks with a clean, damp cotton swab. If the dog's claws are rubbed on the asphalt, they do not require additional processing.
3. Food. It is easiest to feed the dog dry food that has a balanced and well-chosen composition. Need to buy the highest quality feed marked "For active dogs." If you decide to feed the dog with natural food, you need to carefully approach the selection of the diet. Whippet's menu should have a minimum amount of fat, moderate carbohydrate content. The basis of the diet is proteins. Be sure to give the dog raw meat, it is possible with veins and cartilage, such a product is better absorbed. The menu should include eggs, boiled pitted fish, boiled vegetables, dairy products, cereals. Be sure to add sunflower oil to your food, a large amount of vitamin E makes the coat smooth and shiny. You can not overfeed the dog, overweight adversely affects its health. Whippet puppies are fed 6-8 times a day, gradually reducing the number of feedings. It is enough to feed an adult dog twice - in the morning and in the evening.
4. Diseases Whippets are considered a healthy breed of dogs, they do not develop dysplasia and are allergic to some products, like other greyhounds. However, for a dog of this breed, pathologies such as congenital hearing impairment, frequent eye diseases and diseases that cause causeless bleeding (most often on the mucosa of the mouth and internal organs) may be characteristic. To avoid possible problems, you should regularly show the dog to the veterinarian.

To satisfy the animal’s need for activity, you need to walk with whippets twice a day for an hour. In order for the dog to move more, it is better to ride a bicycle with it, this is a much more intense training, which will benefit the dog.

Choosing a healthy and strong whippet puppy is best with a specialist. The future pet should have a wet nose, moderately elastic stomach, clean skin, ears and eyes. By the time the puppy is taken from the kennel, all vaccinations should be done, anthelmintic therapy should be carried out. Good and competent care will make a whippet puppy a true friend and faithful companion.

Video: Whippet dog breed