Herkomst

In de negentiende eeuw verkregen Engelse mijnwerkers de Whippet door Greyhounds met terriërs te kruisen. Aanvankelijk werden ze ingezet op de konijnenjacht, zodat er ook bij de 'working class' vlees op tafel kon komen. Toen dat verboden werd, ging men onderlinge wedstrijden organiseren. De Whippet kan vanuit stand in enkele seconden een snelheid van 55 km/u bereiken. Hij is de enige windhond met een goede neus, die hij ook gebruikt om te jagen.

Algemeen voorkomen

Sierlijk en slank, gespierd en droog met een diepe borstkas; hij is gebouwd als de gestroomlijnde perfectie van kracht, snelheid en balans.

Schofthoogte

reuen 47 - 51 cm; teven 44 - 47 cm

Gewicht

10 - 15 kg

Vacht

De vacht is fijn, kort en dicht. Alle kleuren of kleurcombinaties zijn toegestaan.

Gebruik

renhond, gezinshond

Gezondheid

Door hun dunne huid kunnen Whippets niet zo goed tegen kou. Fokdieren worden onderzocht op erfelijke oogaandoeningen.

Aard

Vrolijk, speels, schrander, gehoorzaam maar niet slaafs, wat onafhankelijk, evenwichtig, aanhankelijk, geschikt voor kinderen, soms waaks. In huis een zeer lieve, rustige hond.

Bijzonderheden

Af en toe verzorgen met een zachte borstel. Tanden en nagels regelmatig controleren en zo nodig verzorgen.

UTILIZATION :

Racing dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. :

Group 10 Sighthounds.
Section 3 Short-haired Sighthounds.
Without working trial.

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.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT :

An ideal companion. Highly adaptable in domestic and sporting surroundings. Gentle, affectionate, even disposition.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull :

Long and lean, flat on top, tapering to muzzle, rather wide between the eyes.
Stop :

Slight.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose :

Black, in blues a bluish colour permitted, in livers a nose of the same colour, in white or parti-colours a butterfly nose permissible.
Jaws/Teeth :

Jaws strong, powerful and clean cut with a perfect scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Eyes :

Oval, bright, expression very alert.
Ears :

Rose shaped, small, fine in texture.

NECK :

Long, muscular, elegantly arched.

BODY

Back :

Broad, firm, somewhat long, showing definite arch over loin but not humped.
Loin :

Giving impression of strength and power.
Chest :

Very deep with plenty of heart room, brisket deep, well defined. Ribs well sprung, muscled on back.

TAIL :

No feathering. Long, tapering, when in action carried in a delicate curve upward but not over back.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :

Forelegs straight and upright, front not too wide.
Shoulders :

Oblique and muscular; blades carried up to top of spine, where they are clearly defined.
Elbows :

Set well under body.
Pasterns :

Strong with slight spring.

HINDQUARTERS :

Strong. Dog able to stand over a lot of ground and show great driving power.
Thighs :

Broad across.
Stifles :

Well bent.
Second thighs :

Well developed.
Hocks :

Well let down.

FEET : Very neat, well split up between toes, knuckles well arched, pads thick and strong.

GAIT / MOVEMENT :

Free, hindlegs coming well under body for propulsion. Forelegs thrown well forward low over the ground, true coming and going. General movement not to look stilted, high stepping, short or mincing.

COAT

HAIR :

Fine, short, close in texture.

COLOUR :

Any colour or mixture of colours.

SIZE :

Height at the withers :

Dogs 47-51 cm (18 1/2 - 20 ins).

Bitches 44-47 cm (17 1/2 - 18 1/2 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.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

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

About the Whippet

History

A medium-sized sighthound, the whippet stems from greyhound roots. The whippet's progenitors may have come from crosses between small greyhounds and even smaller dogs that were used by peasants for poaching rabbits and other small game in the 18th century. The peasants also found entertainment in "snap dog" contests, in which bets were made on which dog could "snap up" as many rabbits as possible before they escaped from a circle. Crosses with ratting terriers were probably made to increase quickness and gameness. It was the advent of the Industrial Revolution, however, that spurred the development of the true whippet breed. Masses of rural workers moved to industrialized areas, bringing with them their snap dogs and a need for entertainment. Without a supply of rabbits, they found their dogs would just as readily race toward a waving rag. Rag racing became the sport of coal miners; in fact, the whippet was dubbed the "poor man's race horse." A family's whippet was not only an immense source of pride but sometimes also a source of extra income and procurer of food for the pot. As a valued family member, it shared the family rations and often, the children's beds, and came to be valued as a companion as well. Whippet racing is still popular today, but it has never gained the commercial appeal of greyhound racing and so remains strictly an amateur sport. After the whippet was officially recognized as a breed in 1888, it began to be appreciated for its aesthetic appeal, and crosses with the Italian greyhound further refined its appearance. The whippet gained popularity slowly, but its unequaled combination of lithe elegance and gracious companionship gradually created a devoted following. Today the whippet is the most popular of the sighthounds and is highly valued as a show dog, lure courser, racer and family companion.

Temperament

Perhaps the most demonstrative and obedient of the true sighthounds, the whippet makes an ideal pet for people who want a quiet house dog and absolutely devoted companion. The whippet is extremely gentle with children and can make an excellent companion for them. It is calm indoors but loves to run and play outdoors. It is extremely sensitive (both physically and mentally) and cannot take rough treatment or harsh corrections.

Upkeep

The whippet can make a good apartment dog if it is taken for a long walk or run daily. Grooming is minimal. The whippet must have a warm, soft bed. It dislikes cold weather intensely and cannot be expected to live outside. The whippet can play and run in snow and cold weather but should spend inactive times in warmer temperatures. The hair is extremely short and fine, and the whippet is virtually free of "doggy odor."

Health

• Major concerns: none
• Minor concerns: none
• Occasionally seen: deafness, some eye defects
• Suggested tests: none
• Life span: 12 – 15 years
• Note: sensitive to anesthesia; prone to lacerations

Form and Function

A greyhound in miniature, the whippet is among the sleekest of dogs, with a curvaceous, streamlined silhouette, long legs and a lean physique. It is the ultimate sprinter, unsurpassed by any other breed in its ability to accelerate to top speed and to twist and turn with unequaled agility. The whippet is a lightweight version of the greyhound, with an especially supple top-line and powerful hindquarters enabling it to execute the double-suspension gallop at its most extreme. It is square or slightly longer than tall. The gait is low and free-moving. The expression is keen and alert.