Whippet vs Italian Greyhound
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| Whippet | Italian Greyhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Medium | Toy |
| Adult weight | 11.3 to 18.1 kg | 3.2 to 6.4 kg |
| In pounds | 25 to 40 lb | 7 to 14 lb |
| Adult height | 46 to 56 cm | 33 to 38 cm |
| Energy | High | Moderate |
| Grooming | Low | Low |
| Coat | Short smooth | Short smooth |
| Shedding | Low | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years | 14 to 15 years |
| Good with children | Reliably good | Fine with supervision |
| Good with other dogs | Reliably good | Reliably good |
| Country of origin | Great Britain | Italy |
The main differences
- The Whippet is the bigger dog: 11.3 to 18.1 kg against 3.2 to 6.4 kg for the Italian Greyhound.
- The Whippet needs more exercise: high energy against moderate for the Italian Greyhound.
- Grooming is low for both.
- The Italian Greyhound usually lives longer: 14 to 15 years against 12 to 15 years.
- With children, the Whippet is rated reliably good and the Italian Greyhound fine with supervision.
Temperament
Whippet: The Whippet is affectionate, calm and playful, an agile sighthound that is powerful and graceful in motion and quiet at rest.
Italian Greyhound: Intelligent, affectionate and vivacious, elegant and quick moving, and may appear aloof. Sensitive and easily intimidated, so they respond best to reward based training.
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.
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
Italian Greyhound
- Inherited eye disease, screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme
- Progressive retinal atrophy, detectable by DNA test
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, degeneration of the femoral head, diagnosed by hip radiographs in young dogs
- Hypothyroidism, detected by a blood test of thyroid hormone levels
- Autoimmune disorders affecting skin, blood, eyes and the neuromuscular system, confirmed by diagnostic laboratory testing
- Cold intolerance, and hypoglycaemia in young puppies, managed by a coat in cold weather and frequent puppy feeding
Common questions
Which is bigger, the Whippet or the Italian Greyhound?
The Whippet. Adults weigh 11.3 to 18.1 kg, against 3.2 to 6.4 kg for the Italian Greyhound, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the Whippet or the Italian Greyhound?
The published life expectancy is 12 to 15 years for the Whippet and 14 to 15 years for the Italian Greyhound. These are typical ranges across the breed, not a promise about one dog.
Is the Whippet or the Italian Greyhound better with children?
The Whippet scores higher for children (5 against 3 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