12 Whippet Pros & Cons: What to Know Before Getting One
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A friendly, gentle, and athletic dog who looks like a tiny Greyhound. What comes to your mind when you read this? A Whippet, right?
Whippets are sweet, playful, and docile dogs with strong hunting instincts. As much as they like chasing smaller animals, they love to curl up on the couch with their human parents. This makes them one of the best family dogs out there. If you want a super active dog who likes to run around the house and yard, Whippets will be your right choice.
However, their athleticism and strong chase drive can make it difficult to manage them outdoors. These dogs are also highly susceptible to injuries due to their fragile bone structure. It also makes them sensitive to harsh weather conditions.
So, is a Whippet the right breed for you? To find your answer, evaluate the below 12 pros and cons of adopting these dogs.
The 7 Pros of Owning a Whippet
1. They Are Super Friendly
Finding the perfect family dog isn’t a piece of cake, considering over 200 AKC-recognized dog breeds exist. If you’re on the hunt for a friendly and affectionate dog, Whippets can be your true calling. These dogs like to spend time with other people and pets, especially with their owners.
Whippets have a sweet and loving demeanor. You will find them cuddling and snuggling up with you frequently, as they love physical contact with their human parents. These dogs love companionship and are quite loyal to their family.
They know how to uplift a house’s atmosphere with their lively and upbeat personality. Whether you wake up in the morning or return home after a long day, your Whippet will shower all their love on you through licking, kissing, and wiggling.
2. Whippets Have Low Grooming Needs
Who doesn’t love a dog with fewer grooming needs? Luckily, Whippets have a short, smooth coat with fine hair that doesn’t tangle. They also lack an undercoat, which is why their shedding levels are too low. It means you won’t have to vacuum your entire house regularly.
The Wihppet’s coat also stays clean, so there is no need for frequent bathing except when they get into a mess or smell bad. When it comes to brushing, you just have to use a soft bristle brush or a mitt to remove loose hair and debris from their coat. Your pup will look well-groomed in no time!
These dogs also have moderate nail and ear care requirements. You only have to trim their nails every few weeks to keep your dog at ease. For their ears, Whippets only need cleaning once a week to prevent wax buildup.
Let’s not forget the dental maintenance of these dogs. They require regular brushing with quality, dog-friendly toothpaste to avoid dental issues. If you’re up for these requirements, Whippets are all you need!
3. These Dogs Are Highly Athletic
Whippets are super athletic and agile dogs who love participating in physical activities. They have incredibly fast speeds due to their lean build, making them an ideal fit for various sports, such as racing, lure coursing, and flyball.
Lure coursing helps Whippets enhance their natural hunting instincts, while flyball improves their quick reflexes and chasing drive. In fact, there is a separate racing called “Whippet drag racing,” which allows these dogs to portray their athleticism and agility.
You’ll be amazed at how fast and smooth Whippets run! According to an estimate, these dogs can run 34 miles per hour.
If you want a dog for agility and obedience training, Whippets are well-suited for both of them. With their agility and athleticism, these dogs make the best competitors in obedience competitions and agility events.
4. Whippets Are Apartment Friendly
While some dogs are suitable for homes, others are ideal for apartments. If you live in an apartment, finding a dog that fits its limited space must be hard. There is also no separate space for playing in apartment complexes, making it hard for dogs with high energy needs to live comfortably.
Luckily, Whippets are ideal for both apartments and homes. They are among the best indoor dogs due to their calm demeanor and fewer exercise needs. In fact, they will be fine with short walks and regular playtime.
These dogs are medium-sized, requiring less space than larger breeds. Whippets also bark very less, making them ideal for apartment living.
All in all, Whippets are adaptable dogs who can adjust to their surroundings quite well. With enough love and comfort from their owners, these dogs will feel relaxed in any indoor setting.
5. They Have a Low Barking Tendency
As you know, Whippets don’t bark excessively. These adorable pups have a reserved and quiet personality, so they don’t get too excited or nervous in any situation. These qualities make them suitable to live in close neighborhoods.
However, it doesn’t mean that they don’t bark at all. You may find them barking to alert their owners or showing excitement while playing. That’s known as selective vocalization, and Whippets seem to be the maestro of it.
Another reason why these dogs don’t bark is their lack of territorial instincts. Whippets belong to the friendly dogs’ clan. So, they don’t bark excessively over passersby, whether other animals or people.
6. They Make Great Travel Partners
Do you need a companion for your traveling adventures? Look no further than Whippets, also known as Velcro dogs. These dogs like staying close to their human parents, making them loyal companions wherever you go.
Whippets’ compact size and adaptable nature make them ideal for traveling. Whether you go on a vacation or a road trip, these dogs know how to adjust to different environments like a pro.
So, if you’re a frequent traveler, you will get a sweet companion in the form of a Whippet!
7. These Intelligent Dogs are Easily Trainable
Whippets are smart dogs with an urge to please their owners. Their intelligence helps them grasp new things and commands easily during training. Believe us; nothing is more pleasing than seeing your pup picking up and responding to cues!
However, you must maintain positive reinforcement for these dogs during their training sessions. It motivates Whippets to give their best in training environments and make their owners happy.
The athleticism of these dogs also contributes a lot to their trainability. With their excellent focus and attention to detail, a Whippet can perform all sorts of exercises flawlessly.
The 5 Cons of Owning a Whippet
8. Whippets Are Sensitive to Cold
While the lean build of Whippets looks attractive, it comes at a cost. Their body has very thin skin that provides insufficient insulation to the dog. When they fail to retain their body’s natural heat, they become more susceptible to cold temperatures than those with double coats.
Moreover, these dogs have pretty low body fat composition. The fat deposits act as insulators for living beings to keep them warm in colder environments. Since Whippets don’t have sufficient body fat, they are more sensitive to cold.
Another factor behind their sensitive nature is low hair density. These dogs have short coats with no undercoats, making them susceptible to harsh weather.
Before bringing a Whippet to your home, you must consider all these factors beforehand. It can be pretty hard to ensure your dog’s safety in winter.
9. They Have a Strong Prey Drive
Whippets are known hunters with a strong prey drive. This natural instinct encourages these dogs to run around the house and chase small animals whenever possible.
Considering their speed, it will be pretty hard to manage them outside or in a non-fenced area. If things go out of control, your dog may get into a dangerous situation. So, you will always have to keep them on a leash, especially when going out for walks.
10. These Dogs Have a Fragile Build
Whippets have thin skin and lean build, but did you know they are quite fragile? Yes, these dogs have a delicate bone structure, making them prone to different injuries, such as fractures.
Whippets have lightweight, thin bones and minimal body fat and muscle mass. This provides less protection around the dog’s organs and bones, increasing their chances for injuries when engaged in rough play.
So, you must be super careful with your pet Whippet, especially during vigorous physical exercises. Make sure to keep an eye on your dog during their exercise and training sessions and prevent them from doing high-impact activities. You can’t put a strain on their fragile joints! Even a slight jump or collision can make your Whippet injured. Not fair, right?
11. Whippets Are Prone to Separation Anxiety
Like most dogs, Whippets are also vulnerable to separation anxiety when left alone for extended periods. These dogs love being around people, especially their owners. They become anxious and exhibit destructive behaviors when they don’t see them around. It could be chewing household items, digging in the yard, barking, or destroying anything they get their hands on. Some dogs even try to escape in distress.
The primary reasons for separation anxiety in these dogs are their emotional attachment to their human parents and desire for companionship. Simply put, Whippets love their owners quite a lot and get sad when they don’t see them.
While this condition is manageable with early socialization, it still requires much effort from the owner. So, are you ready to cope with this situation? If so, don’t be scared of adopting a Whippet; that’s not that big of a con!
12. They Are Unsuitable for Outdoor Living
Whippets are indoor dogs for many reasons. First, they have thin skin. Second, they don’t have thick coats. Third, their bones are fragile. Fourth, they have a lean build. All these factors make these dogs unsuitable for outdoor living.
Whippets also have a high prey drive, so keeping them safe outside, even on a leash, will be hard. You can never know when they hear the sound of their prey and start running. Considering their speed, it won’t be easy to catch them anytime soon.
Don’t even think about living with a Whippet outside if you live in a cold area. You know how sensitive these dogs are to colder conditions. But did you know these dogs are also susceptible to heat strokes in hot weather? There is no way you can live with these dogs outdoors!
Conclusion
Whippets are great family dogs. Due to their loving and affectionate nature, they love spending time with their human parents. You will find them snuggling with you under the blanket and enjoying your favorite TV show on the couch.
These dogs are also highly athletic, agile, friendly, and intelligent. They also make excellent apartment dogs due to their medium size, low barking tendency, and less grooming needs. However, not everything is good about them.
Whippets are susceptible to harsh weather conditions due to their lean build, less hair density, and fragile bones. They also have a strong prey drive, making them unsuitable for outdoor living. These dogs are also susceptible to separation anxiety.
Consider all these factors before bringing a Whippet to your home to make the right decision!
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Featured Image Credit: JitkaP, Shutterstock
