The Whippet breed is a member of the sighthound family, a type of hunting dog that relies on sight to track game instead of using its nose to track down scent.
The Whippet's Behavior
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Source: Wikipedia.
Recommended for: pet, working dog
The Whippet dog breed is generally gentle and is content to spend most of the day sleeping. They are not suited to be guard dogs because of their quiet disposition. They would not snap at children but neither will they raise alarm if a stranger arrives. The males of the breed are no more aggressive than the females. Their athletic traits can only be seen once they are outside and have enough space to run. Given enough motivation, they will give their all-out effort to keep on running at their top speed. They do not adapt well as kennel dogs and are best kept as housepets. They should be handled well when brought out for they have poor traffic sense.
Remember that breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog's actual behavior. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.
The Whippet's Physical Characteristics
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Here are some of the characteristics of the Whippet breed as determined by the American Kennel Club's published breed standard.
- Size: males 19 - 22 inches, females 18 - 21 inches
- Coat: short, close, smooth, firm texture
- Color: any color
- Eyes: large, dark
- Ears: small, fine texture, not erect
- Muzzle: long, powerful, without coarseness
- Nose: black
- Tail: long, tapering,
The Whippet's Origins and History
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Source: Wikipedia.
Country/Region of Origin: northern England
Original purpose: hunting, racing
Name: The word 'whippet' was once used to describe any quick-moving little dog but the term became attached to the breed when it was recognized as a separate one in the late 19th century.
Historical notes: This breed was meant to hunt by sight and run at high speed. It was bred by the working-class people by crossing small Greyhounds with other hounds such as the Italian Greyhound and even a now-extinct long-legged terrier. Though meant to bring in food, they also provided sport for their owners on nonworking days by racing each other.