a few questions re: size, breeding, etc.

[Poeta]

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Okay, I'm from Canada and we only have pedigree racing here and in the US but I find the non peds fascinating. I'd like to learn more.

What is the average size of your non-ped racers? I believe you guys run the dogs in weight classes but is there a favorite weight division? When you breed, do you strive for a certain average size? What is considered too big and too small?

And what do you mostly mix your Whippets with? Greyhounds? Anything else? What are your considerations? Speed, temperament, tenacity, coat, etc?

Louise

 

[Fleesh]

Size: The lightest I've seen dogs race at is 15lb but usually 16lb, I don't really know much about the lower limit rules but I think it's for safety more than anything else. Upper limit ... currently there is none, so long as it's bred from non-ped whippet and can fit in the traps. There are separate weight groups for dogs over 32 or 35lb called scratch classes (All off levels not run at yd/lb).

On to the next person ...

 

[Poeta]

Upper limit ... currently there is none, so long as it's bred from non-ped whippet and can fit in the traps. There are separate weight groups for dogs over 32 or 35lb called scratch classes (All off levels not run at yd/lb).

What's the criteria for "non-ped" Whippet? Isn't there a lot of Greyhound blood infused in the larger Whippets? Can a 1/2 Whippet, 1/2 Greyhound be considered a non-ped Whippet?

Louise

 

[Fleesh]

Half Whippet half greyhound is considered non-ped, even 3/4 ghd and 1/4 whippet is considered non-ped.

Not meaning to confuse you but technically you could argue that non-ped whippets are a breed in their own right with the exception of the fact that the only other breed a non-ped whippet is lined to is a ghd.

 

[Poeta]

Not meaning to confuse you but technically you could argue that non-ped whippets are a breed in their own right with the exception of the fact that the only other breed a non-ped whippet is lined to is a ghd.

Alright, let me get this straight :wacko: the only blood in a non-ped is Whippet and Greyhound? There's nothing else? Don't some of them have wiry coats? Where does that come from?

Louise

 

[michelle]

i dont think there is a criteria for non ped whippets (except they are not pedigree whips ) some whippets are 1/4, 1/2 or even 3/4 ghd,some have larger or smaller portions than that

Personally i like my dogs 30-40lb once dogs get above 32lb or 35lb (depending on which organisation you run at) they all run off levels called scratch racing. the biggest class is called "no limit" which is for dogs 40lb and over.

 

[sherry]

hi poeta I have a 50lb dog which is bred from a cross greyhound and a whippet so yes he is a non ped whippet. Il explain about the scratch classes you have a 36lb scratch which is dogs that are over 32lb to 36lb they all run off levels no one gets a start. Then you have a 40lb scratch which is for dogs over 36lb up to 40lb again nobody gets a start all run off levels. Then you have the no limits anything over 40lb can run in this class but generally if you dog is over say 55lb it probably wont fit in a whippet box. Actually a dog of any weight can run in the no limit but I dont think people are silly enough to put a 25lb dog in with a 50lb dog. Last but not least there is now something called a supreme scratch which is the dogs that have won the 36lb 40lb and no limit scratch can run against each other all off levels (hence the word scratch) You might think the 50lb er will automatically win this race but this is definitly not the case. As your 36lb and 40lb will probably get out of the boxes quicker this makes for some very exciting races. Supreme scratch generally only at big events. Hope thats been of some interest to to u. :huggles:

 

[Poeta]

<< Actually a dog of any weight can run in the no limit but I dont think people are silly enough to put a 25lb dog in with a 50lb dog. >>

That's what we do in North America! Dogs and bitches, all sizes and weights, run together (same start). There is a height limit on the straights but not on the ovals (bends). But that's pedigree racing.

<< You might think the 50lb er will automatically win this race but this is definitly not the case. >>

Nor is it the case here. We've got some pretty fast dogs who are in the 30-40lb range. But with the non-peds I would think those with a lot of Greyhound blood would be faster wouldn't they?

<< Hope thats been of some interest to to u >>

Yes, thank you :*

Louise

 

[sherry]

dogs with greyhound blood should be faster. You would think so but I know from experience this is def not the case. My dog is no slouch either he won the english derby and scottish derby last year. But there is a 32lb dog called Showthree who last year was breaking track records by the end of the year so was therefore definitly faster than the no limits (not that this makes s difference but my dog wasnt running that day lol) :lol:

 

[mutley]

show threes mum was greyhound cross, cyprianna queen and marilion

 

[Judy]

<< Actually a dog of any weight can run in the no limit but I dont think people are silly enough to put a 25lb dog in with a 50lb dog. >>
That's what we do in North America! Dogs and bitches, all sizes and weights, run together (same start). There is a height limit on the straights but not on the ovals (bends). But that's pedigree racing.

Hi Louise

In pedigree racing here, weight classes were introduced to discourage people from breeding larger and larger whippets. It has worked too as the pedigree racing whippets here are all 14-32lbs. Very few ped. race breds are born that exceed those limits. There is also a height limit of 21" for dogs and 20" for bitches. They are generally smaller than the show bred who do not have to conform to these limits as being too tall is a fault but not a disqualification in the show ring.

A question for the non-ped people - Louise asked in an earlier post in this thread about wire/rough coated whippets. Do you ever get any ?

 

[michelle]

Ive never seen a wirey coated whip but the non ped coats do vary from very smooth fine fur to quite fluffy coats , one of our nearly 5 wk old pups has been re-named bear because his is really fluffy, wherehas the others has quite fine coats.

 

[BOB OZ]

In "days of old" whippets were inter-bred with bull terriers to try and put some spirit into them, unfortunately it comes out even nowadays in some of the pups, and all the mixing shows in undershot jaws etc..

 

[BOB OZ]

Just over 20 years ago the Woolsthorpe club near Grantham used to have an under 14lb weight class at their opens to accomodate two of their local dogs, namely Serendipity Blue and Allouisious Smith. Serendipity Blue being by Good as Gold out of Rag Ch. Cherry Blue.

 

[BOB OZ]

Just remembered a bit more. There was a litter just over 20 years ago that I beileve I'm right in saying contained a mixture of smooth and broken-coated whippets, with the two broken coats being good enough for open class racing. They were based somewhere north of Mansfield in the midlands and the names of the two were Offenbach and Beethoven. It used be the talk in those days that the owner would shave the dogs so that they could race with the B.W.R.A..

 

[Vicky]

I think there were a few rough coated dogs in the North West too that used to be shaved to be able to race.

 

[iang]

Around about 1968 I was racing a wire haired bitch called Penny Lane and at the same club Though not related a dog called Mosses Pride raced. Both of these whippets were decent handicappers.At the same time a white dog called Gypo was racing and the bull terrier influence was there for all to see. Happy Days :wacko: