WHIPPET

Brief description of the Whippet breed

Another name for the breed (small English greyhound) says that these dogs were bred for the purpose of participating in hunting. Their structure (an elongated skull, leanness, developed muscles, long limbs) allows whippets to poison small game (rabbits, hares, foxes, etc.) at high speed, however, the pursuit occurs when the dog sees the “victim”, by smell and trail Whippets are not looking. Many Whippets are able to run at a speed of 60-70 km / h, which makes them related to another English breed - Greyhounds (also extremely fast dogs). Moreover, in addition to speed, the Whippets, Greyhounds and Italian Greyhounds have common relatives, presumably living in the time of Ancient Rome, brought to the British Isles in the time BC. In the 19th century, the Whippet was even called the "poor man's greyhound" because the small English greyhounds were considered less pretentious in content.

But these dogs are also quite good for living in an apartment, if the owner can devote enough time to walking with the pet. Getting along with people and other pets in the house, Whippets are completely unpretentious in terms of care, and their small dimensions will not require much space even in the smallest apartment.

So, whippets are dogs with a proportional and harmonious build. Their head is elongated, flat in the upper part of the skull, the transition from the forehead to the muzzle is not pronounced. The muzzle tapers towards the tip of the nose. The eyes are round and have a lively expression. Jaws well developed, scissor bite. The ears of small English greyhounds are pink-shaped, small. The neck is arched, long, smoothly turning into a strong long back with well-developed muscles. The chest of the Whippet is quite deep and wide, the ribs are springy. Belly picked up. The tail is long, noticeably wider at its base. The limbs are long, bony, with well-developed and strong shoulder blades and thighs, rather muscular (especially the hind legs). The coat of the Whippet is short and fine, lying close to the body. The colors are varied: black, white, piebald, isabella, blue, red, spotted (spots of any shade listed in combination with white).

Whippet photo:

Origin story

Whippets are not only sensitive and fast hunters, but also loyal house dogs. Most owners of dogs of this breed note their watchdog qualities. Moreover, whippets are not aggressive towards strangers, but they are almost always distrustful of strangers. These graceful dogs get along well with children, participate in any mobile activities for kids. Of all the greyhounds, it is the character of the whippets that is considered the most good-natured. In addition, male whippets are often even more reverent than females in relation to their own owner and other family members. These are very affectionate, loyal, active dogs, suitable for families who love travel, trips outside the city. They are unobtrusive and perfectly feel the mood or state of health of the owner, rarely spoil the property for the sake of play and their own entertainment.

For owners who do not have a minute of free time, whippets are unlikely to fit. They need quite a lot of time for walking, running. Often these dogs are attracted to participate in some kind of sport. - agility, frisbee, freestyle. If the owner of the Whippet has the idea to train the dog in hunting skills, then this will most likely be the best option for a pet of the Little English Greyhound breed. In hunting, whippets are recognized as very hardy, capable of delivering prey to the owner at great speed. In addition, whippets are perfectly trainable, they are smart, rarely resist the owner's commands. These dogs are distinguished by a lively mind, poise and wonderful behavior. In the event that the Whippet becomes a companion dog, it adapts perfectly to the foundations of the family that acquired it.

Whippet can be settled both in an apartment, allocating a certain space to the dog, and on the territory of a private house (or cottage), provided that the owner does not leave the dog alone for a long time. When living a greyhound in the fresh air, all drafts, a long stay on a cemented surface should be excluded. Mandatory conditions for outdoor living are an aviary and a booth, which must be insulated for the winter period, a soft bed with a removable cover that can be washed if necessary. In the most severe frosts, it is better not to risk it, since these short-haired dogs can easily freeze and get sick. On cold days, even for a street whippet, you can make an exception by inviting him to live in the house. By the way, often during winter walks, overalls and shoes are put on whippets.

The owner of such a fast dog (especially if the dog is kept in the city) should not lose his vigilance, since whippets, in whose veins the blood of hunters flows, may well set off in pursuit of an object or animal, run away or get into trouble. That is why, as a puppy, a baby whippet needs to be taught both to city life (train noise, car signals), and to the indispensable attributes of walking. - collar and leash.

Whippet walks are ideal - these are 2-time “outings” for at least 1.5 hours (especially for a dog living in an apartment that does not have enough opportunities for full-fledged physical activity). If for some reason the owner of the dog cannot devote much time to walking, then it is worth considering how to diversify the life of the pet, what kind of games will be interesting to him (for example, fetching the ball, pulling the rope, playing hide and seek, etc.). The game must be appropriate for the age of the animal, and the owner must calculate the strength of the dog and his own, so as not to harm the pet. It's good if there is a walking area near the house where you can meet other dog lovers, because it is there that the whippet will be able to communicate and play with his tailed brethren. True, it is better to start contacts with the outside world when the animal is vaccinated and learns the simplest commands (“to me”, “next”, “fu”, “sit”). By the way, whippets can often pull on the leash too much, as if controlling the owner. This dog behavior needs to be stopped.

Hunter Whippets are dogs that the owner loads enough. From an early age they accompany the owner during trips to nature, therefore, as a rule, they do not lack movement. But in the process of hunting, a dog can easily be injured (for example, bitten by some burrowing animal), so the body of dogs after catching game should be carefully examined for wounds, ticks, and abrasions. Participation in the hunt is taken by dogs that not only received all vaccinations, but also underwent deworming (or prevention of helminthiasis), and are also periodically wormed by the owner.

Grooming the Whippet's coat is simple, as it consists of weekly removal of dead hairs and skin flakes with a rubberized glove or brush. For animals of this breed, pronounced molting and the presence of a "dog" smell are uncharacteristic, they are quite clean by nature. Whippets are bathed no more than 2-4 times a year (if we are not talking about a show dog), the rest of the time it is enough just to wash their paws and remove unnecessary hair.

Dogs' ears should be inspected for parasites, debris, and abnormal discharge. Ears are cleaned weekly with a cotton pad moistened with a special agent for removing sulfur deposits (sometimes they use baby oil, boiled water, herbal decoctions). It is advisable to brush the teeth daily, and to prevent tartar and eliminate plaque, the owner can purchase dog treats that not only clean the mouth cavity, but also supply the body with vitamins. Whippet eyes are wiped daily (or once every 2 days) with gauze soaked in water or tea leaves. nimble dogs like the Whippet, you definitely need to cut your claws at least 2 times a month, because when running, long claws can lead to injury to the limbs, as well as problems with joints and gait.

If dog does not show interest in games, becomes lethargic and apathetic, she develops symptoms of ill health (gastrointestinal disorders, temperature changes, limping, plaintive whining for no reason, fainting, shortness of breath, overweight or underweight, etc.), then the owner needs to contact as soon as possible with a good veterinarian. Better yet, call him at home or (if the pet's condition allows) bring the animal to the clinic. Delay or self-chosen (and therefore often incorrect) treatment can lead to the death of a friend. It is desirable that the owner of the whippet have medicines agreed with the doctor to provide first aid at home in cases of poisoning, bites, electric shocks, and so on.

Whippets live an average of 10 to 14 years. And most often their health does not fail them, but there are certain problems that, although rare, are found: deafness (congenital), eye diseases (retinal atrophy, corneal dystrophy), heart disease (mitral valve stenosis), poor blood clotting (background disease). Willebrand).