The Whippet's story begins in Victorian England, where north-country coal miners raced them and took them rabbiting on their days off. They earned nicknames like the "Poor Man's Racehorse" and the "Lightning Rag Dog", after the early races where they chased a rag down a straight track. The Dogs Australia standard sums up the result: "built for speed and work", but also "an ideal companion".
Think of a Whippet as a Greyhound folded down to a more manageable size. At 44 to 51 cm and roughly 11 to 18 kg, it has the same sleek sighthound shape, the same explosive sprint, and the same talent for melting into the softest spot in the house once the running's done. Indoors most are quiet, gentle and affectionate, happiest pressed up against their people. They come in almost any colour except merle.
That elegant frame comes with a couple of conditions. Whippets were bred to chase what they see, so a fleeing cat, rabbit or small dog can switch on an instinct that recall won't always beat. Let them stretch out in securely fenced areas rather than open parks. And with a short coat and very little body fat, they feel the cold, so a coat in winter and a warm, padded bed are part of the deal. Get those right and you have one of the easiest, most loving medium-sized dogs around.