Not only does the Whippet make a quiet, dignified, unobtrusive, yet highly decorative addition to any household, he also excels at catching rats and other vermin. Blessed with a gentle and affectionate nature, the Whippet is anxious to please his owner and easy to train.
CHARACTERISTICS - An ideal companion. Highly adaptable in domestic and sporting surroundings.
FOREQUARTERS - Shoulders oblique and muscular, blades carried up to top of spine, where they are clearly defined. Forelegs straight and upright, front not too wide, pasterns strong with slight spring, elbows set well under body.
TEMPERAMENT - Gentle, affectionate, even disposition.
HEAD AND SKULL - Long and lean, flat on top tapering to muzzle with slight stop, rather wide between the eyes, jaws powerful and clean cut, nose black, in blues a bluish colour permitted, in livers a nose of the same colour, in whites or parti-colour a butterfly nose permissible.
EYES - Oval, bright, expression very alert.
EARS - Rose shaped, small, fine in texture.
MOUTH - Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
NECK - Long, muscular, elegantly arched.
BODY - Chest very deep with plenty of heart room, brisket deep, well defined, broad back, firm, somewhat long, showing definite arch over loin but not humped. Loin giving impression of strength and power, ribs well sprung, muscled on back.
HINDQUARTERS - Strong, broad across thighs, stifles well bent, hocks well let down, well developed second thighs, dog able to stand over a lot of ground and show great driving power.
FEET - Very neat, well split up between toes, knuckles well arched, pads thick and strong.
TAIL - No feathering. Long, tapering, when in action carried in a delicate curve upward but not over back.
GAIT/MOVEMENT - Free, hindlegs coming well under body for propulsion. Forelegs thrown well forward low over the ground, true coming and going. General movement not to look stilted, high stepping, short or mincing.
COAT - Fine, short, close in texture.
COLOUR - Any colour or mixture of colours.
SIZE - Height: Dogs 47-51 cm (18½-20 ins) Bitches 44-47 cm (17½-18½ ins)
FAULTS - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree
NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
* Gentle and affectionate.
* Gets along well with children, other dogs and indoor cats.
* Extraordinarily clean in its personal habits. Almost catlike.
* Adores being pampered.
* Intelligent and more trainable than most sight hounds.
Tips: * Whippets do not like the cold. If you fancy a dog that will willingly wear a fashionable coat, this is the breed for you.
* The delicate appearance of the Whippet is misleading. This dog is more robust than it looks.Health Concerns: * Like its greyhound relatives the Whippet is sensitive to anaesthetics. 
