Mid Century Bronze Dog Portrait of a Whippet or Greyhound
European School
19.25 inches
 
The Whippet is a dog breed of medium size. They are a sighthound breed that originated in England, where they descended from Greyhounds. Whippets today still strongly resemble a smaller Greyhound.

Greyhound-types of dogs including Whippets are described their different sizes, large, medium and small, as recorded in hunting manuals and works on natural history from the Middle Ages. Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York, confirmed in his early 15th century translation from the original 14th century French text Livre de Chasse. In the 16th century, the English physician and academic John Caius refers to lesser as well as greater variants as well as to a type that’s been connected to the Whippet which was known as the Tumbler which was described as “a lesser sort of “mungrell Greyhound”. By the early 19th century, Scottish curator, naturalist, and editor Thomas Brown described the Whippet as an “excellent dog from catching rabbits.” In the Victorian Era, English writers describe the emerging modern breed of Whippets or snap-dog as being bred for catching rabbits coursing competitions, racing and for show dogs.

Well-mannered and quick, they are the fastest breed of their size and they have been called “the poor man’s racehorse.” They are possibly the fastest accelerating dog breed. In fact, during the 19th century Whippet racing was a popular sport in parts of England.

The age of the modern Whippet dawned in 1891 when the Kennel Club granted the breed official recognition, thus making the Whippet for competition in dog shows and began the recording of their pedigrees. In the United States, the Whippet was recognized in 1888 by the American Kennel Club winning Best of Show at the Westminster Kennel Club in 1964.