Whippet Care: Eight Tips To Keep Them Healthy

Being a whippet owner is a pleasure, but only if the care of your dog meets what they need.

If you love these dogs, it is your duty to know how to take care of them well. It’s not that difficult but requires some knowledge.

In this post, we are going to go through whippet care and give you eight tips to keep your pooch as healthy as possible.

Let’s get into it…

Table of Contents

Why It Is Important To Care For Your Whippet

First, we need to understand why it’s important to keep your whippet healthy and give them the proper care they deserve.

After all, there is no fun if your dog isn’t healthy and you can’t enjoy it.

Whippets need to feel their owner’s love and attention at all times. They are affectionate dogs that need lots of loving and they will give you loads of love in return.

But if their basic needs aren’t met, then you may find that you get a whippet that is overly demanding, anxious, or stressed.

When you make sure they get the care they need, then they will be happy and your training efforts with them will pay off more often.

If you don’t care for your whippet properly, you may find that their life is shortened quite considerably.

Whippets typically live for between 10 – 15 years, but this can be cut down if the dog isn’t cared for properly.

8 Tips To Keep Your Whippet Healthy

Whippet care is crucial if you want them to live a long, happy, and healthy life.

Here are eight tips that you can start implementing today:

Regular Grooming

Grooming your whippet on a regular basis will help to get rid of loose hair and to make sure that they don’t pick up any additional problems such as ticks or fleas.

Schedule a professional grooming session every 6 – 8 weeks, or do it yourself if you know what you’re doing.

This is an important whippet care tip as not only will it help keep your pet nice and clean, but it also will help them feel happier and more comfortable with the whole process.

I would recommend that you brush them daily before they’re groomed just to get used to it, and if possible find a friend or relative who is willing to help you with the grooming until you get used to it yourself.

Nail Trimming

Part of the grooming process is nail trimming, but I’ve included it here as many people miss this step.

Long nails can become a real problem for dogs, especially whippets. This is because if their nails are too long when they run along a hard surface they will hit the ground at a different angle to what feels natural and comfortable for them, this will cause discomfort.

If the nails are not trimmed every few weeks the quick inside the nail will start to grow too, causing pain and unsightly bleeding from time to time.

Keep on top of trimming your whippet nails alongside a proper grooming routine to ensure they are cared for.

Nutritious Diet

Debatably one of the most important tips for whippet care is to ensure your dog is fed on a high-quality and nutritious diet.

Your whippet diet should be full of nutrients and protein to help keep them fit and healthy.

Whippets are active dogs that need to have a good diet to match their lifestyle.

However, overfeeding your whippet can lead to whippet obesity which can be a real disaster for your pet.

Obesity in whippets is actually more common than you may think, with obesity potentially leading to heart disease, diabetes, and general lazy whippet syndrome.

Whippets are naturally slender due to their thin build, therefore, should not be overfed or allowed to overeat.

Exercise

A regular exercise routine is also important for whippets’ well-being.

Whippets do not need to be taken on super long walks, however; a walk once or twice a day is more than enough, alongside some time in the back yard will keep your dog happy and healthy.

You should aim to give your whippet at least 30 minutes, ideally 60 of exercise each day.

That being said, if you are an active family, your whippet certainly won’t complain about being outside for longer.

Regular exercise will help keep your whippet in good physical shape and help to keep their muscles, lungs, and heart healthy.

Pet Insurance

Another essential whippet care tip is to ensure you have your whippet insured.

Whippets can be fragile and clumsy dogs at times, so it’s important that you keep them safe.

A pet insurance policy will help to cover any veterinary fees that may arise from an accident or injury.

Whippets are particularly healthy dogs, but many of the issues they face as a breed require a significant investment to treat, which an insurance plan can help you with.

There is nothing worse than thinking your whippet is perfectly healthy, only to find out there is a serious illness or injury.

Pet insurance can also help you decide when to take your whippet to the vet – if it’s an emergency or not.

If you’ve ever had a pet suffer from a sudden and unexpected medical issue, you know how quickly veterinary care can add up!

Dog Coat And Bed

Investing in a high-quality dog coat and bed is a great tip for caring for your whippet.

These two combines ensure that your pet is always warm and comfortable.

Caring for a whippet is not difficult, but it does require an investment of time and money.

A good dog bed will ensure your whippet is getting the sleep he deserves after a long walk, and a coat will make sure they are nice and warm in the winter months.

Training

Believe it or not, but training your whippet is actually a very important part of their care.

You need to make sure they are trained when it comes to feeding time, because a whippet will always prefer a sneaky snack over a full meal if given the choice!

It can also help your pet get used to being handled by you and any vets they have to visit in order for preventative care to be carried out.

Training your whippet even to a basic standard will help you have more control over them which can keep them away from dangerous situations.

This is especially important for whippet owners as these dogs are able to run at lightning-fast speeds and will run after almost anything that’s moving!

Socialising

Caring for your whippet comes in many shapes and forms. I find that socialising my whippets helps them stay mentally stimulated and happy.

Whippets are incredibly social dogs, they love to play with each other but they should also be introduced to new environments and experiences too.

Taking them to the park or even arranging something special for them can make sure that your whippets are well socialised and will be able to happily interact with anyone, whether it’s playful children or old people who don’t quite move quickly enough for their liking!

This will also make them a pleasure to own as they won’t be shy or aggressive when in situations they are unfamiliar with.

Socialising your whippet is a great way to care for them as it will allow them to feel safe in new environments and they will learn how to behave around different people too.

Whippets Are Not Super High Maintenance Dogs

Whippets are not very high-maintenance dogs and don’t need a ridiculous amount of time or expense to keep them healthy.

They are a healthy dog breed and can be kept really fit and active through training and exercise.

Whippets enjoy lots of fresh air and do best when they are given a lot of space and freedom.

However, they are more than happy living in small homes or apartments and making the best of whatever space they live in.

It’s important to keep these dogs entertained and active as they can be prone to boredom, which may lead to destructive behaviour such as chewing or scratching!

Other Considerations

It’s important to keep in mind that whippet care is also about taking responsibility for these dogs and making sure they are well cared for.

This dog breed is typically very loyal and affectionate but requires a lot of attention so it does best with families or people who can take on this role.

The more time you spend interacting with your whippet, the better they will respond to you.

This makes caring for your whippet easier as they will allow you to groom them and actually build a bond with them.

It’s also important to note that while some dogs may require a fence, this is not true for all whippets.

Whippets are very good jumpers so you must be careful where your fence begins and ends!

Final Thoughts

As a whole, caring for your whippet is relatively easy and inexpensive, they are strong enough to take on the elements but are also very sensitive, which makes them a perfect pet.

While they are kind of temperamental, people who have one love them because they form that special bond with their pet.

Caring for your whippet is not difficult, it just takes a little bit of time!

Love your whippet and they will be easy to care for!

Thanks for taking the time to read this post about whippet care, I hope you’ve learned a few ways on how to keep your pooch healthy and happy.