Whippets, as most of us know them, are smooth and sleek. These lively and loving dogs are smaller than the greyhound yet they have a similar build. They have a sweet temperament and could be a great addition to any active family.
What is it?
There are many forms of heart disease, but the one that most commonly occurs in whippets is that one of their heart valves will weaken and become deformed. The valve won’t be able to close all the way, and so blood will flow around it, which causes irritation in the heart.
% of Dogs affected:
4-5 years: 22%, 6-7 years: over 50%, 9-10 years: over 75%
Clinical signs:
Heart murmurs, cough, fluid buildup in abdomen and lungs, avoids/cannot exercise
Treatment:
Medication & Control of weight
Other risks:
Enlarged heart
Amount a Spot accident & illness plan would cover*
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been met.
$8000
90% = $7200
80% = $6400
70% = $5600
What is it?
Progressive Retinal Atrophy leads to blindness. It’s genetically programmed in some breeds such as whippets. It doesn’t cause your pup pain, but there isn’t a treatment for it.
% Dogs affected:
Unknown
Clinical signs:
Difficulty seeing at night, dilated pupils, genetic testing.
Treatment:
Unknown
Other risks:
Cataracts
$2000
90% = $1800
80% = $1600
70% = $1400
Shy
They have a sweet temperament and could be a great addition to any active family.
Loving
They are very affectionate and love being with their family.
Energetic
Whippets are made for regular exercise and have a high energy level. They require daily exercise.
Child-friendly
They enjoy having someone to play with and are generally very peaceful with some affection.
Coat
Red heelers have a smooth double coat.
Colors
Fawn, blue, black, white, white and black, red,cream, blue fawn, blue brindle, fawn brindle, red brindle.
Hypoallergenic
No.
Grooming
Short-haired whippets require weekly brushing to remove dead hair.
Training
Whippets tend to be good at dog sports like agility, flyball and lure coursing.
Lifetime Care Cost:
$15051
Many know of the sleek and swift greyhound, but have you ever heard of the whippet? These lively and loving dogs are smaller than the greyhound yet they have a similar build. They have a sweet temperament and could be a great addition to any active family.
If you are wondering if the whippet would fit in well with your family, continue reading to learn more about this wonderful breed. As a prospective pet parent, you must learn about the breed you want to adopt, including their exercise needs and health conditions they might be prone to.
Whippets, also known as “snap dogs,” are a breed of dog that were named more recently, but they have been described and pictured in works from the Middle Ages. They resemble a small greyhound and were eventually mixed with some terrier breeds in England to produce a tougher dog. They were also later bred with the Italian greyhound.
Whippets became very popular among working-class English families since they didn’t require as much food as greyhounds. They were excellent hunters. As medium-sized dogs, they were often used for hunting down small game like rabbits. They’ve been called the poor man’s greyhound. Whippets are part of a group of hunting dogs known as sighthounds, which hunt primarily with their eyes.
In the late 19th century, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized them as an official breed. There was some debate about whether wirehaired whippets were a separate breed from the normal smooth-coated whippets, but they were eventually included.
As pet parents ourselves, we at Spot Pet Insurance understand what a huge responsibility it is to care for any furry family member, whether dog or cat. We want to equip you to be the best pet parent you can be by providing you with useful resources and information.
Whippets can make great companions for many dog owners, but do you have the time to invest in these lovable dogs? Read on to find out.
Most whippets people see are the smooth, short coat ones, but did you know that there are whippets with longer fur? These whippets are known as wirehaired whippets.
Whippets, as most of us know them, are smooth and sleek. Wirehaired whippets have long, coarse fur. They were once considered their own breed of dog but were eventually brought into the whippet fold.
Unfortunately for wirehaired whippets, they don’t fit into the breed standard set by the AKC, so they can’t become show dogs. The smooth-haired whippet is elegant and sleek, but the wirehaired whippet has a lovable scruffy look.
Whippets are very sweet dogs. They are very affectionate and love being with their family. They are loyal. If they could choose, they would probably spend all day just hanging out with you.
Whippets do need a lot of exercise, but they also enjoy relaxing after a long day. They are calm and laid back, with an easy temperament.
Whippets are obedient pups. Although they may not learn quite as quickly as other breeds, they will do their best to listen and learn. They are extremely loyal and respond to love with love.
If you have children in your home, one of the most important questions to consider is whether whippets get along well with children. How much chaos, poking and prodding can they take?
Whippets are actually very good with children. They enjoy having someone to play with and are generally very peaceful with some affection. They may have a bit more difficulty with children that are extremely boisterous; it is not very likely for them to become aggressive toward kids.
Whippets tend to be very good with other dogs, especially since they love having someone to play with.
However, if you have other small animals at home like cats or rabbits, a whippet might not be the best choice for you. They have a high prey drive that might be dangerous to your other pets.
Whippets might be very affectionate toward their family, but they are a little more reserved with strangers. Most whippets aren’t really the types of pups to jump on any new person who comes into the house in excitement.
That said, they’re not exactly guard dogs, either. They might bark at a stranger but aren’t likely to protect your home.
Standard whippets have short, smooth coats without an undercoat. They don’t do very well in cold weather. This also has to do with their low level of body fat. They don’t shed very much. wirehaired whippets have longer coats that require regular brushing.
Fawn, blue, black, white, white and black, red,cream, blue fawn, blue brindle, fawn brindle, red brindle.
Are whippets hypoallergenic?
No, they are not.
Short-haired whippets require weekly brushing to remove dead hair
The lifetime care cost of a whippet is around $20,000.
Whippets are also prone to:
Whippets are lovable creatures that are pretty easy to care for in some ways, especially if you love being active. They are loyal and love spending time with you, and their family. They deserve the best pet parenting that you can give them.
Every pet has different needs, so it’s important to understand the breed you’re looking into before making such a big commitment.
Adoption fee: $100-$1,500
[Expense: first year, following years]
Food: $600
Water/food bowls: $40
Collar and ID: $20
Leashes: $20
Dog bed and crate: $50
Toys: $50
Vaccines and routine care: $$720
Tick and flea prevention: $$240
Total: $1720
Some dog breeds have specific types of food that are toxic to them that aren’t toxic to other dogs, but the whippet isn’t one of them. Your whippet can have allergies or sensitivities to different food, but it isn’t as likely as other breeds.
There are some foods that all dogs should avoid, so we’ve listed some:
Whippets, as hunting dogs, are made for regular exercise and have a high energy level. They require daily exercise, but there are many ways that you can provide this for them. The main option is to go on a walk or run with them. Because they are sprinters, they can only run in short bursts. You should pace both yourself and your pup if you decide to go for a run.
Other types of exercise you can try are playing catch or fetch. Maybe you could invite a doggy friend over or take them to the dog park. Whippets do well playing in enclosed spaces. You would just need to make sure there is no way for them to get out.
Puppy: 0 to 12 months
Adult dogs: One-10 years
Senior: 10 years to end of life
