Whippet

Thanks to their unique nature, friendly personality and stylish look, the Whippet is a firm favourite as a family dog as well as in the show ring. Whether you’re thinking of borrowing one or getting your own, we’ve pulled together lots of fun and interesting facts you should know about the breed, courtesy of the Whippet owners in our community.

What is a Whippet?

The Whippet is a sweet-natured and docile, yet athletic and playful dog. They were originally bred in England to be a hunting dog, and since then have been bred for racing and showing.

How much exercise does a Whippet need?

Despite having relatively low energy levels indoor, Whippets require a lot of exercise and the option to stretch their legs out and go for a good old run. Due to their strong prey drive, many owners opt to keep their Whippet on the lead, or walk them in an enclosed environment. The Kennel Club recommends at least one hour of exercise a day.

“Guinness is a lively dog who just loves to run extremely fast!” - Jonathan, owner of Guinness.

What is the temperament of a Whippet?

The Whippet loves home comforts, and suits a relatively active family well. They are docile and elegant creatures, making them popular in the show ring. When inside, they adore a good nap, preferably on the sofa, but once out and about, you won’t be able to stop them tearing around and reaching speeds of up to 35 mph.

“Smokey is a much loved family pet - she’s great around children, loves to sleep (is a bit of a couch potato) and is great with other dogs.” - Sally, owner of Smokey.

Are Whippets easy to train?

The Whippet can be a slightly stubborn breed and also relatively sensitive. With this in mind, training needs to be gentle and calm, and should be incentivised with treats for good behaviour.

“Ollie is very well behaved - he’s fantastic off the lead, loves showing off his tricks and is great around children.” - Sara, owner of Ollie.

That being said, here are a few funny quirks that some of our members’ Whippets have:

Enid, owner of Sonny

Sonny can be a little cheeky, so don’t leave your lunch unattended near him.

Sarah, owner of Bergen

Bergen doesn’t consider himself to be a dog - he expects all the comforts that a human has.

Most common Whippet names on BorrowMyDoggy:

• Blue
• Alfie
• Willow
• Charlie
• Archie
• Luna
• Bella
• Lola
• Winnie
• Milo

Minnie the Whippet suffered from separation anxiety, so BorrowMyDoggy owner Kate joined to socialise her with more people while she's out and about.

High paws to our lovely community for letting us share these facts about their Whippets. Paws crossed you found them helpful :)

Looking for the pawfect Whippet to join you on a walk? Or would you like your Whippet to make a new friend? Why not sign up to BorrowMyDoggy today.

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