The Whippet: A “Coursing” Hound

There are arguments as to the origin of the Whippet. Some of the fanciers of the breed will tell you that this is an ancient breed that has been around since at least the fifth century A.D. A more common belief is that the Whippet was purposely bred down from the Greyhound when small Greyhounds were crossed with Terriers to produce an exceptionally useful rabbit hound and racer. At first called “Snap dogs”, these racy little hounds were used extensively for rabbit coursing by the local farmers in Great Britain. In order to produce more stamina in the breed they were crossed with bull terriers at one point.

These fast hounds were often coursed as many as twenty five or thirty times a day after the hares. The Whippet was often called “the poor man’s greyhound” and indeed they lived the life of their larger cousin , curled up by the fire on a winter’s night and running the rabbits daily during the summer months. When rabbit hunting lost its following, the little dogs were used as racing dogs and given a handicap based on weight. Because of this the smaller Whippet, weighing around 16-17 pounds, was more in favor than the larger Whippets that were formerly used for rabbit hunting, as those often weighed in at around 22-25 pounds.

When racing became the sport of favor, the smaller Whippet was prized above all else, being fed sometimes even better diets than their owners. The farmers wagered heavily on the races and a fast Whippet was a treasure. Because of the value placed on a fast dog, only the fittest and speediest were used for breeding and the Whippet became even racier and more refined of bone through the years.

Eventually the dog show fanciers took to the breed and by the turn of the century the dog had been admitted into the Kennel Club of Great Britain. It was appreciated and admired by the dog fancy for it’s elegance and racy lines, combined with a grace of movement that was unequaled in other racing hounds. Today they are shown internationally.

This is a breed with a light skin and delicate structure, often it is possible that the dog will injure itself by running into tree limbs and such. Whippet owners usually try to keep the pens that the dogs are in free from trees and shrubbery. Also it is a breed that suffers from the cold and needs to be kept indoors in the winter. However there are relatively few genetic diseases or other notable problems.

The Whippet is favored by more than dog show exhibitors, as agility and lure coursing and other active dog sports continue to rise in popularity. The dog continues to be bred with speed and endurance in mind and dog show exhibitors have not given in to any fads which would alter the function of the breed, as has happened in some instances with popular show breeds. Consequently the Whippet remains much as it has through the centuries, a hound which enjoys the show ring as much as the chase. Furthermore this is a dog that enjoys human companionship and is exceedingly gentle and with a sweet look about its face, reminding one of a fawn or deer….a breed which adapts itself very well as a therapy dog.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Dogs

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