Whippet

Most definitely! Whippets are super social and like to be involved in family activities, even if that’s just lounging on the sofa having a snuggle and snooze. This affectionate breed is wonderful with children as long as they know how to interact with delicate dogs, they can be great for easing anxiety because they love companionship. Though they’re often seen as lazy, they do need regular daily exercise. A thorough training session with the family is good for keeping their smart brains active and tires them out nicely before nap time!

Whippets love tickles, strokes and gentle snuggles. They thrive on affection and love to give you affection too, snuggling up close to you and gaze into your eyes while you chat to them softly. Nothing will bring them happiness like sitting on the sofa with the whole family by their side. 

Yes, absolutely! Whippets love their toys, especially if they have lots to choose from and will happily play on their own or with their humans. Being playful is the best way to encourage your Whippet to stay close to you and come when they are called as they were originally bred to hunt. Owners might see their natural hunting instincts when they play with soft toys. Be extra careful when running around with your Whippet, they have thin skin, so accidents might happen when they are playing. Young whippets love to zoom around from furniture to furniture, so watch them closely as they’re delicate yet rough little souls.

Whippets may be small, but they will make their voice heard if they’re bored and need their human’s attention. They can get over-excited while playing too and bark with glee. One thing’s for sure, they certainly won’t win any awards for their watchdog skills.

These little lovelies adore their family and can be very clingy towards their favourite people. They can become very anxious when left home alone if this isn't worked on when they’re a young pup.

As they have natural hunting instincts, they have a high prey drive and won’t hesitate to chase and harm small, furry pets. 

All dogs need both physical and mental exercise, including Whippets, without this, they can become bored and end up barking lots, or causing mischief like pinching food.

Whippets are sensitive little souls that need positivity in their lives to build strong relationships with their owner. You should aim to be the best thing in your whippet’s life, and they’ll never leave your side. They’re a very small, dainty breed so they need be handled with care and have easy access to a comfortable bed to rest their little legs. A Whippet isn’t just a family pet, they’re a member of the family and like to be included in everyday activities like rest and play while being chatted to. 

Whippets don’t need as much exercise as people think! All they need is the opportunity to run at the speed of light if they wish (which is an amazing sight) but they can’t keep it up for long periods of time. They love a walk and can handle long distances, but continuous running is not their thing. They’re a fragile breed, so open, flat land such as fields or beaches are great for off-lead sessions.

These bright little dogs also enjoy keeping their brains busy and some enjoy dog sports! This is a great way of keeping them mentally and physically active. If not, they’re just as fond of toys they can chase, shake and squeak.

All puppies need to learn how to be around people, pets, and other dogs, in a calm and polite way (known as socialisation). They also need help to feel calm, comfortable, and confident in everyday situations like travelling, the sound of traffic, and being in busy places (known as habituation). This is essential to prevent tricky behavioural problems in the future, and you'll be off to a great start with your ongoing training.

Whippets are very bright and highly motivated by food so training will be rewarding for both of you. Teaching recall (getting your dog to come when called) is essential for dogs like Whippets because they love to chase, especially if you’re in a rural area where there’s wildlife about.

If you want to train your dog to be home alone, a ‘home alone’ box filled with lots of activities and toys to keep them occupied is a great place to start.

Most breeds, including Whippets struggle when they reach their teenage years, but keep going with your training and you’ll see them blossom into well-rounded adults.

Whippets have smooth, satin coats and don’t require much grooming. Their coats are super easy to maintain and all you need is a grooming mitten to brush them down with. 

Whippets are said to be one of the healthier dog breeds out there, it’s always worth buying from a respectable breeder to be sure. They can be prone to certain eye and heart issues as well as arthritic joints. As they have very thin skin and little body fat, they are also at risk of catching their skin on things and getting scratches. They can also hurt themselves when doing zoomies, leading to broken bones, especially toes which is common.