A sleek, athletic sighthound and the fastest dog for its size, bred for racing and rabbit coursing. Gentle and quiet indoors, it pairs explosive sprinting ability with a calm, affectionate 'couch potato' nature.
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Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
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From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
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Minimum
Home with daily structured exercise
Apartment/house + 60 min daily exercise
Medium dogs need at least an hour of varied daily exercise — leashed walks plus off-lead play or training. Apartment living is workable only if exercise commitments are met every day; crate-train and allow supervised free-roam at home.
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Recommended
Home with fenced yard + training time
House + fenced yard + 60–90 min varied exercise
A home with a securely fenced yard, daily walks plus off-lead play, and ongoing training keeps a medium dog mentally satisfied. Add a sport or hobby (fetch, scent games, agility intro) for breeds with extra drive.
Sighthounds need safe, fully-fenced space at least a third of an acre for full-speed sprinting — a single 30-second run can be the highlight of their day. Lure coursing or straight-track racing channels their drive; never let off-lead in unsecured areas as recall fails at sight of fast-moving prey.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
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Newborn
Newborn mammals are nursed on their mother's milk. Many are born helpless — blind, deaf, and sparsely furred (altricial, as in dogs, cats, and rodents) — while others stand and follow within hours (precocial, as in hoofed livestock).
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Juvenile
After weaning, juveniles grow quickly and become increasingly active, playful, and independent. Adult coat, proportions, and (in many species) the permanent teeth come in as they approach full size.
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Adult
Adults reach full body size and sexual maturity, with the species' mature coat and build. Sexual dimorphism — differences in size, mane, horns, or markings — is pronounced in some mammals and subtle in others.
Senior
Senior animals show aging signs such as graying fur, reduced activity, and a greater need for veterinary monitoring of joints, teeth, and organ function. Lifespan and the onset of old age vary widely by species and size.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Excellent apartment dog despite its athleticism — content to lounge and sleep much of the day. Needs daily exercise: a couple of walks plus a chance to sprint safely in a securely fenced area. Thin coat and low body fat mean it gets cold easily; provide a coat in winter and warm, soft bedding. Should only run off-leash in fully enclosed spaces due to extreme prey drive and speed.
Diet
Lean, calorie-appropriate diet; whippets are naturally slim with visible last ribs and a tucked waist — that is normal and not underweight. Avoid overfeeding. As a sighthound with low body fat, it can be sensitive to certain anesthetics, so ensure the vet uses sighthound-appropriate protocols.
Behavior & temperament
Gentle, affectionate, quiet and people-oriented; rarely barks. Sensitive and eager to please, making training fairly easy with kind, positive methods, though recall is unreliable around running prey. Energy comes in bursts — sprint then nap. Good with children and other dogs; strong prey drive means caution with cats, rabbits and small pets unless raised together carefully.
Health
One of the healthier purebreds. Notable concerns: sensitivity to anesthesia (sighthound metabolism), cardiac issues including mitral valve disease and arrhythmias, and a breed-associated myostatin (MSTN) mutation that produces the heavily muscled 'bully whippet' when carried in two copies. Also dental disease, eye conditions and skin abrasions from the thin coat. Screening: cardiac (echo/auscultation), eye exam, and BAER if indicated.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Minimal grooming — the short, smooth coat needs only occasional brushing and wiping; low shedding. Protect from cold with sweaters/coats and provide padded bedding for bony joints. Use a martingale collar (their narrow heads slip standard collars). Focus training on solid recall and impulse control, and satisfy the sprint instinct with lure coursing or fenced runs.
