1993 AWC National Specialty

The Illustrated Whippet Standard

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ....................................................................................

Double-Suspension Gallop ...........................................................

The Skeleton* .................................................................................

The Important Muscles* ..............................................................

Points of Anatomy ........................................................................

General Appearance ....................................................................
(Size, Proportion, Substance)

Head 13
(Eyes, Ears, Skull,Muzzle, Teeth)

Neck, Topline,Body, Back, Brisket, Ribs ...................................

Forequarters, Shoulder Blade ....................................................

Forelegs ........................................................................................

Tail ................................................................................................

Feet ...............................................................................................

Hindquarters ................................................................................

Gait ...............................................................................................

Coat and Color, N.B., Size, Disqualifications .............................

* from Art Anatomy of Animals

by Ernest Thompson Seton

published by Macmillan, London Running Press, Philadelphia

INTRODUCTION

Although the true origin of the Whippet is not certain, we do know that the purpose of the breed dictated what the original authors of the breed standard put into words as the ideal. The ideal was intended to be a Greyhound in miniature - a medium sized sighthound, functional and athletic, with aesthetic breed characteristics. Our standard should convey a word picture of a sturdy and remarkable breed of dog.

When considering any breed standard, three basic features deserve mention. They are balance, substance and style. They could be defined as listed below.

The following excerpts are from an article entitled "The Waxing Standard" by Robert S. Walker, reprinted by permission of the Cocker Spaniel Leader. Although directed toward the Cocker Spaniel Standard, Mr. Walker's remarks are applicable to the Whippet Standard as well:

There has been a tendency among breeders of Cocker Spaniels, as well as most other breeds, to analyze the Standard in great detail, and thereby to arrive at conclusions which may have only partial validity, or sometimes none at all. And so, inaccurate meanings have been evolved from the Standard.

The Standard by its nature cannot be absolute and rigid because it serves human beings who are neither perfect nor infallible. It is essential to have sufficient flexibility to accommodate valid differences of opinion and to enable the application of some degree of ordinary common sense while relating the Standard to certain specific animals.

Make no mistake that I suggest that the Standard be ignored, or that it is not important. On the contrary. It is vital. It is the wall between order and chaos, and must be both observed and preserved.

However, it is an error and a disservice to the breed to attempt to read into the Standard something that is not there.

Flexibility is an important part of every Standard. The Standard must fit many diverse "types" differing in style and in detail. There is no one "correct" cocker. And I, for one, say thank God. The dog show is a matter of opinion: the breeder expresses his opinion with his entries; the judge expresses his opinion with his awards. Those who cannot accept this fact will always be unhappy with the sport of pure-bred dogs, but sensible application of the Standard will add to the enjoyment of our sport.

The following drawings and comments are my attempt to illustrate the words of the Whippet Standard. They reflect my personal taste and preference within the present Standard for the Breed. It is hoped that they will aid breeders, exhibitors and/or fanciers to better visualize correct and incorrect features of the Whippet.

 

 

Pictured below are both extreme phases of the double suspension gallop, showing ideal form. Note flexibility of vertebral column, angle of shoulder blade, flexion of stifle and hock joint.

Below: POINTS OF THE WHIPPET ANATOMY

Below: FAULTS AND UNDESIRABLE POINTS BELOW

General Appearance - A medium size sighthound giving the appearance of elegance and fitness, denoting great speed, power and balance without coarseness. A true sporting hound that covers a maximum of distance with a minimum of lost motion. Should convey an impression of beautifully balanced muscular power and strength, combined with great elegance and grace of outline. Symmetry of outline, muscular development and powerful gait are the main considerations: the dog being built for speed and work, all forms of exaggerations should be avoided.

Size, Proportion, Substance - Ideal height for dogs, 1922 inches; for bitches, 18-21 inches, measured at the highest point of the withers. One-half i nch above or below the stated limits will disqualify. Length from forechest to buttocks equal to or slightly greater than height at the withers. Moderate bone throughout.

Below: Head - Keen intelligent alert expression.

Below: Eyes large and dark. Both eyes must be of the same color. Yellow or light eyes should be strectly penalized. Blue or wall eyes shall disqualify. Fully pigmented eyelids are desirable.

Rose ears, small, fine in texture; in repose, thrown back and folded along neck. Fold should be maintained when at attention. Erect ears should be severely penalized.

Above: Correct ears and carriage

Above: Correct ears in repose.

Skull long and lean, fairly wide between the ears, scarcely perceptible stop. Muzzle should be long and powerful, denoting great strength of bite, without coarseness. Lack of underjaw should be strictly penalized. Nose entirely black.

 

Above: Proper heads showing strength of muzzle.

Teeth of upper jaw should fit closely over teeth of lower jaw creating a scissors bite Teeth should be white and strong. Undershot shall disqualify. Overshot one-quarte inch or more shall disqualify.

Neck, Topline, Body -Neck long, clean and muscular, well arched with no suggestion of throatiness, widening gracefully into the top of the shoulder. A short thick neck, or a ewe neck, should be penalized.

The back is broad, firm and well muscled, having length over the loin. The backline runs smoothly from the withers with a graceful natural arch, not too accentuated, beginning over the loin and carrying through over the croup: the arch is continuous without flatness. A dip begind should blades, wheelback, flat back, or a steep or flat croup should be penalized.

Above: Extreme dip behind shoulders. Incorrect.

Above: Flat topline and croup. Incorrect.

Above: "Roach" or "wheelback". Lacks flexibility. Incorrect.

Above: Steep croup with cut away appearance. Incorrect.

Brisket very deep, reaching as nearly as possible to the point of the elbow. Ribs well sprung but with no suggestion of barrel shape. The space between the forelegs is filled in so that there is no appearance of a hollow between them. There is a definite tuckup of the underline.

Above: Brisket deep, showing fill between forelegs. Correct.

Above: Barrel ribs with excessive muscling. Incorrect.

Above: Shallow brisket with no fill between forelegs. Incorrect.

Above: Shallow brisket. Incorrect.

Forequarters - Shoulder blade long, well laid back, with flat muscles, allowing for moderate space between shoulder blades at peak of withers. Upper arm of equal length, placed so that the elbow falls directly under the withers.

The points of the elbows should point neither in nor out, but straight back. A steep shoulder, or a very narrow shoulder, all of which restrict low free movement, should be strictly penalized.

Above: Shoulder well laid back, flat muscles.

Above: Viewed from above at peak of withers, showing shoulder set and important muscles. Proper space between shoulders.

Above: Upper arm and shoulder blade of equal length. Elbow placed directly under withers.

Above: Straight should blade with short upper arm. Incorrect.

Forelegs straight, giving appearance of strength and substance of bone. Pasterns strong, slightly bent and flexible. Bowed legs, tied-in elbows, legs lacking substance, legs set far under the body so as to create an exaggerated forechest, weak or upright pasterns should be strictly penalized.

Above: Slightly bent and flexible pastern Correct.

Above: Excessively bent Weak. Incorrect.

Above: Knuckled over, straight. Incorrect.

Above: Strong and straight. Correct.

Above: Exaggerated forechest. Incorrect.

Above: Elbows point outward with accompanying toeing in. Bulgy muscles. Incorrect.

Above: Elbows point in, forelegs toe out. Incorrect.

The tail is long and tapering, reaching to the hipbone when drawn through between the hind legs.When the dog is in motion, the tail is carried low with only a gentle upward curve; tail should not be carried higher than top of back.

Above: Tail reaches to hipbone when drawn through between hind legs

Above: Two correct tail carriages.

Both front and rear feet must be well formed with hard, thick pads. Feet more hare than cat, but both are acceptable. Flat, splayed or soft feet without thick hard pads should be strictly penalized. Toes should be long, close and well arched. Nails strong and naturally short or of moderate length. Dewclaws may be removed.

Hindquarters - Long and powerful. The thighs are broad and muscular, stifles well bent; muscles are long and flat and carry well down toward the hock. The hocks are well let down and close to the ground. Sickle or cow hocks should be strictly penalized.

Above: Long, powerful, well bent stifles. Broad thighs. Hocks well let down. Correct.

Gait - Low, free moving and smooth, with reach in the forequarters and strong dri in the hindquarters. The dog has great freedom of action when viewed from the sic the forelegs move forward close to the ground to give a long low reach; the hind le have strong propelling power. When moving and viewed from front or rear, le should turn neither in nor out, nor should feet cross or interfere with each other, Lack of front reach or rear drive, or a short, hackney gait with high wrist actio should be strictly penalized. Crossing in front or moving too close should be strict penalized.

Efficient trot, low, free moving, smooth. Reach in forequarters, strong
propelling drive in hindquarters. Feet not interferring with each other. Correct

Lack of reach and drive, mincing. Incorrect

High knee action, "Hack" Tail carried above back. Incorrect.

At the trot, legs should be held in a straight line from the hip to foot, or in the front, from the shoulder to the foot. As speed increases, the legs incline toward a center line beneath the body.

Coat - Short, close, smooth and firm in texture. Any other coat shall be a disquali fication. Old scars and injuries, the result of work or accident, should not be allowec to prejudice the dog's chance in the show ring.

Color - Color immaterial.

Temperament - Amiable, friendly, gentle, but capable of great intensity during sporting pursuits.

DISQUALIFICATIONS -

One-half inch above or below stated height limits.

Blue or wall eyes.

Undershot, overshot one-quarter inch or more.

Any coat other than short, close, smooth and firm in texture.