Is A Whippet For You?
It is an accepted fact - Whippets are NOT for everyone! They can be frustratingly independent, aloof and have a tendency to run away (they turn off their hearing aids when they are out of your reach). They are not disobedient - they just can't be trusted and they can't be trusted because they are too fast and can find themselves someplace dangerous (like the middle of a road) before they even realize how they got there. Add to that; the most comfortable chair in the house is 'theirs', counter-surfing (did you put that steak far enough back? Probably not) and definitely add to that list -'thief', (shoes, pens, remote controls, etc). They are not for people who want a protection dog, a swimming companion or an exclusively outdoor dog. If you live in a polar climate or if you don't believe in leashes - Whippets are NOT for you.
But, if you want a companion that is intelligent, sensible, endearing and graceful looking - then a Whippet IS for you. They like nothing better than to rest snuggled beside or on their owner's lap. They tend to follow their owner from room to room, waiting patiently (or not) outside a closed door for their special person to come back out. They stare poignantly into that person's eyes, giving their heart completely.
Whippets are as gentle in action as they are in appearance. They are patient with children and kind with each other, but this makes them vulnerable to mishandling by unsupervised children and injury by unfriendly dogs. They are playful but not relentlessly so unless it is a game they enjoy - Frisbee is a favorite of many and of course 'catch me if you can' is a definite favorite of most, but that is because they NEVER lose.
Whippets are not noisy dogs and seldom bark without reason. Most will announce an uninvited dog or other visitor in the yard but their propensity to greet all strangers with a wagging tail or at worst, a look of annoyance for waking them, makes them worthless as protection dogs. The Whippet's most dangerous weapon is its tail and those who have been hit by a whippet tail wagging happily at top speed, have their own assumptions about the origin of the Whippet's name. A tail whipping can leave welts on human legs and clear coffee tables.
The Whippet spends most of its day sleeping (storing up energy for its explosive bursts of speed). Therefore, they do need a chance to burn off that energy every day, so a very long walk or the chance to run in a safe, fenced area, is required. Since their body is built on the coiled spring design, they are amoung the world's best fence jumpers (and the best thing to chase is always on the other side of the fence) so make the fence tall. The Whippet propels its body at enormous speed and once in a while, it crashes. Usually, it rolls a few times and keeps on running - sometimes it breaks something.
The Whippet has thin skin and is prone to lacerations. It has very little body fat and can become easily chilled. Like other sighthounds, this low body fat produces an anesthesia sensitivity and this MUST be discussed with your Veterinarian before any surgery. All this said, the Whippet is usually extremely healthy, with very few to no health issues and they usually live 12 to 14 years with 16 years not being unusual, so do not go into being owned by a Whippet on a whim.
NOW, IS A WHIPPET FOR YOU?
