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MediumHound Group

Whippet

The Whippet was developed in 19th-century northern England as a coal miner's coursing dog, a compact sighthound between the Greyhound and the Italian Greyhound in size.

Calculate Whippet age
Lifespan13.4 yrrange 13–14
SizeMediumHound Group
Weight25–40 lb11.3–18.1 kg
Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11

Gallery (3)

About

About the Whippet

The Whippet was developed in 19th-century northern England as a coal miner's coursing dog, a compact sighthound between the Greyhound and the Italian Greyhound in size. The breed retains racing aptitude and reaches 35+ mph in short sprints.

Aging

How Whippets age

RVC VetCompass gives a median 13.4 years (n=6,454). Mitral valve degeneration is the defining late-life cardiac concern; von Willebrand's disease and barbiturate anesthesia sensitivity (shared with sighthounds) shape clinical management.

Lifespan deep-diveAvg 13.4 yr · range 13–14Senior careSenior at 7 · geriatric at 11Common health issues5 tracked conditions
Physical

Physical characteristics

Weight
25–40 lb(11.3–18.1 kg)
Height
18–22 in(45.7–55.9 cm)
Coat type
Short
Colors
BlackBlueBlue BrindleBlue FawnFawnFawn BrindleRedWhiteWhite & FawnWhite & RedRed BrindleSable
Temperament

Temperament

How Whippets tend to show up around their people, other dogs, and the world.

affectionateplayfulcalmathletic
  • Energy
  • Trainability
  • Good with kids
  • Good with other dogs
  • Shedding
Health

Common health issues

Full health profile
  • Moderatetypical onset ~6 yr

    Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram)

    Description and veterinary guidance for Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram) land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~1 yr

    Congenital Hearing Loss (Deafness)

    Description and veterinary guidance for Congenital Hearing Loss (Deafness) land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Exercise
60min
per day

About 60 minutes of activity per day keeps a Whippet physically and mentally satisfied. Split it between a structured walk and free play.

Related

Related breeds

Breeds with a similar size and group profile, for readers comparing options.

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References

Sources

Lifespan and health figures on this page are drawn from the peer-reviewed and organizational sources below.

  1. AKC breed standardAmerican Kennel Club breed page

    Breed size, weight range, height, AKC group, origin, coat type, and temperament baseline.

  2. RVC VetCompassRoyal Veterinary College VetCompass life-table research (McMillan et al. 2024)

    UK primary-care records; source for the median-lifespan and mortality figures.