Whippet
Whippet: does it suit you?
11 quick questions, the same ones this page answers. After each answer you see what the breed needs, and at the end whether it fits your life.
Whippet: a good fit for you
Whippet: could work, with compromises
Whippet: probably not the right dog for you
Your answers match what the breed needs.
Most of your answers fit. Check the points below before you decide.
Some of your answers don't fit what the breed needs. The points below show where.
What to think about
What fits
A better match for your answers:
None of the 42 breeds on this site fits your answers better.
The Whippet was a recognisable breed by the 19th century, used for hunting small game and killing vermin, which the Victorians developed into a gambling sport.[1] Whippet racing continues only on a very small scale; the breed has won many admirers in the show ring and, as a family companion, enjoys the comforts of domestic life.[1] Its FCI standard calls it an ideal companion, highly adaptable at home and in sport, gentle and affectionate, with an even disposition.[2]
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 10–15 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
Whippet: origin and history
Dogs of Whippet type were common in the Middle Ages, and 21st-century genetic studies have found that the breed descends from the Greyhound, which the Royal Kennel Club describes as a Celtic breed known to the Romans as Vertragus.[1] Whippet racing later became popular in the mining areas of northern England and Wales, and also in London and the Midlands.[1]
Early nicknames included the ‘Poor Man’s Racehorse’ and the ‘Lightning Rag Dog’, as the dogs chased a rag dragged along a straight course.[3] The name ‘Whippet’ seems to come from ‘whappet’, an old word for a small dog that yaps.[3] The American Kennel Club registered its first Whippet in 1888.[3] With Great Britain as its country of origin, the breed belongs to FCI Group 10 (Sighthounds), Section 3 (Short-haired Sighthounds).[2]
Fact sheet
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Size
- Medium
- Height at withers
- 44–51 cm [2]
- Weight
- 10–15 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Short
- Colours
- Fawn, brindle, black, white, blue, pied
- Low-shedding coat
- No
Character and needs
Rated on a scale from very low to very high.
- Exercise needsmoderate
- Trainabilitymoderate
- Grooming needsvery low
- Sheddinglow
- Barkingvery low
- Good with kidshigh
- Good with other dogsvery high
- Good with catslow
- Apartment-friendlyhigh
- Copes with being alonemoderate
- Watchdog instinctvery low
- Good for first-time ownershigh
- Affectionhigh
Whippet: questions and answers
Is it a good dog for first-time owners?
Yes. It rates 4 out of 5 for first-time owners. Training takes patience and consistency (3 out of 5 for trainability).
How long can it be left alone?
Up to 4 hours, once the dog is an adult and has learned to be alone step by step. A few hours alone work if you build up slowly (3 out of 5 for coping alone). More than 6 hours at a stretch isn't fair on any dog; plan for a dog sitter or daycare. Puppies need company: start with a few minutes and build up.
How much exercise does it need?
1 to 2 hours a day, spread over several walks. A mix of walks and play keeps the dog balanced.
How long does it live?
12–15 years is the typical life expectancy. That is about the average of the 42 breeds on this site (12.6 years). Breed-typical health risks: eye disease, heart disease.
How big does it get?
44–51 cm at the withers and 10–15 kg. Size class: medium.
Is it a good family dog?
Yes. It rates 4 out of 5 with children. With other dogs it rates 5 out of 5, with cats 2 out of 5. Never leave young children alone with any dog.
Does it shed a lot?
Little: 2 out of 5 for shedding. Grooming is quick: a brush once a week is enough.
Male or female?
47–51 cm at the withers for males and 44–47 cm for females, according to the breed standard. Character differences between the sexes are smaller than between individual dogs; upbringing matters more. Unspayed females come into heat about twice a year, and unneutered males can be restless around them.
Whippet or French Bulldog?
Biggest difference: good with other dogs (very high vs. moderate).
| Whippet | French Bulldog | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Medium | Small |
| Weight | 10–15 kg | 8–14 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15 years | 10–12 years |
| Coat | Short | Short |
| Good with other dogs | Very high | Moderate |
| Exercise needs | Moderate | Low |
| Good with cats | Low | Moderate |
| Apartment-friendly | High | Very high |
Who it suits
A good fit if you…
- live in an apartment
- are getting your first dog
- have children
- want an easy-care coat
- want a quiet dog
Whippet: the downsides
Every breed has a flip side. Before you decide, check that you can live with these:
- Chases cats
- 2 out of 5 with cats. Living with a cat works best if they grow up together, and even then not always.
- Breed-typical health risks
- Eye disease, heart disease. Choose a breeder who screens the parents, and consider health insurance.
- A long commitment
- 12–15 years of daily walks, vet visits and holidays planned around a dog.
Whippet: puppy price and monthly costs
£500 – £1,500 for a puppy from a breeder in the UK (Agria Pet Insurance, 2026). From £83 a month in running costs in the UK (PDSA, 2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
| Country | Puppy from a breeder | Running costs per month |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £500 – £1,500 [4] | from £83 [5] |
| United States | $850 – $1,500 [6] | $116 [7] |
| Canada | no data | CA$367 [8] |
| Australia | no data | A$210 [9] |
| New Zealand | no data | NZ$100 [10] |
- Set-up costs at the start: £415 – £560 for basic equipment, first vaccinations, wormers and neutering (PDSA, 2024).
- Dog licence in Northern Ireland: £12.50 a year; England, Scotland and Wales have none (nidirect, 2026).
- Dog licence in the US: $5 – $20 a year, set by the city or county (American Kennel Club, 2021).
- Dog licence in Canada: CA$25–60 a year in Toronto, less for a neutered dog (City of Toronto, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in Australia: A$20–200 a year, depending on the council and whether the dog is desexed (Mozo, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in New Zealand: NZ$78–182 a year in Auckland, depending on the dog (PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council, 2026).
- Puppies far below these prices often come without health checks or papers.
Health
Breed-typical health risks
- Eye disease [16]
- Inherited conditions such as PRA or cataracts. Good breeders have the eyes tested.
- Heart disease [17]
- Breed-typical heart conditions. Regular heart checks are sensible.
Health tests for the parent dogs
5 health tests appear in the breeding rules for the breed.
- No health test is required for breeding in the UK (The Royal Kennel Club); the table shows what is recommended.
- Needed for a CHIC number in the US (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) / Canine Health Information Center): eye exam, heart exam, and hearing test (BAER).
- No health test is required for breeding in Canada (National Whippet Club of Canada); the table shows what is recommended.
| Test | United Kingdom [18] | United States [19] | Canada [20] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip X-ray (HD)Hip dysplasia | not in the rules | Recommended | not in the rules |
| Eye examInherited eye disease, by a certified vet ophthalmologist | not in the rules | Required | not in the rules |
| Heart examInherited heart disease, by a cardiologist | Recommended | Required | not in the rules |
| Hearing test (BAER)Congenital deafness | not in the rules | Required | not in the rules |
| Thyroid testAutoimmune thyroiditis | not in the rules | Recommended | not in the rules |
● Required. ○ Recommended: advised, not required. – Not in the rules. The clubs and their rules are in the source list.
United Kingdom: the Royal Kennel Club’s Health Standard requires no test, so every test is ○ recommended.
United States: ● means the test is needed for a CHIC number from the OFA; taking part in CHIC is voluntary.
Canada: ● means the breed club’s code of ethics requires the test of member breeders; the kennel club registers litters without it.
What to ask the breeder
- Certificates for both parents: eye exam, heart exam, and hearing test (BAER). A claim that the parents are “health tested” is not enough.
- To see the puppies with their mother, at the breeder’s home.
- The pedigree papers (United Kingdom: Royal Kennel Club registration certificate; Canada: CKC certificate of registration; Australia: Dogs Australia pedigree, issued by the state body; New Zealand: Dogs NZ certificate of registration). [21] [22] [23] [24]
- 8 weeks: the youngest age at which a puppy may leave its mother in the UK, in Canada (Quebec), and in Australia (New South Wales). [25] [26] [27]
- Advice on buying a puppy: The Royal Kennel Club, The Canadian Kennel Club, Dogs Australia, and Dogs New Zealand. [28] [29] [30] [31]
Similar breeds
Sources
- The Royal Kennel Club: Whippet
- FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale): Breed standard No. 162: Whippet (2026)
- American Kennel Club (AKC): Whippet Dog Breed Information
- Agria Pet Insurance (UK): Whippet Pet Insurance - The UK's Most Trusted Pet Insurer (2026)
- PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, UK veterinary charity): The cost of owning a dog (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
- Spot Pet Insurance: What's The Price of A Whippet in 2025? (2025)
- ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): Cutting Pet Care Costs (2021). Covers food, vet visits, preventive medicine, insurance, toys and treats, boarding, dog licence, grooming supplies.
- Pets Plus Us (Canadian pet insurer; figures from OVMA 2024 Cost of Care research): HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGY? (EN-DOG_PPU_Cost-of-Care_Aug2024_v3.pdf) (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, dog tax, accessories.
- Animal Medicines Australia (survey by Sweeney Research/SNR): Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people (Pet Ownership Study 2025) (2025). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, parasite treatment, vet medicines, supplements, grooming, training, accessories, dog walking, boarding, transport, memberships, alternative healthcare.
- Companion Animals New Zealand (NZ Companion Animal Council): Companion Animals in New Zealand 2016 (section 6.3 Dogs, Fig 50) (2016). Covers food, vet visits, dog tax, boarding, equipment, grooming, healthcare products, insurance, training, other costs.
- nidirect (official government website for Northern Ireland): Dog licensing and microchipping (2026)
- American Kennel Club: Are You Financially Prepared for a Puppy? Explore Costs of Owning a Dog (2021)
- City of Toronto: Pet Licensing Fees (2026)
- Mozo: How much does it cost to own a dog or cat in Australia? 2026 (2026)
- PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council: Auckland Dog Registration 2026–27: Late Fees Now Apply — Full Fee Table (2026)
- Veterinary Ophthalmology 20(5):450-459 (Somma AT et al.): Characterization of a novel form of progressive retinal atrophy in Whippet dogs: a clinical, electroretinographic, and breeding study (2017)
- PLoS One 10(10):e0141234 (Stern JA et al.): Severity of Mitral Valve Degeneration Is Associated with Chromosome 15 Loci in Whippet Dogs (2015)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Royal Kennel Club Health Standard: A complete guide to health testing for responsible breeding (2026)
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) / Canine Health Information Center (CHIC): CHIC Program Requirements and testing statistics: Whippet
- National Whippet Club of Canada: National Whippet Club of Canada Code of Ethics
- The Royal Kennel Club: What should the breeder give me?
- The Canadian Kennel Club: By-Laws (incl. Code of Ethics (2025)
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Importance of Pedigree Papers
- Dogs New Zealand (New Zealand Kennel Club Inc.): Registration Regulations (Section 4, Reg. 24: Litter Registration Limitations (2026)
- UK Government (legislation.gov.uk): The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/486), Schedule 6 (breeding dogs) and Schedule 3 (selling animals as pets) (2018)
- Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ): Guide d'application du Règlement sur le bien-être et la sécurité des animaux domestiques de compagnie et des équidés (reproduces CQLR c. B-3.1, r. 0.1, art. 36) (2023)
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), State of New South Wales (fact sheet hosted by Dogs NSW): New laws for dog breeders in NSW (fact sheet on the 2024-25 amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and Companion Animals Act 1998) (2025)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Questions for the breeder
- The Canadian Kennel Club: Finding an Accountable Breeder
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Choosing a Breeder
- Dogs New Zealand: How do you go about purchasing a pedigree pure bred dog?
Breeding rules, health sources and breed standards checked October 8, 2026.
Prices as published by the sources; collected October 8, 2026.
Breed traits describe typical tendencies. Every dog is an individual, shaped by genes, upbringing and training.