It is believed that the Whippet has been around for about 200 years. They come from Greyhounds being mixed with Terriers, and later mixed with Italian Greyhounds. Whippets were not dogs of lords, instead coal miners in Northern England used them for poaching/lamping and later added snap dog competition. When that was outlawed, they moved into racing them in a straight 200 yard race. Whippets then took on the nickname of the "Poor Man's Race Horse." The first Whippet was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1888.

Whippets are the fastest domestic animals of their size. They can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour, though they are very content, dignified, quiet and well-behaved in the house. They are very smart and loving. Their intelligence in a home environment compares favorably with most terriers. They are not high strung nor aggressive.

The Ideal size for a Whippet is 19-22 inches for males, and 18-21 inches for females. They are very sleek dogs, with little to no body fat, due to the fact that they were originally bred for speed.

Most Whippets are very friendly to all, gentle, though capable of incredible intensity during sporting events. Females tend to be a bit more aloof where males tend to be a bit more open with their affection. Their coats are short and thin, and come in a great variety of colors. Caring for their coat is very simple, just a regular brushing, nail trim, teeth cleaning and ear cleaning are necessary.