Whippet History
The origin of the Whippet is somewhat obscure, although dogs of whippet type and shape have been known in England for may hundreds of years. In medieval days, both large and small greyhounds were kept, and the latter would obviously be the ancestors of the modern Whippet.
The word whippet was generally used to describe any quick moving little dog, and it is only in the late nineteenth century that the Whippet was recognized as a separate breed. The breed was first recognized in England, with Whippet racing in mining areas, and until the First World War this sport was much more popular than greyhound racing. No racehorse received more care in its training than a mining family’s whippet.
Whippets are gentle and lovable pets to live with. The Whippet is a hound and therefore will chase more or less anything that moves – so an enclosed yard is essential.
He likes nothing better than a run over the fields, but will usually return when called. He is happy in close association with his human family and will take a full part in the family fun. Whippets were bred to race, hunt and course, and so he must get enough exercise every day – and then, after he tires, he will happily curl up quietly in a corner of your squishiest sofa.
The Whippet is a fairly modern breed, not much more than a couple of hundred years old. He was developed in Northern England, specifically Lancashire and Yorkshire, probably during the late 1700s, by crossing Greyhounds with fast, long-legged terriers. The result was a small, swift dog frequently used to hunt rabbits and other small game.
The Whippet became popular with working men in Northern England. They would spend their off hours seeing whose Whippets could kill the most rabbits or rats or whose was the fastest. Whippet races usually took place on a straight track across grassy fields. The Whippets would chase a rag or piece of cloth. The contests became known as rag races.
While the working class bred and perfected the racing and hunting spirit in the breed. The upper class perfected the look of the breed as it is today by adding in some Italian Greyhound for refinement. England's Kennel Club recognized the Whippet as a breed in 1891. The first Whippet to be registered with the American Kennel Club was a dog named Jack Dempsey, in 1888.
Today the Whippet continues to inspire admiration for his stylish look, versatility, and devoted companionship. He's ranked 60th among the 155 breeds and varieties recognized by the AKC.
