From WORLD OF WHIPPETS:
NEW WHIPPET STANDARD:
General Appearance
An animal of extreme grace, unless it is running anywhere near something expensive. The general appearance of a Whippet is that of a raised bump under the sheets and covers of your freshly made bed.
Eyes:
The eyes are the most important feature of the breed. They can be any color, though Whippets prefer to have dark eyes, as these are more useful for conning their servants out of the best food and softest bedding. However, Whippets can manipulate their servants in many other ways.
Nose:
Cold, wet, long and shocking when it unexpectedly makes contact with the Whippet's servant's bare thigh.
Feet and Legs:
Sharp, long and unbendable. Really good Whippet feet and legs can shove an adult man off the bed, or render him unable to breathe, with all four of the Whippet's feet pressing into his stomach. A well-bred Whippet also will impale armpits, eyes, mouths and other sensitive areas with his feet, while sleeping in his servant's bed.
Body:
The Whippet's body is generally either blurry in motion, or flat on the it's side. It is acceptable for the Whippet to rest on his back, with his feet straight in the air-remember the legs are not to bend and allow any room or comfort for the human.
Teeth:
The Whippet has very special teeth and cannot eat regular food. If you wouldn't eat it, neither will the Whippet.
Ears:
Ideally, these resemble those of a bat when the Whippet goes for car rides and the window is open. Whippets are deaf at all times, except their scheduled dinner time.
Movement:
As little as possible.
Color:
Whatever color your bedspread is, so will be the lump curled up underneath of it.
Temperament:
Whimsical, stubborn, manipulative, lazy and all together wonderful.
Disqualifications:
Failure to disobey at least twice a day, sigh loudly with disgust at least three times a day, and to take up more room in the bed than two people, shall disqualify.
-by Jenna Coleman of Windridge Whippets
WHIPPET INFO
WHIPPETS
What's good/What's bad
Common characteristics of the breed......
~ There are lively Whippets, and laid-back Whippets.
~ Stubborn Whippets, and sweet-natured Whippets.
~ Serious Whippets, and good-natured goofballs.
~ Shy Whippets, and Whippets who love everyone.
IF YOU WANT A DOG WHO....
~ Resembles a mid-sized Greyhound, with a slender, elegant, sleek
build and a graceful, lightfooted gait
~ Has a sleek low-maintenance coat in a variety of colors
~ Indoors, is quiet and dignified, undemanding and unobtrusive
~ Outdoors, is playful and athletic and gallops with amazing speed
~ Is courteous with everyone, including other dogs
A WHIPPET MAY BE RIGHT FOR YOU.
If you DON'T want to deal with....
~ Ensuring a safe ENCLOSED area where he/she can occasionally run
~ Strong drive to chase other creatures that run
~ Fearfulness and shyness when not socialized enough
~ An independent "what's in it for me?" attitude torward training
~ Emotional sensitivity to stress and abrupt changes in schedule
~ Sometimes slowness to housetrain
A WHIPPET MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR YOU.
If I were considering a Whippet...
MY MAJOR CONCERNS WOULD BE:
1. Providing enough running exercise. Whippets don't need miles of
running every day, but they MUST have regular opportunities to vent
their energy a few times a week. Otherwise, they will become
restless and bored - which they usually express by destructive
chewing or other bad behaviors.
(Whippets need access to a large fenced area - fenced
because these independent dogs are likely to take off
and not come back. If there is a dog club in your area,
get your Whippet involved in lure coursing (chasing a
mechanized lure around a track or across an open
field). This is an appropriate outlet for the full-speed
galloping behaviors that are "hardwired" into his/her genes).
If your Whippet were to escape from you, DO NOT CHASE!
Be calm, and call for your dog, but do not run after a
Whippet, or they think it's a game and will run AWAY
faster...most times, they will come back to you as if
to say, "what took you so long, aren't you coming?"
when they realize you aren't right behind them giving
chase...this isn't always the case, but many times is.
Walk and keep calling...practicing with your Whippet
off-lead in a secure environment can help if this event
were to ever arise and you can be prepared. We've
found sooner or later this happens at least once
to everyone, us included. Secure, fenced
environments are safest to prevent this from
happening.
2. Shyness. Standoffish by nature. Whippets need exposure to people
and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can
become shyness or fearfulness, which is very difficult to live with. We
work extensively with ours from birth, so this is never an issue.
3. Chasing other animals. Most people do not realize just how fast and
agile sighthounds are - or how strong their instincts are to chase and
seize fleeing creatures. They could seriously injure or kill your neigh-
bor's cat or toy dog. In today's society, the legal liabilities should be
considered. Our Whippets are raised around cats, birds, and children,
so they are used to a variety of pets and situations,
but this is no guarantee that your Fluffy might be fun to chase down if
he/she runs, especially outdoors.
4. The independent attitude. Whippets are not Golden Retrievers.
They are independent thinkers who don't particularly care about
pleasing you. Many Whippets are stubborn. They can be manipula-
tive. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you
mean what you say. The idea is that you train them, not the other
way around!
5. Emotional sensitivity. Be honest...is there tension in your home? Are
people loud or angry or emotional? Are there arguments or fights?
Whippets are extremely sensitive to stress and can end up literally
sick to their stomachs, with severe digestive upsets and neurotic
behaviors, if the people in their homes are having family problems.
Sighthounds are peaceful, sensitive dogs who need a peaceful,
harmonious home. They are very attuned to their environment
around them.
6. Housebreaking. Sighthounds can be slow to catch onto this. Expect
several months of consistent crate training. All of our puppies are
started on the crate-training process beginning at 6 weeks of age
and continued for as long as they are here. This means your
puppy is off to a good start and the crate is not an unfamiliar
environment and has been worked with on the rules of
housebreaking etiquette.
HISTORY
Developed in England, the Whippet was bred down from the Greyhound crossed with terriers. He ran down jackrabbits during the week and raced on weekends.
Whippet racing is very different from Greyhound racing. No gambling is allowed, and no training on live prety. Racing Whippets double as pets, going home with their owner after the race and curling up under the blankets on the bed.
There are also few Whippets (as compared to other breeds) in rescue, which means the majority of individuals who raise this wonderful breed are very particular where their dogs go, and most stay with their permanent owners. And if something does arise that they can no longer keep their pet, they are returned to the breeder. We are NO exception, and WILL ALWAYS TAKE OUR DOGS BACK, ANYTIME, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
SIZE:
18-22 inches and 25-40 pounds
The AKC Standard says the Whippet is "amiable, friendly, gentle, but capable of great intensity during sporting pursuits."
The Whippet is sweet-natured and docile, yet playful and athletic. The same dog who will curl up under the blankets - a perfect couch potato, sleeping for hours - will tear enthusiastically around the yard, darting and zigzagging and turning on a dime without slowing down.
Whippets love running games and require short bursts of vigorous exercise each day. The area must be fenced, for this racy breed is the fastest dog of his weight: he can run up to 35 mph!
Whippet puppies can be mischievous and destructive, but adults are calm, undemanding, and unobtrusive indoors, trotting around with a light-footed easy grace and seldom making a peep. They do insist on the luxury of being up on the furniture, so if this offends you, you shouldn't consider a sighthound. (I have never found Whippet puppies to be particularly destructive, but then again, we are very strict with our methods here, and we are very consistent with any training and routines. Dogs thrive on structure and routine, and being consistent is key to ANY training!)
Polite with strangers, the Whippet should be accustomed to people and noises at an early age. He is peaceful with other dogs but has a high prey drive and cannot be necessarily trusted with smaller pets, especially outdoors. (While they CAN have a high prey drive, we have found that most of our dogs tend to have a LOWER prey drive than most other Whippets. We DO have smaller animals here, including birds and cats and other small dogs, and honestly, have NEVER had a problem. Our dogs are raised around them, so they don't know they as anything other than a normal family member that belongs here)
Whippets are mildly stubborn, but also very sensitive. They respond favorably only to calm, upbeat training methods that emphasize praise and food. (Positive reinforcement only; Whippets get their feelings hurt quite easily, so tone of voice goes a long way!)
Sighthounds are touch-sensitive, tending to startle when touched unexpectedly or grabbed for a hug, so a verbal correction is less upsetting and distracting than a physical one. (But I will say that Whippets are also very tactile and I know with mine, they LOVE being touched! Snuggled/cuddled, massaged, etc....they are all about getting belly and back rubs, ears massaged.....puts em to sleep every time, lol!)
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