Buzz
These swift little dogs can disappear in an instant. Dive into the world of the energetic English racing breed.
1. THEY’RE INCREDIBLY FAST.
Whippets hold the title of the fastest domesticated animals for their size. They can reach astonishing speeds of up to 35 mph, partly due to their distinctive running technique. Much like greyhounds, they employ a double suspension gallop. When in motion, their feet alternate between touching the ground and all four paws being airborne, aligned parallel to the surface.
2. THAT COULD BE THE ORIGIN OF THEIR NAME.
The term “whip it” is an old English expression meaning to move swiftly, often linked to riders urging their horses to speed up. Another possibility is that the name stems from a misspelling of "wappet," a term for a small, yapping dog.
3. THE BREED ORIGINATES FROM THE 1600s.
Whippets and similar sighthounds have appeared in art and literature since the 1600s (the first recorded mention of a whippet was in 1610). However, the concept of a formal pure breed didn’t emerge until the 19th century. Before breed clubs were established, there was extensive crossbreeding among dogs, but it’s widely believed that whippets descended from greyhounds and terriers.
4. THEY WERE KNOWN AS THE POOR MAN’S GREYHOUND.
Greyhounds were regarded as sophisticated and graceful dogs, making them accessible only to the wealthy. The less affluent class opted for the humble whippet. While greyhounds were used in coursing, whippets were primarily utilized for hunting rabbits to provide food for their owners. These dogs were also frequently involved in gambling. Known as “snap dogs,” whippets would enter arenas with rabbits and swiftly capture them. The rabbits had no chance of escape, making the sport unpopular among the upper class. Later, owners discovered that the dogs would chase waving rags, leading to the creation of a new form of dog racing.
5. ENGLISH MILL WORKERS INTRODUCED THEM TO AMERICA.
In the 1900s, workers in textile mills in Massachusetts spent Sundays enjoying coursing and other sports with their whippets. For a while, the state became the center of dog racing.
5. FOR A WHIPPET, THE COUCH IS AS APPEALING AS THE RACE TRACK.
Whippets adore running and excel as sprinters, but after short bursts of energy, they’re eager to relax. If you own a whippet, be ready to share your couch space.
6. THEY REQUIRE EXTRA LAYERS IN COLD WEATHER.
Whippets have minimal body fat—weighing only 15 to 30 pounds—so they need additional clothing when temperatures drop. (Fortunately, they look absolutely adorable in sweaters and jackets.)
7. SOME ARE INCREDIBLY MUSCULAR.
A unique gene mutation, found exclusively in whippets, can result in extraordinary muscle development. These exceptionally fit dogs are known as bully whippets. Unfortunately, breeders often euthanize these dogs for failing to meet breed standards.
The myostatin gene is responsible for their muscular physique. A normal whippet has two standard myostatin genes, while two mutated genes create a bully whippet. This mutation persists because having one of each gene produces an exceptionally fast racing whippet.
A bully whippet named Wendy gained fame in 2007 due to her remarkably muscular build. Labeled the “world’s strongest dog” (though this is debatable), Wendy became a public sensation. Speculations about Wendy being on steroids or a genetically engineered military dog spread online. In truth, Wendy was an ordinary whippet with a slight genetic variation.
8. THEY’RE HIGHLY POPULAR.
Among sighthounds, the whippet is the most favored in the United States. The American Kennel Club ranks it as the 55th most popular dog in the country. (In comparison, the greyhound is 141st, and the borzoi is 99th.)
9. DON’T EXPECT THEM TO BARK.
Whippets are generally very quiet and amiable dogs. This means they aren’t ideal for guarding you or your home: most adore strangers, and some whippets rarely, if ever, bark.
10. THEY’RE TOO ADORABLE FOR HORROR FILMS.
In the movie Alien 3, an alien chest-burster was supposed to emerge from an ox. These creatures were designed to mimic the animals they came from, so the filmmakers needed a small, fast animal to portray the alien. Whippets seemed like the perfect choice. However, after dressing one in the alien suit, two issues arose: First, covering a dog’s face caused distress, and second, whippets have an irresistibly charming gait. Seeing a whippet run down a hallway in costume wasn’t nearly as terrifying as the director intended, leading to the idea being abandoned.
