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1

What are the general characteristics  of the race?

The whippet is a medium-sized dog. Its appearance is elegant but not fragile. It must make an impression of muscular strength and power. Females weigh between 10 and 14 kilos and males between 12 and 18 kilos.  All colors are accepted. They can be single-colored integers or have markings  white, whether brindle or not.

Size:

- Standard FCI adopted by CBKC (Confederação Brasileira de Cinofilia): females 44 to 47 cm, males 47 to 51 cm.

- Standard AKC (American Kennel Club): females 46 to 53.5 cm, males 48 to 56 cm.

two

What is your level of activity?

Whippets are dogs with a moderate degree of activity and an aptitude for running. Although his slender frame has a strong connection to the sport, he is very lazy and calm in his apartments and houses.  Taking the whippet on a run with other dogs on weekends will be a lot of fun for him and his owner. Despite this, they need daily exercises to remain mentally balanced and to maintain and strengthen their muscle mass. Two daily walks of 20 to 40 minutes are satisfactory, always with safety and use of a leash and guide. 

3

What it is  the original and current role of the breed?

It is originally a racing dog. But this function has always had an intimate connection with the leisure and fun moments of its owners. Whippets ran to meet their owner, who was on the other side of the lane waving a cloth to get their attention. So it would be impossible to write about the breed without mentioning its wonderful aptitude to be a companion dog.

Whippets are very versatile.  Its size, short coat and easy maintenance, and especially its stable and friendly temperament make it an excellent pet for the most different lifestyles.  In addition to being excellent companions for outdoor activities, they love to be indoors, with their owner on the sofa in the living room.

4

how is the temper  of the whippet?

Polite, sensitive and elegant. Living with whippets enchants people for their kind and gentle temperament. Great company indoors and excellent partner for outdoor activities and sports.

Hygiene is a great quality of the breed. Short coat with little shedding and no strong odor.

Whippets are very attached to their owners. They love to accompany them at home and are also great company in the work environment. Physical and mental stimuli are important in everyday life. Activities such as agility, obedience, hiking or participating in animal-assisted therapy projects suit the breed.

5

What is the puppy whippet like?

The puppy whippet is curious and active.  Each individual has its own characteristics, so within the same litter we observe different personalities and levels of activity. A puppy's behavior does not only depend on its origin. The new family has a lot of responsibility in raising the dog. Dedication, affection and discipline  in childhood are fundamental for him to become a balanced adult. The study of behavior through the educational texts we provide to families who choose a BSC, combined with intuition and sensitivity to understand the puppy's needs, are essential for a good adaptation in the first days and months.

 

Puppies left alone for many hours at a time will be sad and bored. Loneliness can lead to behavioral disorders and anxiety. What to do to soften? Enrich the environment where he will live with assorted toys, bones, balls, kongs and music. This way, he can have fun, pass the time and spend energy without feeling the need to chew on the family's furniture, shoes and family pets.

6

What is the adult whippet like?

The adult whippet is naturally  quiet  and loves the company of their owners. He  he likes  in  feel safe  and protected  and accompany you  with  looking is an efficient way to convey confidence to your dog.  They are not dependent, especially if they are well socialized. They love their owners unconditionally and show all this affection in a delicate and passionate way.

7

Are Dogs Easy to Raise?

Whippets enter the family routine quite easily and quickly learn what they are taught. But it is not a breed with a profile for performing tricks and dressage presentations due to its reserved nature. Their joy is to please their owners, which is why training with positive reinforcement is ideal. We saw excellent results in a short period of time.

8

What hygiene care does the breed require?

Breed management is very simple. Because they have a short coat, a weekly brushing is sufficient and indicated to remove dead hair and aid in skin hydration. Baths can be fortnightly or monthly. Nail trimming should be weekly when there is no floor that promotes natural wear. Ear cleaning only using cotton or gauze. Daily toothbrushing is ideal for maintaining oral health.

9

What is the best diet?

The diet must be balanced and specific for each individual. Whippets, contrary to what it seems, love to eat. One of the breed's peraltices is the theft of food from the kitchen and table of its owners. Metabolism is individual and each specimen has a daily energy requirement. We guide new owners to observe and follow the development of their whippet to provide the ideal diet for each stage of its life. Nutritional needs must be adequate to the dog's routine. Whippets that are physically active will need to ingest a larger amount of food. Those who spend more time indoors will likely need a lower-calorie diet. The advice of a nutritionist veterinarian is essential when the family decides to offer natural food to their whippet.

10

How is the whippet's health?

as in others  breeds, we realize that some diseases can affect the whippet more often than others. Admittedly, the inherent sensitivity of the breed's personality can cause emotional and immunological imbalances. The company of its owner, a balanced diet and walking routine can minimize many problems.

 

The MDR1 gene test must be performed to avoid the administration of drugs that can cause intoxication in dogs that are carriers of the mutant type.

 

Whippets in the growth phase may suffer limb fractures, especially thoracic ones (radio and ulna). Avoid jumping from high places on smooth floors. In addition to bones, whippets also need fine, delicate skin care, where a simple scratch can cause an injury. Whippets are prone to calculus formation which can be minimized with periodic toothbrushing, preferably daily.

Special care with anesthetic procedures: whippets have a low amount of body fat, the metabolization of drugs is different from other breeds. That's why preoperative exams and a veterinarian anesthetist following the surgery is essential.

We recommend an evaluation  annual, with routine tests (blood count, liver and kidney function), temperature measurement  and annotating these parameters to know your whippet's individual patterns. At 5 years of age, we recommend performing the first cardiac evaluation, which should be repeated annually from this age on.

Other routine care, such as parasitological stool examination, antibody titration for vaccine booster

11

What is the ideal whippet owner like?

The ideal owner is the one who is patient and dedicated to the puppy. It is a dog for those who enjoy physical contact with dogs, as they love to be close to their humans. They need someone who is involved with him, who considers him part of the family and has a friendly nature.

The owner must be kind, emotionally balanced and needs to convey confidence and security. Whippets are very sensitive to their owners' emotions. Families who scream and slam doors can make the whippet anxious and scared.

12

Can whippets accompany their owners on physical activity?

Whippets, like anyone who starts physical activity, should be gradually conditioned until they are prepared to run long distances with their owners. This activity should be preceded by a general physical and cardiorespiratory examination to assess your condition for the type of exercise desired. Adequate hydration and nutrition are essential.

 

If you want to see it running freely, the ideal is to take it  in fenced places. They are  sighthounds and so have keen eyesight. If he sees something that interests him and runs away, he may not obey the commands and suffer an accident. On hikes, we always recommend the use of a collar and  guide, plus an extra collar with nameplate.

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