Whippet

Whippet
A brindle whippet
Other names	Snap dog (archaic)[1]
Origin	United Kingdom
Traits Height Males 47–51 cm (18.5–20 in)[3] Females 44–47 cm (17.5–18.5 in) Weight typical 11–18 kg (24–40 lb)[2] Coat fine, dense, short Colour FCI: immaterial (not important) UK: any except merle[4] Litter size 1–10, average 6.1[5]
Kennel club standards The Kennel Club standard Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The whippet is a British breed of medium-sized dog, of the sighthound type, related to the larger greyhound and the smaller Italian greyhound. Apart from the differences in height, the whippet closely resembles these two breeds; it has sometimes been described as "miniature greyhound", and casually referred to as "the poor man's racehorse".^[7] It is kept as a companion dog, for competitive showing, as well as for amateur racing. Whippet also participate in dog sports such as lure coursing, agility, and flyball.^[8] It has the highest running-speed of any breed in its weight and size range, and may have the fastest idle-to-running acceleration of any dog.^[9] Whippet is known for its gentle, affectionate, and calm temperament, being relaxed and serene at home while showing high energy and excitement outdoors.^[10]

The breed's name, ‘whippet’, is derived from an early seventeenth-century word (now obsolete) meaning "to move briskly".^[11]

There has been some continuity in describing greyhound-types of different sizes — large, medium and small, recorded in hunting manuals and works on natural history from the Middle Ages. Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York, confirmed in his early 15th-century translation of (and additions-to) an original, late 14th-century French Livre de chasse the advantages of maintaining the ‘great’, the ‘middle’, and the ‘small size of greyhound’ for different sorts of game.^[12] The English physician and academic John Caius refers in his 16th century De Canibus Britannicus to lesser as well as greater sorts of Leporarius, Grehounde (greyhound)^[13] and notably to a type which has been connected to the whippet, the tumbler, a lesser sort of mungrell greyhounde and excellent warren dog for catching rabbits,^[14] also recorded by the early 19th-century Scottish curator and editor Thomas Brown.^[15] The Victorian English writers describe an emerging modern breed of whippet, or snap-dog, bred for catching rabbits, coursing competitions, straight rag-racing, and for the novel show fancy.^[16][17][18]

Whippets, as with all sighthounds, were bred to hunt by a sight-driven prey instinct, coursing game in open areas at very high speeds. There are numerous representations of smallish, sighthound-like hunting dogs in Ancient Egyptian artworks dating back thousands of years, possibly portraying ancient forms of greyhound, basenji, Pharaoh hound or saluki.^[19] In medieval England, a small greyhound-type breed became popular for use as a ratting dog (terrier); the first written English use of the word whippet (with regards to a type of dog) was in 1610.^[20] Whippets were commonly known as "snap dogs" for their tendency to readily "snap up" nearby prey, due to their naturally high prey-drive. In a painting by Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686–1755) of two dogs named ‘Misse’ and ‘Turlu’, presented to Louis XV of France, the dogs painted were either whippets or another small, smooth-coated sighthound, but likely were an early form of the whippet.^[21] Oudry had also completed a second painting of Misse with a different, non-sighthound breed of dog. There is a 1758 painting by Pompeo Batoni, Portrait of Charles Compton, 7th Earl of Northampton, which features a similar, whippet-like dog.^[21]

In the 19th century, whippet racing was a popular sport in parts of England.^[7][21] The breed was held in high regard in the northern parts of England, as well as in Wales, but was generally disregarded in the rest of the country.^[21] At the time, there were two varieties of whippet; one type had a smoother coat and was more popular in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and the Midlands, later becoming the modern whippet.^[21] The second form had a rougher coat as a result of crossbreeding with Bedlington terriers. This type was more popular in Durham and Northumberland, and was frequently referred-to as a "rabbit dog".^[21] Early specimens were taken from the race track by dog fanciers of the time, and later exported around the world. John Taylor said that "In all the shapes and forms of dogges; of all which there are but two sorts that are useful to man's profits, which two are the mastiffe and the little curre, whippet, or house-dogge; all the rest are for pleasure and recreation."^[22]

The age of the modern whippet seemingly dawned in 1891 when The Kennel Club granted the breed its official recognition, thus making whippets eligible for competition and judging in dog shows, as well as commencing the recording of their pedigrees.^[23] In the United States, the whippet was recognised three years prior, in 1888, by the American Kennel Club (AKC).^[23] Whippets arrived in the United States (via mill operators) from England, with the first populations being established in Massachusetts.^[24] The whippet is the 55th most popular breed, according to ranking by the AKC.^[25]

In 1964, Ch. Courtenay Fleetfoot of Pennyworth won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.^[26] In 1992, Pencloe Dutch Gold won best in show at Crufts;^[27] a whippet known as Cobyco Call the Tune won in 2004^[28] and, in 2018, the award was achieved by Ch. Collooney Tartan Tease.^[29] In 2011, GCh. Starline's Chanel, a female whippet, was chosen as the Hound group Show Dog of the Year by the Westminster Kennel Club.^[30]

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The two suspensions of the double suspension gallop, as demonstrated by racing Greyhounds

Dog racing was originally an extension of hare coursing.^[31] Whippets began to be bred to race in the mid-nineteenth century.^[7][21] The first form of the sport was a rudimentary form of coursing known as 'ragging', and dogs who participated were said to be 'trained to the rag'.^[21] Dogs were kept on a leash by a person known as a slip, who was frequently also the race judge.^[21] The slip would release the dogs from their collars at the same time, and they would race towards their owners, who were standing at the opposite end of the track waving towels.^[21][31]

Whippet rags were a popular Sunday event in the north and Midlands at the time.^[21] There were also international events; in Australia, at a track known as Gurney's Paddock, there were races of more than 300 whippets every Saturday, and three nights a week at the White City track.^[31] Eventually, the sport evolved and dogs were divided into four groups: those who hunted rabbits, which was not governed by rules; those who coursed hare, for which a set of rules was established; those trained to the rag; and those trained to chase a mechanical lure in a fashion similar to Greyhound races.^[21] Few of the Whippets in any of the four groups were purebred, as maintaining a purebred bloodline was not considered as important as breeding dogs that could win races.^[21] Many racing dogs were part-terrier, part-Greyhound, or part-Lurcher.^[21]

In 1967, the British Whippet Racing Association was established to bring around reform and consistency in race rules and procedures for races involving non-purebred Whippets.^[21] A year later, viewing the non-purebred dogs as a threat, the Whippet Club Racing Association was established exclusively for purebred animals.^[21]

The Whippet is a medium-sized dog: the ideal height for bitches is 44 to 47 cm (17.5 to 18.5 in), and for dogs 47 to 51 cm (18.5 to 20 in).^[32][33] The standards of the American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club allow for larger animals, with an upper limit of 55 cm (21.5 in) for bitches and 57 cm (22.5 in) for dogs.^[24][34] Because colour is considered immaterial in judging Whippets, they come in a wide variety of colours and marking patterns, everything from solid black to solid white, with red, fawn, brindle, blue, or cream.^[32] In 2019, The Kennel Club announced it would no longer accept registrations for merle Whippets as it is not a naturally occurring colour in the breed.^[35][36] The coat is short, smooth and close.

They are the fastest dog of their weight, capable of achieving speeds of up to 56 km/h (35 mph),^[24] due to their ability to run in a double suspension gallop.^[37] This gait results in four of the dog's legs being off the ground twice in each stride, once when the legs are completely extended and again when they are tucked under the body.^[37]

Whippets are quiet and reserved but also exhibit a playful side, and require regular exercise.^[24] They are generally gentle dogs and are often content to spend much of the day resting.^[24] The AKC describes them as "quiet and dignified in their owner's living room"^[24] and says they make "excellent house dogs."^[24] Whippets have been called a "poor man's racehorse" by the colliers in Lancashire and Yorkshire.^[7][38]

The whippet will form a strong bond and devotion to their owner and as such can often suffer from separation anxiety like many other breeds when left alone.^[39] They do not bark often but do occasionally in the presence of intruders, making the whippet a passable watch dog similar to other small-medium dogs. However a whippet would likely never attack or guard against anyone due to their gentle and often shy demeanour.^[40]

Whippets course, work, and race; they have been bred for these jobs for years. This has kept them a structurally sound breed which is predominantly free from the physical exaggerations that can lead to certain health problems.^[41] Whippets are, like other sighthounds, intolerant of barbiturate anaesthetics. This is in part due to their low concentration of body fat and their liver's inability to metabolise the anaesthetics.^[42]

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.4 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.^[43] They are generally healthy, and are not prone to the frequent ear infections, skin allergies, or digestive problems that can afflict other breeds. Genetic eye defects, though quite rare, have been noted in the breed. Because of this, the American Whippet Club recommends that breeders test for this defect in their breeding stock.^[44] Hip dysplasia is rare in Whippets, with only 1.2% of 161 evaluations performed by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals being determined as dysplasic.^[45]

The heart of a Whippet is large and slow beating, often being arrhythmic or even intermittent when the animal is at rest. This sometimes causes concern to the owner, or to the vet not experienced with the breed. Whippets will, however, demonstrate a regular heartbeat during exercise. In a health survey conducted by The Kennel Club, cardiac problems were shown to be the second leading cause of mortality in Whippets.^[46]

A 2007 study^[47] identified a myostatin mutation particular to Whippets that is significantly associated with their athletic performance. Whippets with a single copy of this mutation are generally unaffected; those with two copies have disproportionately large musculature and are known as "bully whippets". These bully whippets experience no significant health problems beyond those experienced by a normal whippet, but may be more prone to muscle cramping.^[48] The mutation has not been seen in Greyhounds or other sighthound breeds, or in heavily muscled dogs such as Bullmastiffs, Bulldogs, Rottweilers or American Staffordshire Terriers.^[48]

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