Greyhound vs Whippet
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| Greyhound | Whippet | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Large | Medium |
| Adult weight | 27.2 to 31.8 kg | 11.3 to 18.1 kg |
| In pounds | 60 to 70 lb | 25 to 40 lb |
| Adult height | 69 to 76 cm | 46 to 56 cm |
| Energy | High | High |
| Grooming | Low | Low |
| Coat | Short smooth | Short smooth |
| Shedding | Low | Low |
| Lifespan | 10 to 13 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Good with children | Fine with supervision | Reliably good |
| Good with other dogs | Usually good | Reliably good |
| Country of origin | Great Britain | Great Britain |
The main differences
- The Greyhound is the bigger dog: 27.2 to 31.8 kg against 11.3 to 18.1 kg for the Whippet.
- Both have high energy in their published profiles.
- Grooming is low for both.
- The Whippet usually lives longer: 12 to 15 years against 10 to 13 years.
- With children, the Whippet is rated reliably good and the Greyhound fine with supervision.
Temperament
Greyhound: The Greyhound is a tall sighthound built for short bursts of very high speed, gentle and quiet indoors and content to sleep most of the day. They have a strong chase instinct, so off lead work in unfenced ground is not safe.
Whippet: The Whippet is affectionate, calm and playful, an agile sighthound that is powerful and graceful in motion and quiet at rest.
Health worth asking about
Conditions each breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable: it means ask the breeder for the parents' test results.
Greyhound
- Greyhound polyneuropathy, an inherited nerve disease seen almost only in this breed, detectable by DNA test
- Gastric dilatation volvulus and bloat, a surgical emergency, risk rises with deep chests
- Cardiac disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
- Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that shows as persistent limb lameness and is confirmed by x-ray
- Thin skin and low body fat, which means tears need veterinary attention and drug doses need care
Whippet
- The Whippet frame is not suited to carrying excess weight, so lifelong portion control is advised
- Orthopaedic problems linked to being kept overweight, which regular body condition scoring at the vet prevents
- Cardiac disease, with a cardiac exam recommended by the national breed club
- Eye disease and deafness, with an ophthalmologist evaluation and BAER testing recommended
Common questions
Which is bigger, the Greyhound or the Whippet?
The Greyhound. Adults weigh 27.2 to 31.8 kg, against 11.3 to 18.1 kg for the Whippet, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the Greyhound or the Whippet?
The published life expectancy is 10 to 13 years for the Greyhound and 12 to 15 years for the Whippet. These are typical ranges across the breed, not a promise about one dog.
Is the Greyhound or the Whippet better with children?
The Whippet scores higher for children (3 against 5 out of 5). Any dog needs supervising around young children, whatever their breed rating.
Related comparisons
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the two breed guides, which cite:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin