Whippet - Top 10 Interesting Facts

The Whippet dog breed was a poacher’s best friend, speedily going after rabbits and other small game.
There are TOP 10 interesting facts about Whippet.

1) Origin

The whippet hails from humble origins in 18th century Great Britain. The breed's ancestors helped poach rabbits and provided gambling entertainment in "snap dog" contests, in which the winner was the dog that could snap up the most rabbits within an enclosure in the shortest time. With the Industrial Revolution came the urban incarnation of snap dog contests — racing down a straightaway to grab a rag waved by the guardians. The whippet is still known by the nickname it earned in those days: the poor man's racehorse.

2) Regular Guy

He’s just a regular guy. Unlike many breeds that were exclusive to royalty and noblemen, The working-class people of Northern England developed the Whippet. More economical to care for and feed than a Greyhound, he was equally adept at pursuing game and racing. Upper-class English dog breeders contributed to the Whippet's modern look by breeding them to look like a miniature Greyhound.

3) Not a Watchdog

Whippets are not watchdogs. Any excitement they show when someone arrives at the house is more likely to be because they might be meeting their new best friend. The American Whippet Club also describes the Whippet’s “Excessive Greeting Disorder,” which involves greeting you with frenzied exuberance whenever you arrive back home, even if you just walked to the end of the driveway to get the mail. While you may think it’s adorable, others may not. But it’s very difficult to train a Whippet out of the habit once you’ve allowed it.

4) Chasing Animals

As a prey-driven sight hound, the Whippet will chase anything that might be considered prey: a squirrel, rabbit, the neighbor’s cat, or a piece of plastic blowing across the road. For this reason, your Whippet should always be on a leash or in a securely fenced area. You can burn off some of this energy with lots of exercise: they make excellent jogging partners, enjoy playing with other dogs, and are happy to chase a ball or Frisbee. Remember, though, that these are sprinters, not marathoners; a vigorous playtime may be all you need to tire him out.

5) House Dog

Unlike dogs who hunt in packs, or guard dogs, the Whippet was always a house dog—living, eating, and sleeping with his family. In fact, these dogs become extremely attached to their humans.

6) Personality

Two things make whippets happy — running full speed ahead and sleeping curled up on your best chair as they squeeze you out of it. They are quiet inside the house, occasionally barking if there's something worth barking at. Like all sighthounds, they love to chase anything that moves, and that includes the neighborhood cats. They do get along well with family cats and dogs and are gentle with children.
7) Appearance

The dog is actually a little bit more curvaceous, with more arch to its loin. Like a greyhound, the whippet is built for speed. The legs are long and slender, the chest deep, the abdomen tucked up, the body relatively narrow, and the whole dog is muscular. The long whip-like tail is naturally carried low. The eyes are large and lustrous. In size, the whippet is just small enough to sit in your lap and just large enough to be a good running partner. Although whippets stand about 19 to 21 inches tall, with their slender build they weigh only about 20 to 40 pounds. Most probably weigh in at around 30 pounds.

8) Bond with Owner

According to the American Whippet Club, instead of racing toward a mechanical lure, a Whippet used his tremendous bursts of speed to race toward his master who was waving a piece of cloth. The deeper the attachment, the more successful the race.

9) Living With

Whippets can live in an apartment if you take them out for a good sprint a couple of times a day. They spend a great deal of their time relaxing and, as long as they get adequate exercise, they are quite pleasant and quiet inside. They do need the chance to run fast, however, to feel at peace with the world.

10) Separation Anxiety

Whippets can suffer from separation anxiety or crate claustrophobia. Although no one is sure where this trait comes from—genes or the environment—it’s best to give your Whippet plenty of exercise and playtime before leaving him home alone. Or, get two, and they’ll keep each other company.

Source:
http://www.akc.org/content/entertainment/articles/9-facts-about-the-whippet/
http://www.hillspet.com/en/us/dog-breeds/whippet