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Meet the breedFast feet, excellent napsCharacter, size, and what surprises new owners
The Whippet is a sighthound built for speed in short bursts. Between those bursts it may be remarkably fond of a sofa, but its lean body appreciates warmth in cold weather.
Adults commonly weigh 25–40 lb; a typical lifespan guide is 12–15 years. These are breed-wide guides, never targets or forecasts for an individual pet.
Daily life & exerciseA day with a WhippetExercise, play, and a practical daily rhythm
Your Whippet may need an active day. Walks are a start; training games, play, and time outdoors add work for both body and brain. Build a puppy's activity gradually and ask your veterinarian about the right pace.
For the Whippet, a retrieving game gives them a job to do with you. Practice giving the toy back as carefully as the exciting throw.
What would your Whippet love?
Add their age, size, and favorite things. We’ll find a few good places to start.
Training & temperamentLearning together with a WhippetGood manners and individual personality
The Whippet is often playful, affectionate, and calm.
Practice coming back to you in a safe, enclosed space before the outdoors grows distracting. Keep a lead or secure boundary in the plan where this dog's curiosity could carry them away.
Coat & groomingThe Whippet coatGrooming and everyday care
The Whippet's short coat is simpler to brush, but a grooming session is still a useful chance to check the skin and paws. A weekly brushing is a sensible baseline; add sessions when the coat sheds or tangles more. Check ears as part of the routine.
Bringing home a Whippet puppy?
Plan their first days with a little help from our puppy welcome kit.
Build a puppy welcome kitProduct starting pointsGood finds for your WhippetFood, play, care, and rest
Choose food for your Whippet's life stage and measured weight. The breed range is a clue, but the portion and fit should follow the individual. Use your dog's measurements for a harness, carrier, crate, or bed; a breed name is not a size chart.
For your Whippet, start with something suited to retrieving games, plus a brush chosen for the actual coat. Add a comfortable rest spot; a good product list should follow this dog's interests, not a breed stereotype.
Health & lifespanCaring for a Whippet over time12–15 years is a guide, not a forecast
The Whippet has a lifespan guide of 12–15 years, though no range predicts one dog's future. Keep a record of weight and changes in appetite or activity, and plan preventive care with your veterinarian.
If you are meeting a breeder, ask to see the parents' screening records. The AKC lists heart examinations, eye examinations, and hearing tests for the Whippet. These checks are questions for breeding stock, not a prediction of a puppy's future health.