Whippets look a good deal like Greyhounds but they
are smaller, so they are often assumed to be young Greyhounds, however,
Whippets are a breed unto themselves. They are about 18 to 22 inches
at the shoulder and weigh around 25 pounds. Whippets are kin to Greyhounds,
and are a member of a group of hounds known as sighthounds, which
include Greyhounds, Afghan Hounds, Salukis, Borzois (Russian Wolfhounds),
and others. Sighthounds are distinguished by their visual acuity and
their dependance on their eyesight for hunting (hence the name) and
tend to be lean, deep chested, and leggy.
It is well established that the Whippet was popular among coal miners in the
north of England in the 19th century for both rabbit hunting and racing. It is
also said that the Whippet was a popular breed for poaching chickens, being small
enough to conceal under a coat! The popularity of Whippets among the working
classes earned Whippets the reputation as "the poor man's race horse".
Whippets were also referred to as "rag dogs", most likely because rags
were used as the lure in neighborhood Whippet races.
An excellent resource web site for Whippets can be found at http://www.sonic.net/~whippet/what.html
We
originally acquired a Whippet for our daughter Jody to compete in Junior Handling.
She was "Rea"- Am Can Ch Sportingfield's Rea N'Wenrick Jody
fell in love with the breed and is the mainstay behind our Whippet breeding program.
With her guidance we have produced many outstanding Whippet Champions in both
Canada and the United States. Jody is thankful to Debbie Butt of Sportingfield
Whippets for our foundation bitch and constant guidance. She is also appreciative
of the support and mentoring from Dan Black of Riverchase Whippets and Max Magder
of Lorricbrook fame. Jody is most impressed with their friendly affectionate
temperaments of Whippets and how well they fit into a home environment. Wenrick
Whippets are bred to conform to the Standard for the breed and have outstanding
temperaments.
Typical Wenrick Whippet Puppy
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All puppies come with a full health guarantee and
are guaranteed against any hereditary or congenital birth defects. They have
their first vaccinations and are tattooed for identification. They are registered
with the American Kennel Club. Family pets are sold on a restricted breeding
registration which means they may not be bred. Dogs are occasionally available
to serious breeders as a welcomed addition to their breeding program.
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