Whippet - description of the breed and character of the dog

If you decide to have a pet, you should try to anticipate in advance all the problems that may arise in the process of its content. If your choice fell on a dog, it is important to consult a dog handler or veterinarian. After all, the breed of the dog is not chosen solely by appearance and the banal “like / dislike”. When choosing a dog of a certain breed, it is necessary to analyze your temperament, the future living conditions of the animal, the presence of other household members, etc. If you are an active person, but are inexperienced as a dog breeder, if you have children and you live in an apartment, Whippet can be a great solution. This is an amazingly cheerful and agile dog, which has high speed and hunting data. What is the peculiarity of the content and education of dogs of this breed, try to understand.

The origin of the breed

If you are familiar with dog breeds, you will notice that the Whippet is very similar to another breed of greyhounds. Indeed, these large hunting dogs were the progenitors of the modest Whippet. However, to keep such an animal could not all, especially in England, where the breed was very common. For people with average incomes and less spacious housing breeders decided to bring small greyhounds. They began to choose the smallest representatives of this breed and cross them with the IGs and bedlington terriers. The result is whippet - small, graceful, fast dogs with long legs.

Initially, the dog was often used in the hunt, the Whippets were so fast that they could easily catch even a hare. In the 19th century, dog races became popular in London, in which the whippet gained extraordinary popularity, the dog could accelerate to 60 km / h. At the same time, the animal could dramatically change the trajectory of its movement, without falling and not losing speed. They began to breed dogs of this breed everywhere - on the one hand, the dog was economical, the host spent on food was moderate, the dog rarely got sick.At the same time, the Whippets could bring real money into the house, as they always used bets on the run. In the late 19th century, the Whippets were officially recognized by many canine organizations. Modern whippets have become even more graceful and refined.

What does a whippet dog look like?

As for color, there is no specific standard for the Whippets in this regard. The dog can be any color. The only albino in further mating is not used.Very often Whippet compared with other similar dogs - Greyhound or Italian Greyhound. Distinguishing whippet is not difficult. Unlike the Greyhound, the dog is rather small, it is immediately obvious if two representatives are put side by side. In addition, the Greyhound is always calm and sedentary, and Whippet remains a playful child who constantly runs and jumps. Italian greyhound is less than the Whippet, they often tremble, in a word, they are not hounds. The Italian Greyhound should have a monochromatic color, but Whippet has any coat color allowed. An experienced breeder will immediately determine the breed of dog that is in front of you.

Whippet Dog Character

This is a very active, sociable and cheerful dog that gets along well with children. However, it is worthwhile to start such a dog only if the children are old enough and understand that the dog should not be harmed. Whippets are friendly towards the person, but only in relation to their owner. This breed is a dog that does not bark without much need - only in really extreme cases. Whippets live well in apartments, you can't leave your pet on the street, because he really misses his master.Dogs of this breed always want to be in the company of man, they love to play on the street. If the house has a fairly adult child of school age, Whippet is a wonderful pet who will not tire of playing for hours.

But whippets treat strangers with extreme caution - if there are often strangers in the house, this is not the kind of dog that you need. With dogs, the dog gets along fine, because by nature he was bred to participate in races, but there is no time to sort things out. In order for Whippet to rush at a relative, something out of the ordinary must occur. But for cats and other small pets whippet less loyal - hunting instincts can take their own, and the dog begins to look for a victim.

High speed and unprecedented excitement are the reasons why a dog should not be allowed outside without a collar. If whippet sees a squirrel or a cat, it will be impossible to keep up with the dog. Moreover, the pet will be so fascinated that you can’t draw a shot at yourself, the dog simply will not respond. That is why the dog must always walk with a collar and let go only in safe areas.Despite the fact that in nature Whippet is very active, at home it is a real sloth who likes to sleep. For this character trait the dog is often loved by older people - the dog spends energy on the street, but does not bother the house.

In dog training, the dog is very intelligent, remembers well and executes commands, tries to please its owner. But dogs of this breed have a rather thin and sensitive nervous system. You can not shout at Whippet and, all the more, apply force to it. A dog may become confused and refuse to execute a command; in some cases, the dog no longer wants to carry out what was previously well-learned and fixed. There is no other reason for the dog to refuse to execute the command. It is believed that the Whippet is the most easily trained dog from the entire breed group. You can achieve good results with the help of affection, care and tasty promotion.

There is an opinion that the Whippets cannot become good watchmen or guards, because there is little aggression in them. Indeed, there is some truth in this. If you need to raise certain guard qualities in the dog, you need to deal with a puppy from an early age.

How to care for a whippet breed dog?

To make his pet's life as comfortable as possible, he needs to provide the right care.

1. Clothing. A feature of this breed is the absence of undercoat and subcutaneous fat. Because of this, the dog becomes incredibly sensitive to cold, frost and wind, especially in our area of ​​residence. To solve the problem, you must have a few suits for walking - a warm jumpsuit and something like a blanket that will protect the pet from rain and wind. The dog is sensitive to cold - this is another reason why whippets must necessarily live in an apartment or in a house. Due to the fact that the ribs of the dog are almost in sight, it will be uncomfortable for the pet to sleep on the bare and hard floor. Be sure to arrange for the dog soft and warm bed without drafts. Some overly caring owners additionally buy shoes for the dog - this can not be done. Whippets have to run a lot, and shoes cover their claws, which are necessary to maintain balance at high speeds.
2. Wool, teeth and claws. Whippets have a short, smooth coat that does not cause any inconvenience.1-2 times a week is enough to comb a pet. Shedding occurs twice a year, at which time the dog should be combed daily to prevent the appearance of wool scattered around the house. Bathing takes place as needed, once every few months. Teeth care is exactly the same as in other dogs - periodically you need to inspect the oral cavity for the presence of tartar and take the dog to the vet for cleaning. Ears are rubbed every two weeks with a clean, wet cotton swab. If the dog's claws are erased on the asphalt, they do not require additional processing.
3. Nutrition. The easiest way to feed the dog is dry food, which has a balanced and well-chosen composition. You need to buy the highest quality feed marked "For active dogs." If you decide to feed your dog natural food, you need to carefully approach the selection of the diet. In the Whippet menu should be the minimum amount of fat, moderate carbohydrate content. The basis of the diet - squirrels. Be sure to give the dog raw meat, you can with the veins and cartilage, this product is better absorbed. The menu should contain eggs, boiled seedless fish, boiled vegetables, dairy products, cereals.Be sure to add sunflower oil to food, a large amount of vitamin E makes hair smooth and shiny. You can not overfeed the dog, overweight detrimental to its health. Whippet puppies are fed 6-8 times a day, gradually reducing the number of feedings. It is enough to feed an adult dog twice - in the morning and in the evening.
4. Diseases. Whippets are considered a healthy breed of dogs, they do not develop dysplasia and are allergic to some foods, like other greyhounds. However, pathologies such as congenital hearing impairment, frequent eye diseases, and diseases that cause unreasonable bleeding (most often on the mucous mouth and internal organs) can be characteristic of a dog of this breed. To avoid possible problems, you need to regularly show the dog to the vet.

To meet the animal's need for activity, you need to walk with the Wippets twice a day for an hour. In order for the dog to move more, it is better to ride a bike with it, this is a much more intense training session that will benefit the dog.

It is better to choose a healthy and strong puppy whippet with a specialist.The future pet should have a wet nose, a moderately elastic belly, clean skin, ears and eyes. By the time the puppy is taken from the nursery, all vaccinations should be given to him, and anthelmintic therapy carried out. A good and competent care will make a whippet puppy a true friend and loyal companion.

Video: Whippet breed