About Whippet

Whippets are normally quiet dogs and not prone to barking, but require regular exercise. 

They are generally gentle dogs and may be content to spend much of the day resting. 

The are described as "quiet and dignified in their owner's living room" and they make excellent house dogs.

The are normally good with other animals and very good with small children, which makes them excellent family dogs. 

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The WHIPPET Standard

 

A Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance

including the correct colour of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function. 

 

General Appearance

Balanced combination of muscular power and strength with elegance and grace of outline. Built for speed and work. All forms of exaggeration should be avoided.

 

Characteristics

An ideal companion. Highly adaptable in domestic and sporting surroundings.

 

Temperament

Gentle, affectionate, even disposition.

 

Head and Skull

Long and lean, flat on top, tapering to muzzle with slight stop, rather wide between the eyes, jaws powerful and clean-cut, nose black, in blues a bluish colour permitted, liver nose in creams and other dilute colours, in whites or parti-colour a butterfly nose permissible.

 

Eyes

Oval, bright, expression very alert.

 

Ears

Rose shaped, small, fine in texture.

 

Mouth

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

 

Neck

Long, muscular, elegantly arched.

 

Forequarters

Shoulders well laid back with flat muscles. Moderate space between the shoulder blades at the withers. The upper arm is approximately of equal length to the shoulder, placed so that the elbow falls directly under the withers when viewed in profile. Forearms straight and upright with moderate bladed bone. Front not too wide. Pasterns strong with slight spring.

 

Body

Chest very deep with plenty of heart room. Well filled in front. Brisket deep. Broad, well muscled back, firm, somewhat long, showing graceful arch over the loin but not humped. Ribs well sprung. Loin giving impression of strength and power. Definite tuck up.

 

Hindquarters

Strong, broad across thighs, with well developed second thighs. Stifles well bent without exaggeration with hocks well let down. Able to stand naturally over a lot of ground.

 

Feet

Oval, well split up between toes, knuckles well arched, pads thick, nails strong.

 

Tail

No feathering. Long, tapering, reaching at least to the hock. When in action carried in a delicate curve not higher than the back.

 

Gait/Movement

Should possess great freedom of action. In profile should move with a long, easy stride whist holding topline. The forelegs should be thrown forward and low over the ground. Hind legs should come well under the body giving greater propelling power. General movement not to look stilted, high stepping, short or mincing. True coming and going.

 

Coat

Fine, short, close in texture.

 

Colour

Any colour or mixture of colours.

 

Size

Desirable height: dogs: 47-51 cms (181/2-20 ins); bitches: 44-47 cms (171/2-181/2 ins).

 

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

 

Note

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.