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While the Whippet and the Greyhound might look similar, they’re two distinct breeds with different personalities and physical traits. They’re both high-energy pups that want tons of love and attention, and they make great companions overall. But how do they differ from each other, and which one is better for you? We’ve answered both those questions and more for you here.
Visual Differences
At a Glance
- Average height (adult): 18–22 inches
- Average weight (adult): 25–40 pounds
- Lifespan: 12–15 years
- Exercise: 2+ hours a day
- Grooming needs: Low
- Family-friendly: Yes
- Other pet-friendly: Yes
- Trainability: Intelligent, loving, stubborn, and high-energy
- Average height (adult): 27–30 inches
- Average weight (adult): 60–70 pounds
- Lifespan: 10–13 years
- Exercise: 2+ hours a day
- Grooming needs: Low
- Family-friendly: Sometimes
- Other pet-friendly: Often
- Trainability: Intelligent, loving, jealous, high-energy, and stubborn
Whippet Overview
The Whippet is a smaller dog that usually weighs between 25 and 40 pounds, but in other ways, they’re similar physically to a Greyhound. They always want loads of attention and usually get along great with everyone; just keep in mind that each dog has their own personality that you’ll need to learn and adjust to.
Personality / Character
The Whippet is a perfect family dog that tends to get along great with children, other dogs, and other pets in your home. They’re very loving pups that want all the attention they can get from everyone in the family, but they certainly have a stubborn streak you’ll run into from time to time. Still, they’re great dogs overall, and they’re generally better family dogs than the Greyhound.
Exercise
The Whippet is a very high-energy dog, and unless you have a fenced-in yard or an outdoor space for them to run around, it can be challenging to meet their exercise needs. They are a bit smaller than the Greyhound, though, which can make it a little easier to meet these needs.
We recommend walking a Whippet at least twice a day, and each walk should be at least a mile to wear out your Whippet a bit. While we recommend at least a 1-mile walk, longer walks are better.
Training
The Whippet is a loving and loyal pup, but when you’re trying to train them, they have a notorious stubborn streak. Not only are they stubborn, but with their high energy needs, it can be challenging to wear them down enough to get them to a point where they want to listen.
Once you meet all your Whippet’s needs, you still need to give them one or two training sessions a day, although each training session should only last between 10 and 20 minutes. Always stay positive and end each training session with a positive note.
Suitable For:
The Whippet is a great family dog, although they do have a bit of a stubborn streak. But if you have enough time and an outdoor space for them, a Whippet is a smart choice. They’re good with smaller and older kids, and if you have other dogs or pets in your home, they generally get along great with them too.
Greyhound Overview
The Greyhound has racing roots, but they also make good companion dogs. They’re fun to own and demand your attention, and compared to the Whippet, they’re a bit larger. They are a stubborn breed, though, and unless you’re an experienced owner, they might not be the best choice for you.
Personality / Character
The Greyhound is similar to a Whippet in many ways, but one area where they’re a little different is with their personalities. While both breeds are stubborn, the Greyhound doesn’t always do as well with children and other dogs.
They’re jealous pups, which can play a large part in why they’re not always the best for families. Proper socialization can help with this, but in the end, they’re just not as great of an option compared to a Whippet.
Exercise
The Greyhound has endless energy, and because of their larger size, it can be extremely challenging to meet all their exercise needs without having a fenced-in space or an outdoor area for them to run around.
Ideally, you should take a Greyhound out for a walk at least twice a day and aim for at least a mile for each walk, although this still won’t meet all their exercise needs if you don’t have an outdoor space for them to hang out in.
If you don’t have this outdoor space, you’ll either need to make frequent trips to a dog park or consider getting a different breed.
Training
Just like the Whippet, the Greyhound is a notoriously stubborn breed, which can lead to all kinds of issues when you’re trying to train them. You’ll need to meet all their basic needs before you start training them. Aim for one or two training sessions a day and try to keep each training session under 15 minutes.
Suitable For:
The Greyhound is a great breed, but they don’t always get along the best with kids or other dogs. We recommend them for single-pet homes without kids, and only if you have enough outdoor space for them to run around. But even with that in mind, they’re a better choice for experienced owners.
Which Breed Is Right for You?
Both the Whippet and the Greyhound are great dog breeds, but that doesn’t mean one isn’t a better choice for you. If you have a family or you want a smaller dog, the Whippet might be the better choice. But if you want a bigger dog and a bigger challenge, the Greyhound is a beautiful pup.
Both breeds are gorgeous and want lots of love, and if you have the space and time to care for them, they’re great companion dogs. However, depending on your circumstances, one could definitely be better for you than the other.
Featured Image Credit: Top – S J, Unsplash | Bottom – smrm1977, Shutterstock
