Whippets are gentle, extremely athletic, medium-sized dogs that require moderate care overall. This page is a definitive Whippet care guide, with plenty of info on Whippet puppy care, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. So if you know of a Whippet that needs a home, become its owner--and to learn all you need to know about Whippet care, read on!
Due their history as hunters of rabbits and other small game, Whippets are extremely swift and agile. Even so, while these dogs need daily exercise like all breeds, their activity requirements aren't extreme. In a nutshell, Whippets do well with at least an hour of exercise per day, which should include activities like fetch that allow them to run, along with two or three 20- to 30-minute walks. A Whippet puppy can start exercising at 3-4 months per age by going on short (15-minute) walks, then you can increase the activity amount as the dog grows.
There are, however, a few precautions that should be taken. For one thing, Whippets have an incredibly high prey drive, and will chase practically anything that moves--so these dogs absolutely must be leashed when in public; yards will also need to be very well-secured, because a Whippet will without question chase every critter it sees. (And no, you won't catch it.) Whippets are also sprinters, not long-distance runners, so these dogs can tire and overheat more easily than you'd think. So during exercise sessions, make sure your Whippet has access to plenty of fresh water.
But your Whippet will definitely benefit from that hour of daily activity--and so will you. Under-exercised Whippets are known for going on hyperactive "tears" even when indoors: running like bullets through the house, knocking over everything in their paths. So a properly exercised Whippet will be calm and peaceful, and will sleep just fine each night. Here are a few exercise ideas:
It should be noted that on rare occasions, an extremely muscular Whippet puppy will be born into a litter. These "double muscle Whippets," commonly called Bully Whippets, are due to a rare genetic mutation that causes the dog to have double the muscle mass of normal dogs. While they resemble human bodybuilders, Bully Whippets are perfectly healthy--but their exercise needs may differ somewhat from typical Whippets and be more like that of a Pit Bull.
Hulking muscles or not, dogs of this breed prefer the company of their families, so exercises that include human participation are best. And it's a good idea to have a consistent daily exercise schedule for your Whippet, such as 30-minute walks in the morning and evening combined with a period of "running" exercise in the afternoon.
Maintenance for this breed, in terms of shedding and drooling, is relatively low overall. Whippet shedding happens year-round, but the amount of shed hairs is small compared to other breeds; drooling is basically a non-issue.
Dogs of this breed have short-haired, thin coats that don't shed too much, though they do shed all year (and a bit more heavily during shedding season). Nonetheless, owners may still find some hair on their clothes and furniture from time to time, so with this breed it's good to invest in a Dust Buster and a few lint rollers.
And Whippets may drool a bit in anticipation of food or when panting heavily, but very little otherwise. If your Whippet is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case you should consult a veterinarian.
Like all breeds, diet and nutrition are important to a Whippet's health and well-being. Regardless of what type of food your Whippet eats--and like most breeds, there's much debate over what to feed a Whippet, from dry to wet to raw food--it needs to be high in animal proteins. And though Whippet dog food diets can vary, the most popular choice is premium dry kibble. An adult dog of this breed will need about 1.5 cups (1,500 calories) of dry food per day, divided into two meals; daily Whippet puppy food portions should be roughly half that (0.75 cups, or 750 calories, divided into three meals). For more info see the following Whippet feeding guide:
As with many dog breeds, obesity is a potential health issue for these dogs--but Whippets, as naturally thin animals, are different than most breeds where weight is concerned. Whippets are like runway models: though it may be perfectly healthy, the typical Whippet may look malnourished to the average person. Owners' frequent reaction to this is to over-feed their dogs, often by free-feeding them (leaving food in the dog bowl all day so a Whippet can eat anytime it likes, in other words). This is not a good idea, as a Whippet with unchecked access to food will quickly become an unhealthy, fat Whippet dog. And though it may not appear to be overweight--these are very thin dogs, remember--an obese Whippet will have breathing and digestive problems, not to mention a shorter lifespan. So rather than free-feeding your Whippet, it's recommended that you pick up the food dish 15-20 minutes after the dog begins eating.
A quick test to determine whether your Whippet is overweight is that if the dog's ribs aren't visible beneath its skin, it's diet time. Decrease the dog's daily food intake by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.
Breeders, owners, and breed enthusiasts often disagree over what's the best dog food for Whippets. But whether it's dry kibble, raw/home-cooked, or wet/canned (all of which are okay, as long as a Whippet likes it!),it needs to be high-quality, which means it'll be high in animal proteins, fiber, and animal fats. Though individual choices vary widely, a moderate, popular food option for a Whippet is a high-quality dry dog food like Royal Canin or Fromm.
Whippets are somewhat needy, and definitely do better living inside with their people--though having a securely-fenced yard is great for their exercise sessions. And as long as it receives at least an hour of strenuous outdoor activity, a Whippet as an apartment dog is fine. Regardless of its living environment, though, make sure a Whippet has a soft, cushiony bed on which to sleep, as these are more comfortable for their slender bodies.
In regards to temperature: a Whippet does okay in warmer weather, but gets cold very easily because of its thin build. It's a good idea to put a sweater on your Whippet if you plan to be in cold temperatures for any length of time.
Read the grooming requirements for Whippets including coat care and other maintenance.
Go to the Next Page
