08 Feb Interesting Facts about the Whippet Dog Breed

Dogs are one of the most popular pets that many people are interested in keeping and taking care of them at home. There are different types of dog breeds in the world that are introduced as companion dogs. The Whippet breed is a type of hunting dog that has a smaller size among his types. They are very bouncy, lively and playful, and since they adapt well to the environment of humans, these dogs are considered a suitable option for a pet. In this article, we will provide information about grooming, diseases and appearance of the Whippet dog breed and the most suitable nutrition for him.

Knowledge of the Whippet dog breed

• Whippets don’t make a lot of noise and movement at home. So, he’s a suitable option for keeping in the apartment. But you should pay attention to meet his sports needs daily. You should take him for a walk or play with him in a yard or terrace. If the energy discharge of this dog isn’t provided, he will do damage and can annoy.
• This dog is relatively quiet and rarely barks.
• When you take him for a walk, you shouldn’t let go of his leash.
• This dog is very fond of following other animals. If you take him out, you will see his behaviour.
• You need a yard to keep this dog. The yard must have a fence. The size of the required fence is between 150 and 180 cm.
• Brush your dog’s hair weekly to keep him from shedding. He doesn’t shed much hair and brushing can prevent it from falling.
• Dogs of this breed are fond of children. But note that you should never leave your child alone with any of the dog breeds.

Basic statistic of Whippet Dog Breed

• Group: Greyhound
• Height: 46 to 56 cm
• Weight: 9 to 24 kg
• Age: 12 to 15 years
• Weight of the male dog: (17) kg, female: (14) kg.
• Height of male dog: (48-55) cm, female: (46-53) cm.

Whippet Dog Breed history

In the past, these dogs were used for protection and also as hunting dogs to participate in competitions. This dog is one of the most authentic and oldest known dog breeds in the world, which has a pedigree and detailed specifications. Their genealogy goes back to the 19th century and his ancestors are dog breeds such as Gray Hound, Italian Gray Hound and also terrier dogs. This breed can run at a speed of about 60 kilometres per hour, so he participated in competitions in the past. This sport was the reason for his popularity and fame. In addition to running dogs, he can also be used as a guard and companion dog. They are also excellent watchdogs and have become one of the most popular pets around the world today.

Health and disease

Whippet is a healthy dog and he isn’t prone to disease. But if you have a dog of this breed, it’s better to familiarize yourself with their possible diseases.

Sensitivity to anaesthesia

Dogs of this breed are very sensitive to anaesthesia and many of them won’t regain consciousness after anaesthesia. If your whippet needs surgery for any reason, make sure that the veterinarian is aware of this characteristic of whippet dogs before anaesthesia and surgery.

Von Willebrand disease

This disease causes bleeding. Bleeding caused by this disorder may be mild or severe. If your dog is suffering from this disease, necessary precautions should be taken before performing any surgery.

Deafness

This disorder may occur in both ears or one of them and cause the dog’s deafness. It’s better to use hearing tests to check your dog’s hearing. If a dog has a hearing problem in one of his ears, he can easily continue his life. But if both ears are deaf, he should be given the necessary training to continue living without the sense of hearing.

Nutrition

We suggest you divide your dog’s meals into two parts. You should give your dog 1 to 1.5 cups of quality dry food daily. Keep in mind that different dogs have various appetites and food intake. This amount depends on the dog’s age, metabolism, activity level and body size. Instead of giving him a lot of low-quality food, it’s better to use a smaller amount of high-quality food.

To check if your dog is overweight or not, you can feel his back using your hand. If you can easily touch his ribs, it means he isn’t fat. But if you can’t easily feel his ribs, it’s better to know that he’s a bit overweight. In this case, you should feed him in a controlled amount.

Whippet dog breed Grooming

• Whippet is a dog that comes in fawn, red, white, black, striped or a combination of these colours. His hair is very short and smooth.
• To keep the mouth, gums and teeth clean and healthy, brush your dog’s teeth 2 to 3 times a week. It prevents bacteria from accumulating in the dog’s mouth. If you want to keep his mouth from smelling bad, brush your teeth every day.
• Whenever your dog is walking and you hear the sound of his nails dragging on the floor, know that it’s time to trim them. On average, cutting nails once or twice a month is enough. Be careful not to cut his nails in such a way that he bleeds or causes discomfort and pain. Because it will become a bitter experience for your dog. In this case, he won’t cooperate with you next time.
• When your dog is a puppy, he learns better. It’s better to train him as a child.
• The feet of these dogs are very sensitive. So, always check his paws to make sure there are no signs of disease.
• Whenever you brush or clean his mouth, make sure that there’s no wound, redness or inflammation. If you see these symptoms, take him to the vet.
• A dog’s ears are also very sensitive to infection. Always check his ears and report any suspicious symptoms to the vet. Your weekly checkup should include your dog’s mouth, nose, eyes, ears, paws, and trunk.

Keeping place

You can keep the whippet in the apartment. He’s very calm at home and therefore is a good option to keep in the apartment. But this dog has a lot of energy and daily, you should consider a place to discharge his energy. A small garden or a terrace is enough for this purpose.

Compatibility

Whippet is a kind dog that loves children very much. He’s also a good game for your children. But due to his large size, he may hurt children unintentionally. If you keep a dog in your home, you should teach your child how to handle the dog well. Your child should know never to pull the dog’s tail and don’t approach him while eating or sleeping If the dog is being trained. Likewise, you should teach your dog to be sociable and behave with children at an early age. However, it’s better to never leave your dog and child alone with each other for greater safety. Close the Whippet when playing with the child.

Intelligence and ability to train

Whippets are intelligent dogs, but training them can be difficult because they aren’t as “quick” to learn new things as other breeds. Similarly, when training your whippet to do new things, take a little more time and have a lot of patience. They don’t respond to harsh corrections or heavy training and you must be fair and gentle to get good results, as with all training they must be treated gently. In the right hands and with proper guidance, Whippets can be trained to participate in obedience and agility competitions, both of which are activities they thoroughly enjoy. The old tradition of “a tired dog is a good dog” doesn’t work and you should try to train them when they are full of energy and have no physical problems.

Sport

Whippets are athletic or active dogs that need at least an hour of exercise a day, and this should be more than just a leisurely walk in the park. A short walk in the morning can be fine, but they need a longer, more exciting walk in the afternoon to be in a truly happy and healthy mood. Once a Whippet has had enough exercise, he’s more than happy to relax and curl up in his bed after exercise. Because they are prone to injuries and fractures, it’s best not to let your whippet escape from your playground or garden or play on hard and rocky areas. When they’re playing on smooth surfaces, they are much happier and safer. Young Whippet puppies shouldn’t be over-exercised as their joints and bones are still developing and putting too much pressure on them may cause some problems later in life.

To wrap up

The whippet dog breed is a hunter’s best friend who can quickly run after a rabbit. He’s an agile, flexible and lovable dog with a unique nature and friendly personality. He’s also an excellent family companion. To have a healthy and lively dog, you need to pay attention to nutrition, activity, fitness, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. In all these steps, you can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs, so they count the moments before the next session.