Whippets aren't “barking” dogs but watchdogs.
The breed's name developed from the word “whappet,” an older word describing “a small dog that yaps”.
When it comes to a Whippet vs Greyhound, Whippets are little more than miniature versions of their Greyhound relative. They are both sighthounds that originated in England. The Whippet is a medium-sized dog that is a direct descendent of the Greyhound, which means they are not only related but also very similar.
whippet, hound breed developed in mid-19th-century England to chase rabbits for sport in an arena. The breed was developed from terriers and small English greyhounds; Italian greyhounds were later bred in to give the whippet a sleek appearance.
Whippet appearance. Whippets are the 'mini-me' version of the Greyhound – they're very similar to Greyhounds but smaller in size. Both have long narrow heads that are wider between the ears.
The Whippet is a British breed of medium-sized dog of sighthound type. It is closely related to the Greyhound and – apart from its smaller size – closely resembles it. It has sometimes been described as "the poor man's greyhound".
Whippet. A medium-sized dog, Whippets originated in England and are a descendant of Greyhounds. In fact, they can often be mistaken for Greyhounds as they share a lot of similar physical features, but Whippets are smaller in size. Whippets were bred to hunt by sight which required them to have high speeds.
If they sense that you're not entirely happy, they may bury their head in you as a way to offer comfort and support. Think of it like your dog is trying to hug you to make you feel better. Sometimes, your dog will only bury their head in you when they're afraid, and they want to feel safe.
The whippet is the unrivaled sprinter of the dog world, able to make hairpin turns at high speed. This ability has not only made it the most popular breed competing in the sport of lure-coursing, but it also launched one whippet to fame and eventually started a new canine sport.
Greyhounds are all very individual and can be fun, lazy, silly, goofy, calm, easy-going, entertaining, gentle, playful, sweet-natured, affectionate, happy, independent, placid but are most of all loving.
Whippet Traits
Similar to greyhounds, whippets have lean body shapes and small heads — but they're much smaller. They come in many colors including grey, brown, white, brindle, and even blue. Considered medium-sized dogs, the ideal whippet is 18-22 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between 25 and 40 pounds.
Whippet. Any professional dog competition that requires rapid acceleration usually has records set by the fleet-footed whippet. This mid-sized English lovebug shines in CAT races—like Reas, who aced the 2022 Fast CAT 100-yard dash in just under 6 seconds at nearly 35 mph!
Nitrous oxide has the street names hippy crack and whippets (or whippits). In Australia and New Zealand, nitrous oxide bulbs are known as nangs, possibly derived from the sound distortion perceived by consumers.
The Whippet is also known as the English Whippet or Snap Dog, and earned the nicknames 'The Poor Man's Racehorse' and 'The Poor Man's Greyhound' during their early racing days.
Whippets in general are very affectionate dogs. They crave comfort and touch. If they come from a large litter where they got used to cuddling up to brothers and sisters as pups they will love to be cuddled. The bond you create with a puppy through touch and closeness will usually continue through to adulthood.
Just as humans stare into the eyes of someone they adore, dogs will stare at their owners to express affection. In fact, mutual staring between humans and dogs releases oxytocin, known as the love hormone. This chemical plays an important role in bonding and boosts feelings of love and trust.
If you hear your pup sigh or moan, they may communicate that they are happy and content. You may be giving them some love and petting them in all the right spots, and they want you to keep stroking their belly or scratching behind their ears. Below are some of the signs your dog is feeling happy.
Zoomies is generally caused by a build-up of excess energy which is then released in one short burst. Don't worry though, it's a completely natural behaviour. It's most common in and generally occurs less and less as they get older. But that's not to say it'll stop entirely – many older dogs will still have FRAPs!
Whippets are active dogs that require regular exercise to stay happy and healthy. They need at least 1-2 hours of exercise per day to meet their physical and mental stimulation needs.
With proper socialisation and training, a well adjusted adult Whippet can be left alone. However, many canine experts don't recommend leaving any dog for more than 8 hours.
No, Whippets are not aggressive by nature. In fact, the opposite is true: Whippets are extremely loving and gentle dogs. They can become over excited, and that can manifest in rough play and barking. To be honest though, Whippets seldom bark… but they do growl.
Think these two breeds look similar? Whippets (left) are smaller than the Greyhound but larger than Italian Greyhounds (right). The next time you get them confused, be sure to play close attention to their size — it's a real giveaway.
The larger Whippet is a member of the Hound Group and the smaller Italian Greyhound (IG) is a member of the Toy Group. However, just like their larger cousin the Greyhound, the Whippet and the IG are both Sighthounds, so they share lithe and graceful physiques as well as a lightning-quick instinct for pursuit.
Zoomies, or Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs), refer to those unmistakable explosions of energy that dogs have on occasion. Zoomies often feature frantic, repetitive behavior such as running in circles or spinning around.