Living with a sighthound
Is a whippet right for you?
Whippets are the quietest, cleanest, gentlest dogs we know. They hardly bark, barely smell, and sleep most of the day. They are also sighthounds: bred to see something move and run it down at 35 miles an hour. Most of what goes wrong with whippets in new homes comes from forgetting that.
The honest version
Recall
No whippet has a reliable recall when a rabbit, deer or cat breaks cover. Off leash only in fenced areas, away from roads. Every year we hear of a sighthound killed by a car while “usually so good”.
Prey drive
Squirrels, rabbits, chickens and other people’s cats will be chased. Cats raised in the home are usually fine. Rabbits and guinea pigs are never safe loose.
Cold and rain
Almost no body fat and a thin coat: they need a coat below about 45°F, a fleece in winter and a heated bed. Many refuse to go out in the rain.
Sofas
Whippets need soft beds and will take yours. Bony dogs get pressure sores on hard floors. Decide your sofa rules on day one.
Exercise
Less than you think: two walks a day and a chance to sprint flat out a few times a week. A whippet who never runs gets restless; one who runs is a couch potato by noon.
Size and grooming
18–22 inches, 25–40 lb. Short coat, very little shedding, a bath a few times a year, nails every two weeks. Thin skin tears and needs stitching more than in other breeds.
Lifespan and cost
12–15 years. Budget about $1,500–2,500 a year for food, insurance, vet care and coats, plus the odd torn-skin repair at $500–1,500.
Alone time
They are sensitive and like company. A whippet left alone ten hours a day is an unhappy dog. Two whippets keep each other warm.
Before you decide
Are whippets OK with cats and children?
Most whippets raised with cats live with their own cats peacefully and will still chase the neighbor’s. Ours meet our two cats through a gate from week 5. With children, whippets are gentle but don’t love rough play; they are better with kids over six who can be taught to let a sleeping dog lie.
Can a whippet live in an apartment?
Yes, many do well — they sleep 18 hours a day. What matters is a safe place to sprint at full speed a few times a week (a fenced field, a dog park at a quiet hour, coursing) and someone home for much of the day for the first months.
Are whippets good first dogs?
Often, yes — they are quiet, easy to house-train and gentle. The two things first-time owners underestimate are the recall and the cold. If you can live with a leash near roads and a coat in winter, a whippet is a good first dog.
Male or female?
Males are usually a little bigger, more cuddly and slower to mature; females a little more independent. Both make excellent pets. We match on temperament first.