English Greyhound (Whippet) - master of dog sports

English Greyhound (Whippet) - master of dog sports

The English Greyhound, also called a whippet, is a slender, medium-sized dog that was bred for hunting small game. This graceful quadruped with a gentle, balanced temperament is an excellent material for both a master of dog sports and a domestic pet.

English Greyhound (Whippet)

English Greyhound - origin

The English Greyhound, as its name implies, comes from Great Britain. It was bred in the industrialized counties of northern England and Scotland. The dog was called the "poor racehorse" because it gained popularity among miners, laborers and small shopkeepers. It is believed that this breed was established in the first half of the XNUMXth century, although it is said that the images of whippet-like tetrapods could have been found much earlier. English Greyhounds, Italian Greyhounds and tall-legged terriers probably took part in creating the English Greyhound. According to experts and fans of the breed, the English Greyhound is an ideal race dog in terms of body build, height and speed.

The first time the term "whippet" to refer to a dog of this type was used around 1610. Apparently, two small greyhounds found their way to Henrietta Anna Stuart, daughter of Charles I of England. In Poland, the first dog of this breed probably appeared in 1965, coming from Czechoslovakia . However, national hunting law requires Sighthound owners to apply for permission to own them.

Suggested sizes and widths of accessories for this breed of dog:

Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog ​​is different.

Appearance

The English Whippet Greyhound is a muscular dog which, combined with his strength, grace and elegance, gives him a distinctive appearance. Due to a very slim head, set on a long neck and deep chest, and an S-shaped body, the whippet is perceived as a dignified and unusual quadruped. The slender figure of the English Greyhound causes some to call the dog "skinny", and the keepers are suspected of improper eating. Whippets have almost no body fat. Their natural hair is short, fine and close-fitting.

English Sighthounds according to FCI standards (group, section 3, pattern no. 162) are 48 - 56 cm tall (males), and females 46 - 531 cm. The dogs weigh between 11 and 18 kg, so don't worry if you see a whippet with visible vertebrae.

According to the breed standard, the color of the English Greyhound is not relevant. So you can meet whippets in all kinds of color combinations and marking patterns, from fawn to cream, from black to blue. Eye color can vary as well, but large, dark eyes are whippet standard. These dogs have large rose-shaped ears that are slightly bent (even when alert). This, combined with their large, dark eyes, gives them an irresistible, elven charm. The lifespan of individuals of this breed ranges from 12 to 15 years.

English Greyhound and his disposition

English Greyhounds are sensitive dogs. This applies to both weather conditions and emotional factors. The first aspect is related to the low resistance of this breed to unfavorable weather conditions (cold, frost, heat). Another one is the extroverted way of showing emotions by whippets, especially when they are afraid or happy about something. They show it with their whole body and you can then read their emotional state precisely.

The English Greyhound is perfect for children and seniors - it is gentle and caring. He also generally gets along well with other animals. Sometimes he can't resist chasing a cat running around the yard.

Life needs

The ideal conditions for an angel greyhound is a safe and fenced yard. He can also successfully live in a block of flats, as long as the owner takes the time to take him for long daily walks and regular exercise. After a good dose of physical activity outside, he is quiet in the apartment and generally chooses to lie on the couch.

Whippets need a very large dose of daily physical activity. They like to run freely without a leash and chase cats, rabbits and other small game in open fields. The English Greyhound loves various dynamic exercises, e.g. agility. It is also great at chasing a fur trimmer. In order to keep your pet in good condition, it is necessary to provide him with several minutes a day of fast gallops (intervals) in pursuit of a ball or Frisbee, interspersed with a leisurely walk.

Care

Since the hair of an English Greyhound is very short and smooth, grooming them is not difficult. Weekly brushing is required as well as regularly checking your dog's ears. You cannot forget about trimming the claws of your quadruped. Whippets have a very slight "dog smell" so they don't need regular baths.

English Greyhound and health

The English Whippet Greyhound is one of the healthier dog breeds and shows up at the vet mainly due to training injuries. These quadrupeds can also suffer from allergies: with general symptoms or contact allergies that can be triggered by both environmental and food allergens. An extremely rare genetic disorder that only affects English Greyhounds is Bully Whippet Syndrome - a gene mutation that affects muscle growth, makes the dog stronger and faster, but his heart may have trouble feeding so much muscle mass.

Interesting facts

  • The English Greyhound is the fastest breed of dog in the world, with record holders reaching an incredible speed of 65 to 73 km / h during sprints.
  • Greyhounds are referred to as "universal blood donors". 85% of whippets have a blood type that can be passed on to all other breeds of dogs.
  • One of the newest dog sports in the last 20 years is dock diving. The dog jumps from the dock into the pool and the one who jumps the farthest wins. The English Greyhound is very successful in this discipline: all Guinness records for the longest jump in the dock are held by Greyhounds: Sounders (2019), Slingshot (2018) and Cochiti (2012).

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