The Whippet is a hound breed developed in England to chase rabbits for sport in an arena. The breed was developed from terriers and small English Greyhounds; Italian Greyhounds were later bred in to give the Whippet a sleek appearance.

 

In the 19th century, Whippet racing was a popular sport in parts of England. The Whippet was held in high regard in the northern parts of England and Wales, but was generally disregarded in the rest of the country. At the time, there were two varieties of Whippet. The first type had a smooth coat, the other had a rough coat.

 

This has led to Whippets being described as “The poor man’s racehorse”. They are a popular companion breed frequently used in amateur racing, lure coursing and dog shows; they have the highest running speed of breeds for their weight, and are possibly the fastest accelerating dog breed.