Canis lupus familiaris
Whippet
Featured photowhippet.jpgThe Whippet is a English working-class coursing sighthound — the Greyhound in miniature. The Whippet was developed in the mining and mill towns of northern England in the late 19th century as a working-class coursing dog, derived from crosses between the Greyhound, terriers, and the now-extinct English White Terrier.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Hound
- Origin country
- England
- Origin period
- Late 19th century
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Any color or combination — including black, red, fawn, brindle, blue, white, and any pattern
- Average lifespan
- 12-15 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1888 · FCI 1955 · UKC 1948 · Group 10 — Sighthounds (Section 3: Short-haired Sighthounds)
Origin
The Whippet was developed in the late 19th century in the mining and mill towns of northern England — particularly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Northumberland — as a working-class coursing dog. Foundation crosses involved Greyhound, terriers (for sharpness), and the now-extinct English White Terrier. The breed was registered by the Kennel Club in 1891 under the name Whippet (the etymology is uncertain: most likely from a 17th-century English verb meaning 'to move briskly'). The AKC followed in 1888.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1888, the United Kennel Club followed in 1948, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 162) in 1955. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 10 — Sighthounds (Section 3: Short-haired Sighthounds).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a medium-sized sighthound of elegant outline, the Greyhound in miniature: a long head with a flat skull, a deep chest, a tucked-up loin, and long, well-muscled hindquarters. The short, fine, close-lying coat is recognized in any colour and combination of colours, with no preference imposed. Males stand 47-56 cm at the withers, females 44-53 cm.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-04
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-04
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-05-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the Whippet's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Whippet in the Hound Group. The Hound Group gathers breeds developed for the hunt, broadly split into scent hounds (Bloodhound, Beagle, Coonhounds) and sight hounds (Greyhound, Whippet, Borzoi). The breed's foundation working role was as a English working-class coursing sighthound — the Greyhound in miniature.
When was the Whippet officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1888; the United Kennel Club followed in 1948; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 162) in 1955.
What is the average lifespan of a Whippet?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Whippet's average lifespan in the 12-15 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
