The Whippet dog breed was a hunter's best friend, quickly chasing rabbits and other small game. Today the breed competes in agility, flyball, lure coursing, rally, and obedience and is a loving therapy dog.
History
The Whippet is a fairly modern breed, not much more than a few hundred years old. It was developed in northern England, specifically Lancashire and Yorkshire, probably in the late 1700s, by crossing Greyhounds with fast, long-legged terriers. The result was a small, fast dog that was often used by poachers to hunt rabbits and other small game on local estates.
The Whippet became popular with workers in northern England, who in their spare time went to see whose Whippet could kill the most rabbits or rats or whose Whippet was the fastest. Whippet races usually took place on a rectilinear course that stretched across roads and fields. The Whippets hunted on a rag or a piece of cloth, and the races became known as "ragraces.
Personality
Friendly, quiet and gentle at home, the Whippet is intense in pursuit. He needs a leash or a fenced-in yard to keep him from chasing a moving object, whether it's a rabbit or a radio-controlled car. He doesn't bark much, but he is alert. Watchdog? Not so much. He will happily show the burglar the silver.
Known disorders
- Cataract