Whippet vs Greyhound
The same elegant sighthound in two sizes. Both are gentle, quiet sprinters and champion nappers — the question is really how much dog you have room for.
Whippet
GreyhoundPick the Whippet for a house-sized sighthound that slots into a normal home more easily; pick the Greyhound if you have room for a bigger dog, and often a calm, retired ex-racer looking for a sofa. Both are gentle, quiet, astonishingly fast in short bursts and total couch potatoes the rest of the day. Neither needs the endless walks people expect.
Side by side
| Whippet | Greyhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Medium · 44–51 cm | Large · 68–76 cm |
| Weight | 9–14 kg | 26–40 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15 years | 10–14 years |
| Energy | Moderate — daily sprint bursts | Moderate — short sprints, long naps |
| Shedding | Low, year-round | Low |
| Coat | Fine short coat · any colour | Fine short single coat · nearly every colour |
| Good with children | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Trainability | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Openness to strangers | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Barking | 1/5 | 1/5 |
Size and speed
It's largely a matter of scale. The Greyhound is the taller dog at 26–40 kg, and the fastest breed on earth over a sprint. The Whippet, 9–14 kg, is like a Greyhound shrunk to house size, and is itself one of the quickest animals for its weight. Both are built for the sprint, not the marathon.
Temperament and exercise
Both are famously gentle, quiet and undemanding indoors, happy to sleep most of the day after a good run. They want a couple of short, hard bursts rather than hours of walking. Both carry a strong chase instinct, so a secure space to run and care around small animals matter for either.
Which fits your home
The Whippet's size makes it the easier fit for a normal house or flat, and it's a little more robust for family bustle. The Greyhound needs more room and a big soft bed, and many arrive as calm, retired racers. Both feel the cold and appreciate a coat in winter.
Common questions
Is a Whippet just a small Greyhound?
Almost — they're separate breeds, but the Whippet is essentially a smaller, house-sized sighthound with the same build and temperament. The Greyhound is taller and faster; the Whippet more adaptable to ordinary homes.
Which is faster, a Whippet or a Greyhound?
The Greyhound is the fastest dog breed, reaching around 70 km/h. The Whippet is slightly slower in absolute terms but is one of the fastest animals for its size.
Do Whippets and Greyhounds need a lot of exercise?
Less than you'd think. Both are sprinters, not endurance dogs: a couple of short, hard runs in a secure space and they're content to sleep the rest of the day. Both are calm, quiet housemates.