Whippet or Whippet Greyhound
Country: Angleterre Life expectancy: max 14 years old Height: between 44 and 47 cm females / 47 to 51 cm males Weight: between 12 and 13 kg
History, origin & features
After being used for hunting due to its speed, the Whippet, a small English greyhound, became a racing dog. By the end of the 17th century, it had earned the nickname of “poor man's racehorse”, being highly prized in particular by the mining families of northern England, who relied on betting as a source of additional income. With their pleasant, gentle, affectionate and obedient temperament, Whippets are ideal companions for homes with or without children and pets. Seemingly timid, they need to be trained and socialized with sensitivity. Not very playful, it needs to run every day to keep its balance. Gracile and muscular, Whippets are built for running and speed (not endurance). Their coat is fine and short, and can be adorned in any color combination.
Its greatest distinguishing feature is its ability to reach speeds of over 55 km/h on average, with record peaks of 80 km/h over short distances, making it one of the fastest sighthounds around.