The Whippet is a sight hound, originally bred to find prey by sight and chase it down at high rates of speed. These dogs do look like small greyhounds, typically standing 18-21 inches tall, and weighing between 20 and 40 pounds as adults. Whippets have a very short coat that requires minimal grooming, but does cause them to get cold easily, so they need a cozy bed to curl up in to keep warm.
Whippets are generally low maintenance dogs and enjoy spending time on the couch with their family. But they do need exercise, and benefit from daily walks or sprints around the backyard. Given their origins, these dogs do have high prey drive, meaning they will chase any small animals that will run away, so owners should use caution if considering bringing a Whippet into a house with cats or other small mammals.
Although Whippets are smart, they are not the most trainable breed as they don’t have the drive to please that other breeds have. They are, however, very gentle and loyal dogs that are very attached to their family members.
