Caring for your Whippet

Whippets are comfort-lovers.  My Buddy liked nothing better than to crawl under the covers and sleep with me! While he may not sleep in your bed, a Whippet needs a  nice, soft bed to cushion his body as well as access to your sofa and bed so he can cuddle with you. For cold-weather walks, he'll need a sweater or coat to stay warm. He can't tolerate being outdoors in the cold for long periods. If  your Whippet will be playing outside in cold weather, you'll want to get him an insulated coat (preferably with leggings attached) with a collar that covers most of the neck and ears.  Boots are an excellent option.

A 5- to 6-foot fence will safely contain your Whippet in his yard. An underground electronic fence won't. Your Whippet will  ignore any shock if he can chase something and may not want to return to the yard when the excitement has worn off and he FEELS the shock! 

Whippets love a couple of 20- to 30-minute walks on leash daily. It's even better if he can run off leash in a fenced yard or park, but don't be surprised if his burst of energy lasts only a few minutes.  He's fast, but would rather be home cuddling on the couch.  Puppies under 2 have cartiledge where bone will eventually be so it is easily damaged if the pup is over exercised.  A general rule is five minutes for every month of age; in other words, a 5-month-old puppy should receive no more than 25 minutes of exercise per day.

Whippets are easily housetrained, and using a crate will help. I recall my 10 month old rescue Whippet getting scolded ONCE for an accident in the house - and he never did it again.  Your mileage may vary, but in generally Whippets are easy to housetrain.  A crate is your Whippet's safe place, and he won't want to soil it. Putting him in it when you can't watch him will ensure that he doesn't have an accident in the house or chews something he shouldn't. Every dog should have a safespace. 

Train Whippets with praise, patience, and positive reinforcement. Whippets are smart and willing and generally learn easily.  I took mine to obedience for the first time when he was 10 years old and he loved it.  They can be stubborn, but if they receive lots of praise, they will do anything you ask.  You should NEVER be harsh with a Whippet - they are gentle sensitve dogs and a scolding is usually more than enough.  Because they are sensitive, if you are too harsh they will stop working, or if you try to force them to do something, or hurt their feelings they will quit and pout.  They are really big on feelings!

With a little patience and consistency, you will find yourself the owner of a well-trained Whippet. After basic obedience you may want to pursue training in dog sports such as flyball, agility, and lure coursing - all great activities for the Whippets in your life.

Feeding

Recommended daily amount: 1 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into 2 feedings.

 How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don't all need the same amount of food. Obviously, a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato. Buying a high-quality food with a good amount of protein is necessary for a muscular dog such as the Whippet.  Find a good food on Dogfoodadvisor.com where you can compare quality, price and find out about any recalls or problems with a food.

Coat Color And Grooming

The Whippet's short, smooth coat lies close to the body. It can be any color or color combination. You'll see him in black, white, red, fawn, blue, cream, brindle, and various combinations of those colors with a wide variety of spots, blazes, and patches.  All are correct and they make every Whippet truly unique!

Keep your Whippet's coat shiny with weekly brushing, using a rubber curry brush or hound glove. This will help to remove what little hair the breed sheds. You shouldn't need to bathe your Whippet frequently unless he rolls in something stinky.

 A Whippet's skin is not as protected as that of other breeds and they can easily get nicks, scrapes, and tears that occasionally require stitches. Check him frequently for such injuries and to ensure that there are no infections in any of the nicks and scrapes - particularly if you've been out walking in the woods.

The only grooming he needs is dental hygiene and nail care. Brush your Whippet's teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it, or get him some dental bones to chew on to prevent gum disease and bad breath.

Trim nails once or twice a month if your dog doesn't wear them down naturally. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they're too long. Short, neatly trimmed nails keep the feet in good condition. Nails that have grown too long can cause strain on the legs and spine.

Always accustom your Whippet to being brushed and examined as soon as possible. Handle his paws frequently, many dogs become touchy about their feet.  Look inside his mouth and ears. Make grooming a positive experience filled with praise and rewards, and you'll always have easy veterinary exams or be able to remove that 'thing' he snapped up from his mouth.

As you groom, check for sores, rashes, or signs of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, in the ears, nose, mouth, and eyes, and on the feet. Ears should smell good, without too much wax  inside.  It there is any reddish gunk, check with your veterinarian.  His eyes should be clear, with no redness or discharge. Your careful weekly exam will help you spot potential health problems early. Because Whippets are extremely healthy in general, it's easy to get lax about these things.

Children And Other Pets

Whippets enjoy playing with children.  They are an excellent size and have a great temperament for children.  They are much tougher than they seem and as long as the children are considerate and gentle, they will get along fine!  Typical dog rules apply.

Always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. Teach your child never to approach any dog while he's sleeping or eating or to try to take the dog's food away. No dog should ever be left unsupervised with a child, that even includes the gentle Whippet.

Whippets like the company of other dogs, and the presence of another dog or two can help keep them from being lonely if you're gone during the day. They have a high prey drive, however, and aren't really suited to living in homes with cats. It's their nature to chase small furry creatures. Whippets can learn to live peacefully with cats, especially if they're brought up with them from puppyhood, but you should always supervise them when they're together and separate them when you're not home.