The Whippet is often described as a Greyhound in miniature, and the comparison is apt. This sleek, elegant sighthound was bred in England as a swift rabbit courser and racing dog for working families, and it shares its larger cousin’s astonishing turn of speed alongside a gentle, affectionate, remarkably calm home life. Whippets are quiet, sensitive and devoted, forming close bonds with their people and happily curling up for hours between bursts of activity. Their lean build and thin coat, though, mean they need a little extra care.
This guide covers what living with a Whippet involves, from feeding a sensitive dog to keeping a thin coated sprinter warm.
A Calm, Affectionate Companion
Whippets are famously gentle and undemanding indoors, content with a couple of good walks and a chance to run, then long stretches of rest on something soft. They are quiet, rarely bark much, and adapt well to apartment living, making them one of the more manageable active breeds. Deeply people focused, they love to be close and often burrow under blankets. Rotating an indestructible toy, a snuffle mat and a fetch toy keeps that quick mind and body engaged between naps.
Feeding a Lean, Sensitive Dog
Whippets are naturally lean, and their slim, athletic frame should stay that way, with the last ribs faintly visible on a healthy dog. They can have sensitive stomachs and benefit from a quality, digestible diet. Our picks for the best high protein food suit their muscular build, a limited ingredient food helps sensitive dogs, and a fresh food option or a tempting food topper can encourage a picky Whippet to eat. Some also benefit from an allergy supplement if they have skin sensitivities.
Keeping Warm and Walking Safely
Like all sighthounds, Whippets have very little body fat and a fine, single coat, so they feel the cold and appreciate a warm coat in cool or wet weather, along with a padded bed to cushion their bony frame. As sighthounds with a real prey drive, they can bolt after small fast animals, so secure lead walking and a well fitted harness or a martingale collar that will not slip over their narrow head are important. Off lead running should be reserved for safe, enclosed spaces.
Exercise, Health and Training
Whippets love a daily sprint but do not need endless exercise, and short, high value training sessions using training treats suit their sensitive, willing nature. They are generally a healthy, hardy breed with fewer inherited problems than many, though their thin skin nicks easily and they can be sensitive to certain anaesthetics, which any vet should know. For gentle outings with older dogs, a dog stroller can be useful.
Is a Whippet Right for You?
A Whippet suits people who want a quiet, gentle, affectionate companion that is calm indoors but loves a daily run, and who will keep a lean, thin coated dog warm and walk it securely. It is a poorer fit for those wanting an off lead trail dog in open country, given the prey drive. Meet its modest needs, and the Whippet is one of the most serene and loving dogs you can own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Whippets good apartment dogs?
Yes. They are quiet, calm indoors and need only modest exercise plus a daily run, which suits apartment living well.
Do Whippets feel the cold?
Yes. Their low body fat and thin coat mean they feel the cold and benefit from a warm coat and a padded bed.
Can Whippets be trusted off the lead?
Their prey drive and speed make open off lead walking risky. Secure, enclosed areas are the safe place for them to run freely.