Whippet Temperament

Whippets are quiet, intelligent, and not prone to barking, but require regular exercise. They are generally gentle dogs, and may be content to spend much of the day resting. The AKC describes them as “quiet and dignified in their owner’s living room” and says they make “excellent house dogs.” Whippets have been called a “poor man’s racehorse” by the colliers in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Despite being bred for racing, Whippets are couch potatoes. When not running around, they are usually asleep. They are not prone to fighting, but have been known to chase small pets. They also have a tendency to get up on furniture. Whippets are touch sensitive, meaning that they tend to jump or overreact when touched unexpectedly.