Whippets are fast, athletic sighthounds who love the chase. They are very social and love both humans and other dogs. Whippets are calm and gentle when they’re not running and can usually be found snoozing on something soft and comfy.
Whippets are pack dogs who enjoy the company of other canines. They are friendly toward people, strangers included, although sometimes they are most loyal to one family member. Whippets are sighthounds, which means they have a very strong instinct to chase and will bolt after anything small and furry. When Whippets are young, they sometimes have a habit of barking and chewing, but they eventually grow out of it.
Whippets have a very short coat that is easy to groom. They are also very cleanly and rarely require a bath. Brush their coat every once in awhile to remove dead hair and their coat will always look great.
Whippets need to live indoors with access to soft places to rest their bony bodies. Whippets fit best in families with older, more respectful children or no children at all. They are not very tolerant of toddlers who may not know how to treat dogs. Whippets can sometimes learn to live with small cats if they are raised together, but for the most part, they do not make good additions to families with felines.
Whippets need daily walks, during which you’ll need to keep a tight hold of their leash, should a squirrel demand the attention of your dog. Aside from walks, you’ll want to bring your Whippet to a dog park once or twice a week so they can run at full-speed without worrying about any dangers. If you’re looking to get involved in doggie sports, Whippets are ace competitors in lure coursing, a sport where dogs chase a mechanical lure.