| Country of Origin: The United States Breed Status: Arguments could be made to consider the Longhaired Whippet either a breed of its own or a strain of Whippet. The breed opinion is lent credit by the fact that they are nationally recognized in the Czech Republic. The strain opinion is given credibility by the fact that the Longhaired Whippet and Whippet are frequently crossed in an attempt to increase the size of the Longhaired Whippet’s gene pool. Distribution: The Longhaired Whippet can be found in many countries around the world, particularly in North America and Europe. Etymology: The Longhaired Whippet takes its name from the fact that it is a physical copy of the Whippet, except for its long hair. Other Names: Silken Windsprite Breed History: Although the Whippet originally occurred in a variety of coat types, selective breeding in the early days of the modern show era caused all but the smooth coat to be lost. The Longhaired Whippet is a recreation of one of these lost variants. Walter A. Wheeler Jr. of Sherborn, Massachusetts is credited with developing the Longhaired Whippet at his kennel, Windsprite Kennel. The top English Whippet show bitch of 1957, Hilgarth Shot Silk, was the foundation of what would become the Longhaired Whippet. Hilgarth Shot Silk had a naturally thick mane and fuzzy tail due to a recessive gene for longhair. This long coat was so apparent that she had to be stripped and trimmed to qualify for an American title. Through selective and intense inbreeding of her offspring, Mr. Wheeler managed to create a breed identical to the Whippet except with longhair. The first breed club, the Longhaired Whippet Association, was formed in 1981. Since that time the breed has also become nationally recognized by the Českomoravská kynologická unie (national kennel club of the Czech Republic). Throughout its history, the Longhaired Whippet has had a large number of detractors. These opponents of the breed have a variety of views regarding the breed and/or its history. Some opponents claim that Mr. Wheeler, by breeding for longhair, perpetuated a breed fault that should have been already eliminated. Still others claim that the Longhaired Whippet did not evolve simply from a dormant gene, but is in fact the product of crossbreeding. Regardless of personal opinions and questions about breed history, the Longhaired Whippet seems to be here to stay. Appearance: The Longhaired Whippet is a small, athletic breed of sighthound that should resemble the Whippet in all details except for the length of the coat. Males range from 19 to 22 inches (48.26 to 55.88 cm) tall at the withers; females range from 18 to 21 inches (45.72 to 53.34 cm) in height. A height allowance of 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) above and below the extremes is allowed for both sexes. In addition to this, at least one breed club also allows for a miniature size with a height under 18.5 inches (46.99 cm) for males and under 17.5 inches (44.45 cm) for females. The lean, moderately long head tapers slightly towards the eyes. The flat skull is fairly wide. The stop is subtle. The muzzle narrows towards the nose. The nose is black in color; or in the case of dilutes, as dark as possible. The Longhaired Whippet has a scissors bite. The large eyes should be as close to black in color as possible, even in dilutes. Almost universally, the only ear carriage that is allowed is a rose ear. At least one registry however allows for a button ear but even then it is considered acceptable but not desirable. The long, muscular neck is elegantly arched, dry, and widens gradually towards the shoulders. The topline is smooth beginning at the withers with a scarcely perceptible arch that gradually reaches its apex over the beginning of the loin before gently falling off over the croup. The long, broad back is muscular and flexible. The shoulders blades are long and placed as obliquely as possible. The deep chest should preferably reach to the point of the elbow. The ribs are well sprung but no barrel shaped. The abdomen has a dramatic tuck up. The forelegs are strong and straight. The strong hindquarters are broad and well muscled. The strong, well-knuckled feet have thick pads and well-curved nails of moderate length. Hare and cat feet are both equally acceptable. The long, flexible tail is tapered and should reach to at least the hocks, or preferably below them. The tail curves slightly towards the end. When in motion, the tail is carried low. The soft, silky coat may be straight, slightly curled, or wavy. The undercoat, when present, should only be sufficient for warmth and protection and should not be long enough to give an impression of bulkiness. The hair on the muzzle, feet, front of the forelegs, and hocks is short. The hair on the neck is longer and creates a ruff. Feathering occurs on the back of the forelegs, chest, back of the thighs, and under the tail. Any major trimming of the coat is strictly penalized although discreet thinning and tidying of the coat to reveal the Whippet outline is allowed. This trimming is most often needed for some males, particularly during winter. The Longhaired Whippet may be any color or combination. Personality and Uses: The Longhaired Whippet differs slightly in personality from the Whippet. The breed is said to be more eager to please and less independent and dog dominant than their smooth coated relatives. While the Longhaired Whippet is a breed created solely based on appearance, they have not lost their ability to course or race and are capable of attaining speeds of up to 35 miles per hour (56.33 kilometers per hour). Like all breeds of sighthound, the Longhaired Whippet needs plenty of exercise. The breed is however not high-strung and is capable of relaxing. Due to a minimal undercoat, necessary grooming is only a bi-weekly brushing. The Longhaired Whippet has been described as easy going, calm, and gentle but intense when it needs to be. |