The name of the Whippet is a derivative of the term ‘whip it’. Perhaps, the name has something to do with the speed and agility that this particular breed of dog is known for. The Whippet was bred sometime during the latter part of the 18th century. It is essentially a cross between three breeds of dogs; the Italian Greyhound, the Greyhound and the Terrier.

Whippets were originally bred to hunt rabbits. But during the industrial revolution when farmers moved into the cities, there were no rabbits to hunt. So, these dogs were entered into races instead. The races were extremely popular as a form of entertainment as well as a gambling ground.  In modern times, the Whippets are used as show dogs and as companions.

The Whippet resembles the Greyhound in appearance. The body is well-balanced, strong, slender and graceful. Adding to the sleek appearance is the muzzle, which is long and slim. This dog belongs to the medium sized category. The average weight of a Whippet is between fifteen and thirty pounds, and the height ranges from eighteen inches to twenty inches.

The body of this breed is covered by a coat of short, smooth and dense fur. Due to its short hair, the Whippet is not suitable as an outside dog. Kennels are definitely not a good place to raise Whippets. Their coat length, combined with their natural tendency of being attached to humans, makes them good indoor dogs. As indoor dogs, they require very less grooming to stay healthy and also have minimum shedding, which in turn makes them ideal for being raised in the house.

Whippets are available in a wide variety of coat colors. Solid base colors include black, fawn, slate, brindle, blue or red. The coat is not necessarily solid and may include a mix of colors, which are present on the body of the dog as markings or spots.

The Whippet has a beautiful wedge shaped head with dark eyes. But, the color of the eyes can change according to the coat color of the dog. These dogs have a scissor bite, which means that the teeth of the lower and the upper jaw fit neatly onto each other. The ears of a Whippet fold stylishly along the neck line and resemble a rose.

The body structure of a Whippet is defined by clean lines. Whippets are strong runners and are built for speed. They have strong hind legs with well-muscled and broad thighs. The deep chest is accentuated by a long back, which ends in a long, pointed tail that conveniently folds under the stomach while running. The depth of the chest allows more oxygen supply to be breathed in while running. The overall body structure of a Whippet is very streamlined and adheres to the rules of aerodynamics.

The whippet is not a breed that is good as a watchdog. These dogs are calm and gentle by nature. This breed is also very affectionate, clever and handles children well. Because of these qualities, a whippet makes an excellent pet dog.