Whippet

Personality

Whippets are gentle, affectionate dogs with a split personality. Indoors they are quiet and calm, content to stretch out on the couch for hours. Outdoors, give them room and something to chase and they explode into speed. The AKC describes them as calm in the house, saving their energy for those bursts of running.

VCA describes a devoted, sociable dog that likes to sit close to its family and is sometimes called clingy. Whippets are sensitive, so loud voices and harsh handling can upset them. Most get along with kids, strangers and other dogs.

The big catch is the chase instinct. VCA says Whippets may run off after moving things, especially small animals, which is why a secure fence and a leash matter. They are alert enough to notice visitors, but the AKC notes the breed rarely barks, and VCA says they are not effective protection dogs.

History

The Whippet story starts in Victorian England, where north-country coal miners loved racing dogs and chasing rabbits on their days off. Greyhounds were too costly to feed and house, so the miners bred a smaller version. Exactly which breeds went into the mix is uncertain, but VCA says Greyhounds crossed with ratting terriers are the likely core. The result earned the nicknames "Poor Man's Racehorse" and "Lightning Rag Dog," since dogs raced along a straight course after a rag.

The AKC says the name may come from "whappet," an old word for a small dog that yaps, and VCA adds that early Whippets were called snap dogs after rabbit-snapping contests.

English mill workers brought Whippets to New England, where racing for money or fun caught on quickly. The AKC's first registered Whippet dates to 1888. Racing still thrives today, and in lure coursing VCA calls the Whippet the most successful breed. Whippets are a younger, smaller cousin of the Greyhound.

Appearance, coat & colors

A Whippet looks like a Greyhound scaled down. The AKC lists 19 to 22 in (48 to 56 cm) for males and 18 to 21 in (46 to 53 cm) for females, with a weight of 25 to 40 lb (11 to 18 kg). The sighthound profile shows in the "inverted S" curve of deep chest, trim waist and tucked belly, a lean head on a long, arched neck and slender but sturdy legs.

The coat is short and sleek, lying flat against the body, and nearly any color is accepted. The AKC lists black, blue, fawn, red, cream, brindle and white, with many white combinations. With almost no fat or undercoat, the whole shape of the dog shows through.

A twist worth knowing: a 2007 study in PLOS Genetics found a myostatin gene mutation in Whippets. Dogs with one copy are more muscular and were faster in racing, while dogs with two copies, called "bully" Whippets, are markedly overmuscled. They are still Whippets, but the lean look remains the norm for the breed.

Training

Whippets learn quickly but bore easily, says VCA, so keep sessions short, upbeat and reward-based with food or play. They are very sensitive, and harsh corrections can shut a Whippet down. Gentle, consistent training works far better.

The AKC calls young Whippets clever, nimble and mischievous. Because they jump and climb well, confine them safely when you cannot supervise. Start a puppy class early and socialize widely; positive early experiences help a sensitive dog grow into a confident one.

Recall is the headline skill and the hardest. Sighthounds are triggered by movement, and a running rabbit, squirrel or small dog can wipe out everything your dog has learned. Practice recall in fenced areas, use a long line elsewhere and do not trust off-leash reliability outside a fence. Lure coursing, agility and racing give the chase instinct a safe outlet.

Exercise

Whippets are sprinters, not marathoners. The AKC says a few energetic fetch sessions a week with a ball or disc, regular walks, or play with another dog in a securely fenced space can do the job. VCA recommends something every day: a moderate walk, a jog or a sprint in a closed-off area. Our guide to how much exercise a dog needs can help you plan.

Always keep your Whippet on a lead when it is not in a fenced area, the AKC advises. Lure coursing and agility are popular organized ways to burn off that speed.

With enough exercise, a Whippet is calm and quiet indoors. Add mental stimulation with scent games and short training sessions. In cold or wet weather, dress the dog for it: VCA says the short coat offers almost no warmth, so a jacket may be needed.

Grooming

Whippets are easy keepers. The AKC says the short, smooth coat needs little more than weekly brushing and an occasional bath, and VCA lists shedding as below average. A soft brush or rubber mitt removes dead hair and most dogs enjoy it.

Check the ears regularly for signs of infection, and trim the nails often if they do not wear down naturally, since overly long nails can cause discomfort. Brush the teeth several times a week; our guide to brushing your dog's teeth shows the steps.

The thin coat and low body fat mean a Whippet feels the cold quickly, so a warm jacket and a soft bed matter more than frequent baths. Dry your dog after walks in the rain, and keep an eye out for chills.

Feeding

Whippets look thin by design, and many owners overfeed them. VCA says the breed's build is naturally lean but owners often feed too much, and the ribs should be easy to feel but not on display. The AKC offers a helpful picture: on a mature adult at a healthy weight you can see two to four vertebrae, and the hipbones are not buried in fat.

Growing Whippets often look gangly, with ribs showing during the rapid growth phase, which is normal for young dogs. Lifelong portion control, the AKC says, can extend life and avoid painful orthopedic problems.

Choose a complete and balanced diet suited to your dog's life stage, measure meals and count treats. Our dog food calculator gives a starting point, and your vet can check body condition at each visit.

Health

Whippets are generally healthy and robust. The AKC says responsible breeders check for heart disease, deafness and eye disorders, and its list of the parent club's recommended tests is a cardiac exam, an eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist and a BAER hearing test. Ask your vet to listen to the heart at each yearly checkup.

Weight is the biggest lever you control. The AKC says the Whippet frame is not suited to carrying extra pounds, and excess weight can lead to orthopedic problems that are painful and costly to repair.

One more breed-specific note: Washington State University reports the MDR1 drug-sensitivity mutation in long-haired Whippets, and dogs with it can react severely to certain common medications. If you have a long-haired Whippet, ask your vet about MDR1 testing before any new drug.

Health conditions to know about

• Heart disease — The AKC lists cardiac disease as a screened condition; a cardiac exam is recommended for breeding dogs.
• Deafness — Screened with a BAER hearing test.
• Eye disorders — Breeding dogs should be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist.
• Obesity and orthopedic strain — The lean frame is poorly suited to extra weight; lifelong portion control matters.
• MDR1 drug sensitivity (long-haired Whippets) — A gene mutation that can cause severe reactions to certain drugs; a DNA test is available.

Health tests to ask a breeder about

• Cardiac exam
• Eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist
• BAER hearing test
• MDR1 DNA test (long-haired Whippets)

Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 30, 2026. Editorial policy

Living with a Whippet

Whippets are among the easiest athletic dogs to live with. The AKC says they like a fenced yard but do nicely in cozy apartments when they get enough daily exercise, and they rarely bark, which suits city life. VCA calls them very quiet housedogs when their exercise needs are met.

Warmth matters. The short hair offers almost no warmth, so plan on a coat in cool weather and a soft bed indoors. In hot weather, exercise early or late and provide shade and water.

Whippets are devoted and can be clingy, so plan for company instead of long days alone. They also have a strong chase drive and, per the AKC, can jump and climb. Fence yards securely and keep small animals out of reach.

Puppies, breeders & rescue

Ask breeders for a cardiac exam, an eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist and BAER hearing results on the parents. Those are the parent club's recommended tests, according to the AKC. For long-haired Whippets, ask about MDR1 testing as well. Ask to see the paperwork rather than relying on promises. Because young Whippets look gangly while they grow, the parents are the best guide to how a puppy will look as an adult.

Meet the mother, see where the puppies are raised and look for a written contract and lifetime support. Prices vary widely by region and bloodline, and a high price does not prove quality.

Adult Whippets also turn up in breed rescue, and the AKC lists a Whippet rescue network. An adult can be a calm, easy fit.