Whippet
惠比特犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Whippet is the 'poor man's racehorse' — a Greyhound in miniature bred by Victorian coal miners in the north of England for rag racing and rabbit hunting. It is a sprinter that is calm, quiet and gentle in the house, sleeping for hours on the sofa between explosive bursts of running, rarely barks, and is friendly with visitors, children and other dogs. It needs a securely fenced area or a lead at all times because of its prey drive, a warm bed and a coat in winter, and lifelong portion control — a healthy Whippet looks skinny to people used to heavier breeds.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 46–56cm |
| Weight | 11–18kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15years |
| Breed group | AKC: hound FCI: 10 |
| Role | Hound |
| Coat | Short coat |
| Shedding | 2/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–120min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 3/ 5 |
| Barking | 1/ 5 |
| Good with children | 5/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 5/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 4/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 1/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Heart conditions
Certain heart conditions are reported in the breed; breeders may have breeding stock examined by a veterinary cardiologist. Ask your vet about heart checks at routine visits.
Congenital deafness
Congenital deafness is reported in the breed; puppies can be BAER hearing-tested. Ask your breeder about hearing tests.
Skin lacerations and toe injuries
The parent club says the most common injuries in the breed are skin lacerations and athletic injuries, particularly to the toes: without a protective coat the skin tears easily when a Whippet runs through undergrowth, and it generally gets the worst of any dog fight. Ask your vet promptly if your Whippet comes up lame or with a swollen toe.
Weight gain
The AKC says the Whippet frame is not suited to carrying excess weight: a mature adult should have two to four visible vertebrae and hip bones that are not sunk into fat, and lifelong portion control extends life and avoids orthopaedic problems. Ask your vet about body-condition scoring if you are unsure what a healthy sighthound looks like.
Behaviour
Couch sprinter
The AKC calls the Whippet an amiable, dignified and gentle soul that is calm in the house, preserving its energy for explosive bursts of running, rarely barks and does nicely in a cosy apartment as long as it is exercised properly; young Whippets are smart, agile and mischievous and can jump and climb. The CKC describes it as gentle, friendly, calm and amiable, dignified and quiet in the home yet capable of great intensity in sporting mode, and says it prefers to be treated as a member of the family.
Prey drive — lead or fence, always
The AKC says Whippets are sprinters by nature: several vigorous retrieving sessions a week with a ball or disc, regular walks or play with another dog in a safely fenced area are enough, but always keep a Whippet on lead outside a fenced area; lure coursing and agility are healthy outlets. The CKC asks for regular outdoor exercise and the occasional good run, and the Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at up to 1 hour a day.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 3/5, barking level 1/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Whippet
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Whippet (Hounds)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Whippet
Breed characteristics (size small, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 12 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Whippet (standard no. 162, group 10)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's temperament page says Whippets are natural housedogs that lived by the miner's stove and become very attached to their person: quiet and gentle at home, not prone to snapping — a Whippet bothered by loud children looks for somewhere to hide rather than growling — and unsuited to guard work because they treat every stranger as a new friend. It warns of 'Excessive Greeting Disorder' that can knock over toddlers and elderly visitors, says every prospective owner must have a plan for keeping the dog off the road — a lead at all times or a fence at least five feet high — that a Whippet raised with the family cat may still chase a strange one, that you will not keep it off the furniture, and that as sprinters they need regular moderate exercise plus four or five strenuous sessions a week rather than hours of running. The club's health page adds that hip and elbow dysplasia are essentially unknown in the breed, that most Whippets live 12 to 15 years, and that older dogs need extra warmth.”
— American Whippet Club — Whippet Temperament via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Whippet — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Whippet — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Whippet — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Whippet — FCI standard no. 162 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Whippet Temperament — American Whippet Club — American Whippet Club (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Whippet Health — American Whippet Club — American Whippet Club (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.