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Whippets have been described as the perfect "all purpose
dog." Although dogs resembling Whippets have been seen
in art since antiquity, the exact origins of the modern
Whippet are unclear. A listing of dog breeds in the
Encyclopedia Britannica, published in 1788, shows no
mention of Whippets. A greyhound is shown, and also a
small whippet-like dog labeled a "Naked Turkish Dog."
This breed resembles the modern Italian Greyhound. It is
mentioned as late as 1859 in Darwin's The Origin of
Species.
It is generally agreed that the Whippet as we know it
today developed in Northern England during the mid to
late 19th century.
Greyhounds were crossed with small terriers, (including
possibly the Bedlington Terrier), to produce a small,
swift hound capable of hunting rabbits and other small
game. During this era, the whippet belonged mainly to
the working class people of England. These were factory
and mine workers in Northern towns near Manchester and
Liverpool, who worked hard and lived simple lives.
Because of this, the whippet became known as the "poor
man's greyhound," or the "poor man's race horse." During
non-working days, owners raced their whippets in fields
and on town roads. These races became known as "rag
races," probably because a piece of cloth was used as a
lure. The dogs typically ran a straight 200 yard track.
The American Kennel Club first registered a whippet in
1888. The dog was named Jack Dempsey, and was born
September 23, 1885. He was bred by P. H. Hoffman of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Whippet was first recognized as a registerable breed
in England in 1891, when it was recognized by the Kennel
Club of England. Today, Whippets are the most popular of
the hound breeds at dog shows. Their size, short coat,
and agreeable temperament make them the perfect family
pet. Organized activities for Whippets and their
families can be found in most areas, and include lure
coursing, straight racing, flyball, agility matches, and
of course, obedience training. Whippets are independent
thinkers, and many of them find obedience training to be
somewhat beneath them. But those who do enjoy it have
excelled, and there are quite a few Whippets who have
earned obedience championships.
Notes on the origin of the word "whippet." The word
"whippet" comes originally from the latin "via" meaning
"a road, a street, a path, or way." Because "via" meant
a road or a path upon which people traveled, the words
eventually were associated with movement, traveling, or
quickness. Some other words derived from "via" are
"vibrate," vibrant," "whip," "viper," "wiper," "wife,"
and "whiplash." The word "whip" probably derives from
the Middle English "whippen" or "wippen," meaning "to
whip." "To whip" has such derivative meanings as "to
move smartly, quickly or nimbly," hence the quick moving
and lively dog, "the Whippet".
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