🐕Whippet: gear and buying guides

The Whippet is a small sighthound of about 10 to 15 kg, a blistering sprinter outdoors and a true couch cat at home. Its thin skin, lack of body fat and head narrower than its neck call for specific gear: a warm coat, a very soft bed and a martingale collar or sighthound-fit harness. It is a gentle, quiet, sensitive companion.

Profile : Small sighthound of 44 to 51 cm and 10 to 15 kg, very fine short coat, explosive energy in short bursts followed by deep calm.

Whippet gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  The Whippet is naturally lean, with ribs faintly visible: do not try to fatten it up, as excess weight ruins its performance and joints. An energy-dense kibble in two small meals works well, and some individuals are fussy eaters.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Short and nearly odour-free coat: a soft mitt once a week and very rare baths are enough. The thin skin tears easily on wire or brambles: check the dog after every run and keep a small wound-care kit.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  Nothing beats a few sprints in an enclosed field after a flirt pole or ball: two or three bursts satisfy its daily need for speed. The rest of the time, calm scent games and chews suit this rarely destructive dog.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  With no fat padding, the Whippet cannot tolerate firm bedding: give it a very thick bed or an approved armchair, plus a blanket, as it loves burrowing underneath. Strictly an indoor dog, it must never sleep outside.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  With a head narrower than its neck, a standard flat collar slips off: choose a martingale or a wide sighthound collar (15 to 35 €), or a well-fitted harness. Only let it off lead in enclosed areas, as a Whippet tops 50 km/h within a few strides at the sight of a rabbit.

• 🧰 Accessories

  A coat is no gimmick: from autumn onward, a lined coat covering the belly (25 to 50 €) is near-essential for this cold-sensitive dog, and a fleece onesie is welcome in cool houses. Add reflective gear for night walks.

Guides to read

• Which senior dog food should you choose? The complete guideFood

  Protein, phosphorus, joints, palatability: how to choose senior dog food suited to an ageing dog, and how much it costs.

• Large breed dog food: steady growth and a sensitive stomachFood

  Calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, kibble size, bloat prevention: how to choose large breed dog food, from puppyhood to adulthood.

• Wet or dry dog food: which should you feed day to day?Food

  Hydration, palatability, budget, tartar: wet or dry dog food, the pros and cons of each option, and why mixed feeding is worth considering.

• Automatic dog feeder: which one should you choose?Food

  Capacity, scheduling, anti-jam mechanism, backup battery: how to choose an automatic dog feeder to match your daily routine.

• Lick mat for dogs: the anti-stress accessory worth adopting?Toys & enrichment

  Why licking soothes, which toppings to use, silicone or rigid plastic: how to choose a lick mat for your dog and use it safely.

• Kong-style stuffable dog toy: how do you pick the right one?Toys & enrichment

  Toughness levels, sizes, filling ideas, freezing: everything you need to choose a Kong-style stuffable toy and keep your dog busy the smart way.

• Dog puzzle toys: brain games worth playingToys & enrichment

  Difficulty levels, materials, mistakes to avoid: how to choose a dog puzzle toy and work your dog's nose without frustrating it.

• Puppy playpen: choosing a secure indoor penBedding & habitat

  Height, materials, floor space, house-training: how to choose a puppy playpen and use it without turning it into a prison.