Red Whippets: The Ultimate Guide

Hello, red whippet enthusiasts! Today I am going to be giving you the most comprehensive guide on red whippets that’s ever existed.

This includes information on red whippets, red whippet care, and much more! Let us begin…

When looking for red whippets, you will notice all of the mysterious things surrounding them. After hours upon hours of research into red doggos (my favorite kind of dog), I have found all of the answers to your questions.

First off, red dogs are a subspecies of sighthounds that are known to be some of the most stunning dogs in the world.

They are a great pet, whether you have a family or live alone, red whippets will be a great companion for you.

Table of Contents

What Is A Red Whippet?

Red whippets are the rarer, red color variant of the more widely known whippet.

Contrary to popular belief red whippets rarely have only red hair and actually come in a variety of colors including red (auburn), cream and red sable, brindle, and even parti-colored!

The red gene is recessive according to Wikipedia, but its genetic makeup is still unclear. Although we do know that red whippets can be born from two black parents, so if you’re seeing red, your dog may possibly carry both sets of genes.

A red whippet is a sighthound. This means that they are known for being fast. Like, really fast. They look almost identical to regular whippets except that they have red coats!

They typically weigh about 50-55 pounds and stand at about 17-21 inches tall…the same height as an average American woman!

Are Red Whippets Rare?

Red whippets are quite rare. However, You can walk your whippet in dog parks and no one will think twice about them because red whippets really don’t get that much attention!

It’s nice because they are like the red-headed stepchildren of the whippet breed.

They are true red in colour, which is where they get their name from, and red whippets are one of the most desired whippet colours out there.

However, they are not quite as rare as the blue or merle whippet, but nevertheless, they are still rare.

How Much Do Red Whippets Cost?

Given that red whippets are somewhat rarer than other base colours such as black and fawn, they may cost more from reputable breeders.

The price of a whippet will largely depend on the dog’s background, and if it is from racing or working heritage.

Presuming that the dog is not from either of these backgrounds, I’ve listed some average prices for red whippets below;

Red Whippet Puppies

Puppies are always in much higher demand than adult dogs, meaning they will cost you more money to purchase.

The average red whippet puppy will cost you around £900 – £1400 in the UK, and $1300 – $1700 in the US.

Puppies are highly sought after as they are generally easier to bond with and the owner can train them to their own standard.

Adult Red Whippets

Adult red whippets can vary in price depending on the breeder, their location, and even luck of the draw.

If you are looking to purchase an adult red whippet with no background information, then it will be difficult to find one for less than $1000 – $1500 in the US and £600 – £900 in the UK.

Adult red whippets are not as sought after as puppies, but they’re a great option for first-time dog owners as they are easier to train.

Do Red Whippets Get Along With Other Pets?

Red whippets are very social animals and they will get along with other pets in the household. Most red whippets are naturally friendly – unless food is involved!

If you have another dog in the household then whippets will usually become friends with that dog, but whippets are not good candidates for introducing them to the family cat.

If your whippet is not used to cats then it can be difficult – even dangerous – to introduce a whippet and a cat together.

For this reason, it’s best to avoid a whippet if you do own cats or other prey-like pets. This is because whippets generally have quite a high prey drive.

Which means they’ll chase after animals such as rabbits, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc.

It’s important to be aware of this before you decide on a whippet for your next pet, it’s incredibly difficult to get a whippet to suppress their natural instincts and takes a lot of training.

After all, these dogs have been used as racing and hunting dogs for centuries, so chasing prey is hardwired into them, which is why it’s best to stay clear of the breed if you own any of these other pets.

That’s not to say they cannot be introduced, but it’s best if the whippet is a puppy and it will take a lot of patience on your part to ensure they live together peacefully.

Your whippet will need constant supervision whilst around these other pets, so I recommend staying clear altogether as it could be a recipe for disaster.

Other Considerations

Now that you know more about red whippets than you did previously, let’s look at some other considerations you’ll need to bear in mind if you choose this beautiful dog as your next family pet.

Living With A Red Whippet

Whippets are a fairly quiet, calm & relaxed breed – giving them plenty of free time to relax around the house.

They don’t bark very often and can actually make great apartment dogs as they require little exercise.

They are perfect for those who lead fairly sedentary lives. They are loyal, affectionate, intelligent, active, alert, and very loving.

A red whippet will bond closely with its owners and will expect to be involved in everything you do whether it’s riding in your car or going on long walks through the park.

Grooming A Red Whippet

Red whippets are low shedders with a short, red smooth coat that will require little to no grooming.

You should still brush your whippet once a week to keep the fur from matting and remove any loose hair from shedding.

Bathe your red whippet as necessary – usually about once every couple of months.

Don’t bathe them too frequently as soap may dry out their skin causing irritation or flaking. If you bathe your whippet weekly, make sure you only use a high-quality dog shampoo designed for red dogs – not an everyday shampoo intended for humans.

At times, a red whippet’s nails may need clipping but it is important not to trim the nails too short.

Exercising A Red Whippet

When it comes to exercise, red whippets are often just as active as their blue cousins.

However, because red whippets have a slower metabolism they tend to sleep more during the day and be slightly less active than blue whippets.

Bred for hunting rabbits, red whippets are natural sprinters so they need lots of short exercise periods throughout the day.

But not as much as you may think, around 45 – 60 minutes of physical exercise per day is plenty.

They also enjoy playing fetch with their owners or chasing toys around especially if you throw them over obstacles for them to jump over.

Red Whippets And Children

Red whippets often get on very well with children and will ‘zoom’ around happily. Although whippets are more sensitive than some other dogs, they’re generally quite good with children.

Children need to learn how to treat a whippet. They need to learn not to tweak the whippet’s ears, or pull their tails.

Providing your children know this, red whippets will generally get on well with them. However whippets are not very tolerant of rough children, so you may want to supervise playtime until you’re sure they can behave around your whippet.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, red whippets can make a great family pet, as long as you know what you’re doing.

They can vary from whippet to whippet and there is no such thing as a ‘red whippet personality’. So it’s up to you to find out their individual personalities and use this article accordingly.

These dogs are great fun for all of the family and are incredibly affectionate. They are not too high energy and get along great with kids and other dogs.

These are some of the most beautiful dogs on the planet, and I have no doubt a red whippet will make a perfect addition to your family.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post on red whippets, feel free to check out some of our other posts where we look at other coloured whippets too.