Whippet vs Greyhound - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Whippet vs Greyhound - Breed ComparisonBoth Greyhound and Whippet are originated from United Kingdom. Greyhound may grow 20 cm / 8 inches higher than Whippet. Greyhound may weigh 27 kg / 60 pounds more than Whippet. Both Greyhound and Whippet has same life span. Both Greyhound and Whippet has almost same litter size. Both Greyhound and Whippet requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Hound dog
undefined
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
71 - 76 cm
27 - 30 inches
45 - 56 cm
17 - 23 inches
Height Female:
68 - 71 cm
26 - 28 inches
45 - 56 cm
17 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 40 kg
59 - 89 pounds
6 - 13 kg
13 - 29 pounds
Weight Female:
26 - 40 kg
57 - 89 pounds
6 - 13 kg
13 - 29 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 12
1 - 10
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
English Greyhound
Snap dog, English Whippet
Colors Available:
Fawn to white, brindle and bi-colored, black, tan
Tan, black white,brindle an bi- or tri-colored., silver
Coat:
Short and smooth
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

greyhoundThe Greyhound belongs to a group of dogs known as sighthounds. This is an ancient sighthound breed dating back a few thousands years.

The dog has been bred for racing but today is also a popular pet. They’ve also been used for hunting too because of their keen eyesight and sense of smell.

In the United States there are Greyhounds registered with the American Kennel Club as well as those registered with the National Greyhound Association.

whippetYou can just see that Whippets are designed for speed with those super lean, slender bodies. They were developed by crossing Greyhounds with smaller terriers.

In open areas, they can pick up a high speed. In the 19th century in certain parts of England, they were used in races. They actually originated in England.

The Whippet is an ancient dog breed if you can go according to artwork which dates back to ancient Egyptian times.

They were also known as Snap dogs or small Greyhounds. You can say that the modern Whippet emerged in 1891. This was when the Kennel Club gave the breed official recognition. It was in 1888 that the dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Description

greyhound puppy - descriptionThe Greyhound is a tall, muscled, long-legged, slender dog with a flexible spine, a deep chest and exceptional eye sight.

The Males are usually about 71 to 76 cm in height with the females being slightly smaller. The dogs weigh in the region of 27 to 40 kg. The coat of the dog is short and smooth and is found in an assortment of colors, from fawn to white, tan, black and brindle.As far as grooming goes, he is looked upon as a low maintenance breed.

He has a long narrow muzzle, semi-erect/semi-floppy short ears and a long slender tail.

Sometimes referred to as being hypoallergenic, you need to allow your Greyhound indoors as the dog doesn't have an undercoat. He is therefore more susceptible to extreme temperatures. The face is long, narrow and pointed, the ears short and half-erect-half-floppy with a long, thin, whip-like tail.

Temperament:

Intelligent and gentle, the Greyhound is described by those who have owned them as wonderful pet. They are somewhat aloof around strangers but love their own human family. This is a non-aggressive, gentle, docile, calm dog. They are loving and get on well with their entire family, whether human beings or pets.

They’re sensitive dogs who appreciate quiet, calm environments. They may be quiet, but they are still social, loving the company of their family. They’re not great barkers and because they are non-aggressive, they don’t make wonderful guard dogs.

whippet puppy - descriptionThe Whippet is a medium-sized sighthound breed standing at between 45–56cm in height and weighing anything between 6 and 13kg.

They descended from Greyhounds, resembling them in looks, just smaller. They are part of the Hound group, It’s a deep-chested dog with a long, lean head with fairy large eyes, a long neck, floppy ears and slim legs. The tail is long and slender. The coat is short and smooth and comes in many colors – tan, silver, black white, brindle and bi- or tri-colored.

Temperament:

The Whippet loves to run but when they’re not prancing around, they love spending time with their human family and that includes other pets as well as children.

They’re demonstrative and love showing their love for their family. They’re able to adapt to life in the city or the countryside but they will need exercising.

This is also a dog that rarely barks. They’re willful dogs so will do well with training and socialization. In fact, without proper socialization, they can become timid in unknown environments. They're intelligent so wont have problems with learning.

If you’re looking for a good watchdog and protector, you won’t find these characteristics in the Whippet.

Characteristics

greyhound dog - characteristicsThe Greyhound, forgetting about the racing part, makes a superb pet too. He won't do well in a household where there are screaming, noisy children and adults as he wants a quiet home to live in.

He can get on well with kind, gentle, respectful children as well as with pets in the home. Just like any dog, he will also need training and socialization as this can build up his confidence and then he knows how to please his owners and what they expect.

The Greyhound will require a gentle, fair, kind owner who understands his need for peace and quiet, and then he becomes a most wonderful devoted, loyal and loving pet.

whippet dog - characteristicsWhen you bring a sweet-natured Whippet into your life and home you’ll discover that apart from reveling in having a good run, their next favorite thing is to be resting quietly wherever their human companions are.

They’re docile dogs, loving to snuggle up to you, and not enjoying the cold. These quiet, gentle dogs are totally non- aggressive, just wanting to be with you, making you a splendid companion and pet.

Health Problems

greyhound puppies - health problemsGreyhounds are a wonderfully healthy dog breed and with good care can reach 14 years of age. They aren't prone to many genetic illnesses and unlike so many other dog breeds, this is one dog that doesn't battle with hip dysplasia – in fact it is almost unknown among this tall, slim dog breed.

The Greyhound does however, have a deep chest and this is what makes him vulnerable to bloat or gastric torsion. You have to take action quickly if you detect bloat – the stomach swells up – as this is a life-threatening condition that can occur quickly when air is trapped in the stomach. The stomach can become twisted.

Make sure your Greyhound doesn't gobble his food too quickly and preferably give him smaller meals as opposed to one or two large bowls of food.

whippet puppies - health problemsThe lean Whippet doesn’t have any particular health problems but it is always a good idea to be clued up on some of the more common dog diseases there are.

Buying a Whippet puppy from a responsible breeder will help with ensuring a healthier dog as dogs like these have had a good start and will have been vaccinated and dewormed.

One of the diseases that you may want to be aware of is arrhythmia.

Arrhythmia:

This is when the heart of the dog beats too fast or too slow or it may even skip a beat. It is fairly common in dogs and it could indicate a more serious underlying condition.

An irregular heartbeat can bring about physical weakness and even loss of consciousness. Your veterinarian will want to examine your dog and listen to the history of symptoms and events that could have led to the condition. Your vet will then discuss treatment.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

greyhound dogs - caringYour Greyhound’s breeder will be the best guide for the type of- and the amount of dog food your hound will need. Of course, a growing puppy has different nutritional needs from a mature or senior Greyhound.

Growing puppies and young dogs use a lot of energy so they will require a diet rich in protein. According to Greyhound experts, an adult Greyhound dog will need an average daily caloric intake of 1740 calories.

Older dogs and those that have been spayed or neutered will need less. Apart from the very best quality kibble, your Greyhound will most certainly require raw meat from time to time. You can also give him some cooked chicken, vegetables and brown rice. He should have access to a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

The Greyhound's coat is smooth and short and he sheds very little so he will only need a gentle brush-down once or twice a week.

Exercise:

Having a relaxed lifestyle is what your Greyhound will love. He is a dog that needs to spend time indoors. When outdoors, whether you live in the city or the country, he will need daily walks and a run in the park regularly.

Just because he is a sprinter, it isn't wise to take him with you with cycling or jogging as he is geared for a short burst of speed as opposed to a long run.

Exercise:

whippet dogs - caringWhippets love running so if you’re lucky to live on a farm or at the beach, he will love those short bursts of speed in open places, chasing a ball. You can take him for a walk every day too.

Grooming:

Whippets are looked upon as low maintenance dogs that don't shed much. A good brush twice a week will be adequate for this slender dog. The skin is vulnerable to cuts so check him over when you’re brushing him and make sure he hasn’t any sores or scrapes on the skin.

Trim the nails and check inside his ears and mouth for signs of infection.

Diet:

How much your adult dog eats depends on his size and his activity levels. Dogs are individuals and not all Whippets will eat the same amount of food. Puppies require 4 bowls of food a day while the adult Whippet will want 2 bowls of food.

There are excellent dry kibble dog foods on the market but your Whippet will also like some home-made food like chicken and vegetables. The quality of dog food you provide for your Whippet will make a huge difference to his health.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Whippet vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Whippet vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Whippet vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Whippet vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Whippet vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Whippet vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Whippet vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Whippet vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Whippet vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Whippet vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Whippet vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Whippet vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Whippet vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Whippet vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Whippet vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Whippet vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Whippet vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Whippet vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Whippet vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Whippet vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Whippet vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Whippet vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Whippet vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Whippet vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Whippet vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Greyhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Greyhound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Greyhound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Greyhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Greyhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Greyhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Greyhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Greyhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Greyhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Greyhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Greyhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Greyhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Greyhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Greyhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Greyhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Greyhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Greyhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Greyhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Greyhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Greyhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Greyhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Greyhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Greyhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Greyhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Greyhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison