20-30 lbs
18-22"
United States
The Longhaired Whippet has beautiful soft and silky long hair, quite unique to the Whippet breed which is usually short and straight. They are a new breed to the dog world, having only been developed about 50 years ago. Controversy over the nature of the dog as in whether they are a pure breed or not still rages today. But regardless of this, the Longhaired Whippet is here and has gained a following with their elegant and sweet temperament. This dog lives up to their athletic history and loves to run and play. They make fun companions for children and are kind and well behaved in nature. The longer coat protects this dog from the cooler weather, and yet it is surprisingly easy to maintain. The Longhaired Whippet likes to please their owner and this dog is willing to listen and learn. They are very people orientated and will want to be with their family, this is not a dog to park outside and forget. An apartment is fine for this quiet gentle dog, they are relaxed and calm inside. They make great companions and family pets, are good looking, easy to maintain, and have a lovely affectionate nature that is hard to resist.
Debate still rages around the development of the Longhaired Whippet. During the 1970's a breeder by the name of Walter A. Wheeler Jr. claimed to be successful when he selectively bred his own dogs with other Whippet breeders that displayed observable evidence of carrying the longhaired gene. While he claimed them to be bred solely from the Shorthaired Whippet stock, others believe he must have cross bred his dogs with other breeds such as the Borzoi or the Shetland Sheepdog - both breeds that Wheeler owned. Some breeders argue that the name Whippet should only be used for the Shorthaired Whippet as they are the original standard dog; as well, there was a strain of rough coated Whippets which sadly become extinct in 1957. While the debate about the pros and cons of the rare recessive longer coat gene or the recessive MDR1 allele that have influenced the breed continues, the fact remains that the Longhaired Whippet is now here to stay. With their lovely temperament and beautiful looks, they are gaining popularity amongst dog lovers around the globe. Another breeder named Francie Stull crossed Longhaired Whippets that originated from Walter A. Wheelers kennels with the Borzoi to create the breed now known as the Silken Windsprite. While the two breeds (the Longhaired Whippet and the Silken Windsprite) are almost identical, the latter is slightly smaller. The Longhaired Whippet is not recognized by the leading kennel clubs, although there are clubs set up for the breed - the Longhaired Whippet Association and the International Longhaired Whippet Club. Both clubs aspire to offer conformation and performance events that their members can utilize to gain acceptance for this lovely breed.
The Longhaired Whippet is an elegant looking dog, lean and athletic in build, and they carry themselves with regal dignity. Medium in size, the Longhaired Whippet is almost identical to the Shorthaired Whippet but has a beautiful long silky coat and has fringe adornments on their legs, tail and around their face. The coat is a double coat with the thicker undercoat giving warmth and protection against the elements. With a broad muscular back, deep chest, and tucked up tummy, their appearance is one that hints at the speed that this dog can achieve. The long feathered tail, straight forelegs, and well muscled hindquarters assist the dog's speed. Their face is long and pretty, with a long thin head, large very dark eyes, and feathering on the ears. Coloring varies for this breed; shades range from black, red, shades of brindle, fawn and brown, all adorned with touches of white accents. The Longhaired Whippet is beautiful in temperament and exquisite in appearance.
The Longhaired Whippet is remarkably easy to maintain, with the long silky hair only requiring a good brushing once a week. Elegant and graceful, this dog shouldn't be bathed often to protect the natural oils in the coat which make it easy to maintain. A very mild and gentle dog shampoo should be used whenever you do bathe this dog. Usual maintenance issues such as nail trimming, teeth brushing and checking their ears for signs of infection all apply. But caution should be used with worming drugs as this breed carries a recessive genetic mutation in the MDR1 gene, which can make them sensitive to certain drugs. Your veterinarian can check this by a simple cheek swab tissue test and can advise what is best for your dog.
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Funny, goofy, elegant and dignified - talk about a dog of character! The Longhaired Whippet has it all. Kind and sweet natured, full of fun and yet surprisingly calm and willing to take instruction to please their owner is all part of the package. These dogs are very people orientated; they love to be involved in all you do and are affectionate and cuddly. Their long thicker coat and fringing gives them an attractive appearance, and their refined head and dark luminous eyes hold a beguiling expression. While they may seem dignified at first glance, they are not above getting into mischief with the children. When things are quiet, you had better check out what they up to! Your Longhaired Whippet is kind of goofy at times when excited but demure at others. They accept other dogs' company, although other pets such as cats or rabbits can be subject to whether they have been raised together or not. This breed is not aggressive; they will bark to warn of strangers but are not built to tackle or defend, although they would give it their best if you were in trouble. Yappy they are not, which means they can do well in apartments as long as they get a daily walk. They tend to be less active inside the home, content to snuggle and snooze. Ever the consummate athlete, the adorable Longhaired Whippet is fast becoming a popular family pet.
Written by a Golden Labrador Retriever lover Jean Brewer
Published: 06/22/2018, edited: 12/09/2021
More articles by Jean Brewer
Hello, Can you find long haired whippets that are small enough to travel in the cabin of an airplane?
j'aimerais savoir ou jr peux trouver un bon éleveur de whippet à poil long merci et bien à vous Lorie-Anne
