How the small English greyhound breed was born, the standard of external data, the behavior of the Whippet, health, advice on care: nutrition, training. Purchase and price of a puppy. These small dogs resemble greyhound puppies, but before us are quite adult animals. They are beautiful and lightning fast, and they think faster than they run. But at the same time, you will not find a quieter and more pleasant pet for keeping in an apartment. If you have dreamed of getting a greyhound all your life and are afraid that it will be cramped in the city, then feel free to start a smaller copy of it - a whippet. They have two speeds: seventy kilometers per hour when hunting, and zero when at home. In their group, these dogs are the most pliable, that is, they like to do something with the owner, no matter what. The breed may not suit everyone, but it combines beauty, strength and grace with love and devotion. Hunters claim that you can even hunt a wild boar with them.
How did the small English greyhound breed come about?
The name "whippet", takes roots from the Old English word "whipp", according to the 1950 dictionary it can be translated as - a dog for baiting small game. A later interpretation of the breed's name means - a whip blow. Both translations justify the name. The animals are really very fast, sharp. It is believed that the dogs are the descendants of the pharaoh dogs and have existed for two thousand years ago. See the famous statue of the goddess Diana At her feet you will see for yourself that you cannot eat a real whippet.
They most likely came to the British Isles in the first century, together with the Roman conquerors. Proof of this evidence is the stunning statue of a dog, which stands in the hall of ancient art of the famous Louvre. The sculpture dates back to two and a half thousand years, but how exactly is a dog made of stone similar to the current whippet. The truth, as always, is somewhere in between. Perhaps the ancestors of these dogs and came to Britain many centuries ago, but the modern Whippet is still a truly English breed.
If Greyhounds can be seen on works of art from the time of the Roman Empire, then for the first time the hound was mentioned in English in 1610. The current hounds were bred by representatives of the working class in Northern England in the 10s of the 19th century. People brought the Greyhound with a tall-legged terrier so that the dog could hunt and immediately bring the rabbits to the "pan".
Due to their outstanding eyesight, hounds are the most popular hunting dogs. They run in the dark as if they have a night vision device. Their view is two hundred and fifty degrees, while a person has only one hundred and eighty. Due to the narrow head, the eyeballs protrude more to the sides and allow you to expand the visual range. Their legs, similar to those of a hare, pierce the ground with tremendous force, although the trace from them remains faint. The most common whippets are short-haired, but also long-haired.
At first, Whippets were used for an amusement called "baiting with grabbing dogs." In a corral of not a huge area, rabbits and specially trained small greyhounds were allowed. The victory was won by the dog who caught the "eared" the most. Later, Whippets began to be used for the so-called "rag races". There were no living animals at such competitions, a man was standing behind the finish line waving a rag and specially trained dogs rushed to the final. They even had the nickname "the poor running horse." In the countryside, they did an excellent job of hunting rats.
In 1890, the Whippet recognized the English Kenel Club, and thirteen years later, in the 19th century, the standard of the species was set and it has practically not changed to this day. For all its compactness, the species is not inferior to Russian greyhounds in running speed. At a short distance, they can accelerate faster than their taller counterparts.
Description of the standard external data whippet
Graceful dog of average parameters. She occupies a position between a large greyhound and a small Italian greyhound. Very playful and strong - without rudeness. Built for fast running. The Whippet is a great companion. According to the accepted standard, the height at the withers in males is from 48 cm to 50 cm, in bitches from 43 cm to 46 cm. With an error of plus or minus one centimeter. Weigh from 9 kg to 12.5 kg. They move smoothly, freely and easily - they spread.
- Head dry, long, flat in the skull. The forehead is wide between the eye sockets. The occipital part of the cheekbone and the brow ridges are not prominent. All head lines should be smoothly blending.
- Muzzle elongated, tapering towards the end. It is the same length as the skull. The bridge of the nose is smooth. The stop is smoothly rolling. The lips are dry and tight. The teeth are strong, white, large, approximately on a par with the Doberman. Scissor bite.
- Nose moderately developed. It can be of different colors, depending on the color of the greyhound. With blue wool - blue, with liver - liver, isabel and cream or other dilute color can have a different shade, but not pink. White-colored or piebald dogs have a completely non-pigmented, two-colored nose.
- Eyes Small English Greyhound medium, oval, not very wide apart, bright. The eyelids are dry, tight-fitting. The color of the cornea is preferably dark - brown or black-brown. The look is intelligent, expressive and attentive.
- Ears set high, well tightened, folded as if in a scarf. Their shape has a name - rose petal. They are neatly wrapped inside the auricle and do not hang down.
- Neck long, beautiful, slightly curved like that of a thoroughbred stallion, well muscled. The withers are not prominent, there is no dewlap.
- Frame elongated, resilient and muscular. The back is quite straight, strong, but with a bulge in the lumbar region (a prerequisite for the standard). The ribcage is deep and long to give room to the heart and lungs for good running endurance. The ribs are harmoniously curved. The underline is strongly pulled up from the middle of the body to the tail. The croup is slightly sloping.
- Tail the whippet is long, tapering towards the end. It must not rise above the body. In a standing position, the tail is under the belly, bends around the hind leg and reaches the thigh bone. The tail is set neither too low nor high. Has a smooth bend towards the end.
- Front limbs - parallel to each other, lean muscles, strong, slender. The shoulder blades are set obliquely, the shoulders are well muscled. The hind legs are strong and strong, slightly laid back. Stand upright when judging. The thighs are elongated, strong and muscular. The hocks are harmoniously placed. The hocks are slightly long and vertical.
- Paws not large, in a good arched ball, like a cat's, with fingers tightly pressed to one another. The nails are strong, the pads are firm and firm.
- Coat short, shiny, straight, not too thick and soft.
- Skin fits the entire body of the dog.
- Color may include any color and pattern variation. Today, the most common are the typical white-brindle and brindle individuals. Black dogs look more advantageous with good build - you can see the entire relief of the muscles.
Behavior of the little English greyhound
First of all, the whippet is a companion dog. Such a depth of contact of an animal with a person is possessed by a small number of canines. The most important thing about the little greyhound is that she does not choose one owner in the house. All family members are his favorite "pack". They behave great with children. A lot of young married couples have just such pets when they are waiting for replenishment. There is no better nanny for a child. For example, a "baby" is lying in a carriage, and a whippet is guarding him next to him, if he just cries a little, the dog immediately runs to his mother, informing that something is wrong.
This greyhound is not only beautiful and has a pleasant character, but also seems to be very comfortable for a city dweller. First, the compact size. You can easily put it in your bag, take it on your shoulder and go with it wherever you go. They are perfectly adapted to transport. They ride well on trains, planes, cars, trams, trolleybuses, buses. Four-legged friends do not care what they ride, as long as the owner is there.
The dog is not at all whimsical in food. With an English little greyhound, you can do whatever you want. The owners teach their pets and the general course of obedience, training for protection. A small short-haired dog does not take up much space in the apartment and it may seem that this is an ideal sofa dog in front of you. But this is not entirely true, sooner or later the hunting character will certainly show itself. In the apartment, the Whippets are angels, quiet, calm lazybones who "crush" the sofas. But on races and hunting events, they are very explosive and lightning fast. Be sure to wear a collar while walking. You need to know that these dogs love to chase small animals, so there should be no cats in the apartment.
Whippet dog health
In general, Whippets have a strong immune system. Despite their athletic breed, they do not have a tendency to hip dysplasia. With proper feeding and care, they can brighten up your life for fifteen years. Correct formation is laid at an early age. If the pet is missing something, then not only the exterior suffers, but also the health. In addition to properly selected food with vitamin and mineral supplements, your "racer" should have balanced, dosed loads.
Whippet dog grooming tips
- Wool small English greyhound, short. It is enough to comb it out twice a week using special rubber brushes, which perfectly pull out dead hairs. Dogs are bathed with a soft rubber brush and a gentle PH-balanced shampoo. Before washing, the concentrate must be diluted with water in a ratio of one to three. Until the pet dries in a warm room without drafts, walks are canceled.
- Claws pruned regularly, using claws.
- Earswhich have a hanging shape must be cleaned regularly, because they are not importantly ventilated. They are cleaned with lotion, which is poured into the auricle. Next, the ear is gently massaged at the base. Then the dog is released, it shakes its head and everything unnecessary "flies out". The remains are wiped off from the outside of the auricle with a soft natural cloth.
- Eyes wipe only when urgently needed, towards the inner corner.
- Teeth teach the whippet to clean from an early age. The manipulation is carried out once or twice every week. To do this, purchase a special finger brush and edible paste from zoological stores. Cleaning can also be done with ordinary coal. Its sorbing properties do an excellent job with the "excess" on the pet's teeth. Activated charcoal, you need to moisten a little with water and rub the dog's teeth, then wipe off all excess with a bandage.
- Feeding a small English greyhound should be strictly dosed. This animal needs to run fast. Fat, overfed dogs have big problems with the bone apparatus, with the cardiovascular system and the digestive tract. Many "narrow-minded" people, without thinking about the purpose of the species, believe that a thin dog needs to be fed a lot. This is a big and deep mistake. First, the poor animal is fed, and then they begin to heal. A four-month-old puppy is fed five times, a five-month-old four, a six-month-old three, and by a year they are fed two times a day. Upon reaching the age of one and a half, greyhounds are offered food once a day. Feeding a teenage whippet includes dairy products: meat, cereals (you can use milk), yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese and kefir. The main diet of adults is lean meat. Cereals, eggs, cottage cheese, some vegetables and fruits - the rest of it. When eating natural pet food, the food should be supplemented with vitamins and minerals. For busy people, there are premium and super-premium ready-made feeds. It is better to take a walk with a four-legged friend once again than to stand at the stove preparing him a “tasty treat”. Why complicate your life when everything your dog needs is ready. The components of professional feed were invented and selected by specialists who are well versed in this. Such food allows you to bring the dog's body as close as possible to the desired energy state.
- Walking active and dynamic dogs should include a range of targeted and extensive activities. The Whippet needs to run a lot to keep him fit. In cold and slushy weather, dress them in warm, protective overalls.
Little English Greyhound Training
There is an excellent technique of positive reinforcement with the help of a clicker, which, when pressed, makes characteristic sounds - clicks. The sound tells the dog that it has done everything as required. This is immediately followed by a treat. It is a simple form of interaction combined with a positive reward technique. This method is effective and humane in order to teach the pet everything that he has enough physical and mental abilities. Small English greyhounds have a very sensitive character, so they should never be physically punished.
Whippets love to play flying ball. There are four dogs in the team. They need to get to the mechanical box in four jumps, push the button with their paw, catch a tennis ball, return in four jumps and pass the baton to another dog. It's like the sprint version of a marathon, and the hounds are great at short distances. The world record, fifteen and two seconds, for which all the dogs ran, one of their teams was brought by a whippet.
Interesting facts about the Whippet
Small English greyhounds are very fast, on par with Greyhounds. Develop a speed of seventy kilometers per hour. It is believed that the fastest animal on the planet is the cheetah, but at a speed of one hundred kilometers per hour, it can only run fifty meters. Whippets on the hunt go one and a half, two kilometers and return at the same speed.
So quickly these dogs can move thanks to their musculoskeletal system. Their structure is perfect from the point of view of aerodynamics. When the dog straightens its legs, it stretches in one line and flies over the ground like a "superman". This speed is developed by the English small greyhound thanks to the canter, with a double hover. All four paws of the animal are lifted off the ground not once, but twice. The first hang occurs when all limbs are bent under the torso. And the second time, when they are fully erect and almost parallel to the ground. This is the most efficient move in which the lean, muscular body covers long distances in the shortest amount of time. When it comes to speed, hounds reach their maximum length in one step.
Whippet puppy purchase and price
Hounds will fit into any living conditions. These skinny, medium sized dogs will snuggle up and enchant you wherever you go. But do not forget that without movement, they can wither away and even gain excess weight. Therefore, you need to walk with them for a long time, take them to docking stations or ride a bike. Small English greyhounds have short, odorless hair, which means that in terms of grooming, there is little to worry about. They have a wonderful disposition, love all family members and get along well with children. The dog is not at all spiteful or aggressive. If you are an active person and can devote your time and love to an energetic and cute pet, then this four-legged friend is for you. The price of a whippet puppy varies from $ 800 to $ 1000.
For more information on the Whippet, see the following story:
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