BRETICA Reg'd
Whippets and Quarter Horse's
About The Whippet
Information on the Whippet Breed
HISTORY:
The name “Whippet” first appeared in print in 1610. Many people support the theory that they are a cross between a Greyhound and Terrier dating from the 19th century in Britian. The antiquity of the Whippet is supported by many ancient sculptures and tapestries in many countries. Whippets were known to be great poacher's dogs and the coal miners in Great Britian raced them for sport and dubbed them the “Poor Man’s Greyhound”.
DISPOSITION:
Whippets are lively and alert but not in the least high strung. They are a very versatile breed that can run, play and then be a couch potato 10 minutes later. Whippets are very attached to their people and those they love. They are truly a great companion and prefer not to be left alone for long periods of time.
MAINTENANCE:
Whippets are low maintenance and only occasionally require a bath, but do enjoy a good brushing with a hound glove. Nails should be trimmed once a week.
ENVIRONMENT/EXERCISE:
Although Whippets can do well as apartment dogs, a fenced yard is ideal to have a whippet.You don’t require a lot of property, daily walks are all they need in exercise. They do mind the cold and the rain and should not be left in very cold temps for extended periods of time. Whippets are excellent house dogs and love nothing more than to snuggle under the covers. Whippets love to chase balls, frisbees and especially a white fur. A run in the park makes for a happy Whippet as long as there is a fenced-in, safe area. Whippets really enjoy lure coursing and racing where they get to chase a “fake” rabbit. Whippets are also very adept at Flyball and Agility.
WHIPPETACTIVITIES:
Whippets are truly the “do-it-all” breed. You can have a lot of fun with your Whippet whether you choose lure coursing, racing, showing, obedience, flyball, agility or just enjoying the wonderful companionship of this delightful breed.
GETTING A WHIPPET:
Now you know a little about the Whippet and have decided this is the dog for you? Go to dog shows and talk to the breeders there. Do NOT be in a hurry. Nothing worthwhile is attained overnight. Reputable breeders do not have puppies available all the time,but their puppies will be worth waiting for. Go visit a local breeder just to see what whippets are like in their home environment.
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CURRENTCANADIAN WHIPPET STANDARD*
General Appearance: The Whippet should be a dog of moderate size,very alert, that can cover a maximum of distance with a minimum of lost motion, a true sporting hound. Should be put down in hard condition but with no suggestion of being muscle-bound.
Size: Ideal height for dogs 19 - 22 inches; for bitches, 18 - 21 inches. These are not intended to be definite limits, only approximate.
Coat and Colour: Coat close, smooth and firm in texture. Colour immaterial.
Head: Long and lean, fairly wide between the ears, scarcely perceptible stop, good length of muzzle which should be powerful without being coarse. Nose entirely black. Teeth white, strong and even. Teeth of upper jaw should fit closely over the lower. Eyes large, intelligent, round in shape and dark hazel in colour, must be at least as dark as the coat colour. Expression should be keen and alert. A sulky expression and lack of alertness to be considered most undesirable. Ears - small,fine in texture, thrown back and folded. Semi-pricked when at attention.
Neck: Long and muscular, well arched and with no suggestion of throatiness, widening gradually into the shoulders. Must not have any tendency to an "ewe" neck.
Forequarters: Shoulders long, well laid back with long, flat muscles. Forelegs straight and rather long, held in line with the shoulders and not set under the body so as to make a forechest. Elbows should turn neither in nor out and move freely with the point of the shoulder. Fair amount of bone, which should carry right down to the feet. Pasterns strong.
Body: Back strong and powerful, rather long with a good, natural arch over the loin creating a definite tuck-up of the underline, but covering a lot of ground. Brisket very deep and strong, reaching as nearly as possible to the point of the elbow. Ribs well sprung but with no suggestion of barrel shape. Should fill in the space between the forelegs so that there is no appearance of a hollow between them.
Hindquarters: Long and powerful, stifles well bent, hocks well let down and close to the ground. Thighs broad and muscular, the muscles should be long and flat. A steep croup is most undesirable. Feet must be well formed with strong, thick pads and well-knuckled up paws.
Tail: Long and tapering, should reach to a hip bone when drawn through between the hind legs. Must not be carried higher than the top of the back when moving.
Gait: Low, free moving and smooth, as long as is commensurate with the size of the dog.
Faults: Light yellow or oblique eyes should be strictly penalized. Gay ears are incorrect and should be severely penalized. Loaded shoulders are a very serious fault. A thin, flat open foot is a serious fault. A short mincing gait with high knee action should be severely penalized.
Disqualifications: Undershot mouth and any coat other than that described in the standard.
Whippet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Whippet | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Country of origin | ||
| England | ||
| Classification and breed standards | ||
| FCI: | Group 10 Section 3 #162 | Stds |
| AKC: | Hound | Stds |
| ANKC: | Group 4 (Hounds) | Stds |
| CKC: | Group 2 (Hounds) | Stds |
| KC (UK): | Hound | Stds |
| NZKC: | Hounds | Stds |
| UKC: | Sighthounds & Pariahs | Stds |
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For other uses, see Whippet (disambiguation).
The Whippet is a breed of dog, specifically a member of the sighthound family. They are active and playful and are physically similar to a small greyhound. Their popularity has led to the reuse of the Whippet name on a large number of things, from cars to cookies.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Appearance
Whippets are a medium-size dog ranging from 25 to 40 lb (11–18 kg), with a maximum height of 22 inches (56 cm). Because color is considered immaterial in judging whippets, they come in a wide variety of colors and marking patterns, everything from solid black to solid white, with red, fawn, brindle, blue, or cream. All manner of spots and blazes and patches are seen, sometimes all in the same litter.
[edit] Temperament
Whippets are generally quiet and gentle dogs, content to spend much of the day sleeping. They are not generally aggressive towards other animals, and although especially attached to their owners, they are friendly to visitors. They are not prone to snapping, so they are good with young children. Because of their friendly nature they have often been known to be used in aged care facilities. They may or may not bark when strangers arrive, and are not suited to be guard dogs due to their trusting and unsuspicious nature. They do however tend to attack cats that stray onto their territory. Outside, particularly when they are racing or lure coursing, they demonstrate their superb athletic skills and will pursue their “quarry” (even when it is an artificial lure) with the heart of a lion.
Unlike some other breeds, the males are as easy to housebreak, and no more aggressive, than females. Both sexes make excellent pets. Males are sometimes considered to be slightly more loyal and to enjoy repetitive play. Females can be a little more complex and strong-willed, but are equally devoted to their owners. Males tend to be one to two inches taller, and three to six pounds heavier, than females.
Whippets are not well adapted for living in a kennel or as outside dogs. Their coats do not provide the insulation to withstand prolonged periods of exposure to the cold. Their natural attachment to people makes them happiest when kept as housepets. They are most at home in the company of their owners, in their lap or lying next to them on the lounge. Whippets are quiet and thus well suited to apartment life, although they do need regular exercise. The chance to run free in open spaces should be made available to the whippet. Care, however, should be taken with Whippets on the street as it is difficult to instil any sort of traffic sense into them.
Whippets, as their heritage would suggest (they have been called a "poorman's greyhound"), are outstanding running dogs and are top competitors in lure coursing, straight racing, and oval track racing. In these events, a temporary track and lure system is set up. The lure is usually a white plastic trash bag. With new methods of motivational obedience training being used, whippets are becoming successful obedience dogs. Many enjoy flyball and agility. The elegance and ease of grooming of the whippet have made it a popular show dog, but to be successful at this sport, you must purchase a puppy who is considered by its breeder to be show quality.
[edit] Health
Given proper nutrition, exercise, and veterinary care, most whippets live for 12 to 15 years. They are generally healthy, and are not prone to the frequent ear infections, skin allergies, or digestive problems that afflict other breeds. Genetic eye defects have been found in the breed, but are still very rare. Because of this threat, the American Whippet Club recommends that all breeders have the eyes checked clear on their breeding stock. Hip dysplasia is not a problem in whippets. Undescended testicles are common in the breed. Whippets, like many sighthounds, are sensitive to barbiturate anaesthetics. The heart of a whippet is large and slow beating, often being arhythmic or even intermittent when the animal is at rest, sometimes causing concern to the owner, or to the vet not experienced with this breed. The whippet will demonstrate regular heartbeat during exercise.
[edit] History
These dogs were bred to hunt by sight, coursing game in open areas at high speeds. One can find numerous representations of small greyhound-like hounds in art dating back to Roman times but the first use of the word "whippet" was in 1610. There is a picture by Jean Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755) of "Misse", one of two English whippets presented to Louis XV, in the Washington National Gallery and another, with her companion, "Turlu", by the same artist in the Musee National de Fontainebleu. In the Nineteenth century, whippet racing was a national sport in England, more popular than football but the modern whippet was created when the English Kennel Club recognized the whippet as a show dog in 1890 and starting recording pedigrees. Early specimens were taken from the race track by dog fanciers of the time and exported all over the world. The whippet's versatility as a hunting, racing, exhibition or companion dog soon made it the most popular of the sighthound breeds. Like all dogs, it was often crossed with other breeds to suit its owner's purpose but it was not as is often mistakenly stated, "created" by working class people in the North of England although it was - and is - extremely popular there.
[edit] External links
- Breed Clubs
- Racing and coursing sanctioning bodies
