How Big Is Your Whippet?

[petrezselyem]

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Hmmmm....

I'm a beginner, but as well I know, the best way to restrict the size is a well-designed line-breeding.

Homogene extraneous breeding ( no relatives on pedigrees) always results bigger, or growing size.

Line-breeding has it's own problems (very hard selection is needed, it also can fix very bad characterisics, so You have to use only the best dogs, and so on..) but the best way to keep the standard size....more, to reduce size.

So, that is one reason, why it's needed to cross with outcross dogs (of course with very similar characteristics, so make a homogene extraneous mating), the size. Because without any outcross it will be smaller and smaller. Other reason is the heterogenity of genes, because line-breeding causes exaggerated homogenity, which is not good at all, considerng the whole breed.

So, this is my opinion. :b

And I think too, that there should be a limit, and I think that the standard gives the limit. In cm-s: males 49-51, bitches 44-47 cm.

I think that 1-2 cm + or - is tolerable, when the dog is excellent.

 

[jools]

I have been giving this topic a lot of thought (Yes, you can probably smell the burning!!) I have always prefered "correct" sized whippies, though agree, I would rather see a bit over size good example placed over a poor but correct sized one. My bitches are both exactly how I would like them on size, but Riva is undoubtedly, a big boy!! It hasn't stopped him so far, he has 6 BPIB, a RBPIS and a BPIS, so his size isn't bothering the judges too much. Riva is much more a pet than a show dog, so he is going nowhere. He was one of a litter of 6, 4 of them are bob on size, but Riva and Rhea (a bitch) who is also being shown are both bigger than I would prefer. My first litter was exactly the same mating, again 6 puppies, but only 1 bitch is over the standard (she is in a pet home and won't be bred from.) Where do these bigger ones come from? I think it is from Gran on the female side, I have only seen her from a distance (She belongs to an oddbod - ask Beaker!! - who is unsociable and likes to keep his dogs the same!!), but having looked into those lines, I still don't know where the size comes from. It is something that I have very much in mind when looking at poosible "husbands" for Fern.

Has anyone with more experience than I have got any views on this, I would really appreciate some input into this topic.

 

[petrezselyem]

I have been giving this topic a lot of thought (Yes, you can probably smell the burning!!) I have always prefered "correct" sized whippies, though agree, I would rather see a bit over size good example placed over a poor but correct sized one. My bitches are both exactly how I would like them on size, but Riva is undoubtedly, a big boy!! It hasn't stopped him so far, he has 6 BPIB, a RBPIS and a BPIS, so his size isn't bothering the judges too much.  Riva is much more a pet than a show dog, so he is going nowhere. He was one of a litter of 6, 4 of them are bob on size, but Riva and Rhea (a bitch) who is also being shown are both bigger than I would prefer. My first litter was exactly the same mating, again 6 puppies, but only 1 bitch is over the standard (she is in a pet home and won't be bred from.) Where do these bigger ones come from? I think it is from Gran on the female side, I have only seen her from a distance (She belongs to an oddbod - ask Beaker!! - who is unsociable and likes to keep his dogs the same!!), but having looked into those lines, I still don't know where the size comes from. It is something that I have very much in mind when looking at poosible "husbands" for Fern.Has anyone with more experience than I have got any views on this, I would really appreciate some input into this topic.

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Size can show growing trend without any precedents. It's simply genetics. Extraneous matings, and the size grows. Like humans. We are much more taller than our ancestors were, because our genes are heterogener, than our ancestor's genes were. This is a science based rule. Please, read my last reply.

I'm very interested in Your opinion.

 

[imperative]

Yes they are whoppers now!! Rebel is a mini greyhound and weighs about 44lb!!!
I much prefer to see the smaller ones :thumbsup:

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hi everyone first message for me just registered! What a great site.Was recommeded to it by Mike of Hereford .Will someone tell me how i start own threads/questions.My whippet passed away last Sunday.This site is so comforting. Thank you all for just being here. jax xx

 

[imperative]

Yes they are whoppers now!! Rebel is a mini greyhound and weighs about 44lb!!!
I much prefer to see the smaller ones :thumbsup:

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hi everyone first message for me just registered! What a great site.Was recommeded to it by Mike of Hereford .Will someone tell me how i start own threads/questions.My whippet passed away last Sunday.This site is so comforting. Thank you all for just being here. jax xx

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just me again working out these boards going to be fun.JUST CHECKING TO SEE HOW MESSAGES TURNING OUT.

 

[lalena]

Yes they are whoppers now!! Rebel is a mini greyhound and weighs about 44lb!!!
I much prefer to see the smaller ones :thumbsup:

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hi everyone first message for me just registered! What a great site.Was recommeded to it by Mike of Hereford .Will someone tell me how i start own threads/questions.My whippet passed away last Sunday.This site is so comforting. Thank you all for just being here. jax xx

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just me again working out these boards going to be fun.JUST CHECKING TO SEE HOW MESSAGES TURNING OUT.

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welcome to k9 :thumbsup: sorry for your loss

 

[petrezselyem]

Yes they are whoppers now!! Rebel is a mini greyhound and weighs about 44lb!!!
I much prefer to see the smaller ones :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

hi everyone first message for me just registered! What a great site.Was recommeded to it by Mike of Hereford .Will someone tell me how i start own threads/questions.My whippet passed away last Sunday.This site is so comforting. Thank you all for just being here. jax xx

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Welcome! I'm a very new member, too.

:huggles:

 

[lalena]

I have been giving this topic a lot of thought (Yes, you can probably smell the burning!!) I have always prefered "correct" sized whippies, though agree, I would rather see a bit over size good example placed over a poor but correct sized one. My bitches are both exactly how I would like them on size, but Riva is undoubtedly, a big boy!! It hasn't stopped him so far, he has 6 BPIB, a RBPIS and a BPIS, so his size isn't bothering the judges too much.  Riva is much more a pet than a show dog, so he is going nowhere. He was one of a litter of 6, 4 of them are bob on size, but Riva and Rhea (a bitch) who is also being shown are both bigger than I would prefer. My first litter was exactly the same mating, again 6 puppies, but only 1 bitch is over the standard (she is in a pet home and won't be bred from.) Where do these bigger ones come from? I think it is from Gran on the female side, I have only seen her from a distance (She belongs to an oddbod - ask Beaker!! - who is unsociable and likes to keep his dogs the same!!), but having looked into those lines, I still don't know where the size comes from. It is something that I have very much in mind when looking at poosible "husbands" for Fern.Has anyone with more experience than I have got any views on this, I would really appreciate some input into this topic.

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just out of curiousity, did riva's name come from the david eddings books? its the only place i've ever seen the name, until now

 

[JAX]

Welcome to K9 ,Imperative . I take it you are a` Jackie` Too ,

Sorry about your loss

Jackie and the [SIZE=14pt]MULCAIR [/SIZE]Whippets

 

[~whitecross whippets~]

so sorry about your loss...hopefully one day you will find comfort in a new whippet?...i had no dogs for 2 years for the first time in my whole life because i was heartbroken after my lurcher died and now ive got two whippets and although they will never replace her i know a bit of her is inside them :huggles:

 

[kitty]

hello new posters! I am a new poster too. :cheers:

Sorry to hear about your loss last sunday, lalena. Do tell us about your whippie if it helps - to celebrate her/his loveliness. )

This thread is really interesting, BTW - am reading the answers very avidly. Thanks everyone.

 

[lalena]

hello new posters! I am a new poster too.  :cheers:



Sorry to hear about  your loss last sunday, lalena. Do tell us about your whippie if it helps -  to celebrate her/his  loveliness.  )

This thread is really interesting, BTW - am reading the answers very avidly. Thanks everyone.

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not me, :b i've yet to add a whippy to my family. poor imperative suffered this sad loss

 

[Janimal]

Yes they are whoppers now!! Rebel is a mini greyhound and weighs about 44lb!!!
I much prefer to see the smaller ones :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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hi everyone first message for me just registered! What a great site.Was recommeded to it by Mike of Hereford .Will someone tell me how i start own threads/questions.My whippet passed away last Sunday.This site is so comforting. Thank you all for just being here. jax xx

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Hi and Welcome to K9 - but so very sorry for your loss. I found this site shortly after my whippet Chip died in February 2004. To imperative :huggles:

 

[kitty]

I got the wrong poster name? Sorry. :unsure:

 

[lalena]

I got  the wrong poster name?  Sorry. :unsure:

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thats ok your hearts in the right place :thumbsup:

 

[Seraphina]

Size can show growing trend without any precedents. It's simply genetics. Extraneous matings, and the size grows. Like humans. We are much more taller than our ancestors were, because our genes are heterogener, than our ancestor's genes were. This is a science based rule.  Please, read my last reply.I'm very interested in Your opinion.

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If humans did indeed increase in size substantialy (it is a theory only, I have read something to the contrary recently) then it happened over thousands of years and the difference is not huge. There is some slight increase in avarage recent size recorded, but there is also some evidence that tall man is less likely to remain unmarried, so so it is also in fact "sellective breeding" that can make the difference in the size of next generations.

Whippets have increased in size by several inches in relatively short time - past 20 years. Considering that most Whippets, at least here in Australia are pretty closely bred, so according to your theory they should not be getting bigger . But they are. I have outcrossed many times and my pups ended up the same size as their parents or even marginally smaller. My newest baby is a total outcross (the sire is an import with absolutely no connection to the dam's line) and she is going to be little.

 

[Lakey]

Oto is 20 1/2, and Otis is getting towards 21, i wouldn't want them any bigger but they regularily competes against bitches in the ring that are BIGGER than them  and i'm afraid to say that some of these monsters have beaten them , think some judges need the breed standard slapping about their heads  :angry:

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Its easy to sort out !

Introduce the measuring stick into the show ring, that way dogs over the breed standard will be thrown out.

By doing this the so called top whippet breeders will have to breed to the British KC breed standard and not the Americian one that seems to be getting used so British dogs can be exported and do well abroard.

Lets keep the British whippet to origins and not breed it so it look like a small greyhound.

 

[dessie]

We do not judge on disqualifying faults over here. The breed standard and a measuring stick are only a GUIDE so you cannot chuck dogs out of the ring just because they are too tall, too small, have upright shoulders, overangulated hindquarters, flat feet, long nails ................... the list is endless.

Size is only one part of a dog like any other!!!!!!!!

 

[Lakey]

The breed standard size for a whippet dog is 20 1/2 inchs, a dog that is 22 inchs and above should not be winning shows, but they are !!!

I admire whippets in all their shapes sizes and forms what ever their breeding, my own dog is 22 inch and i wouldnt swap him for any other whippet. However a dog of his size as nice as he is shouldn't be entered into a show never mind win one.

I feel the breed standard is there to protect the breed.

Unless the size of whippets in the show ring is addressed they will eventully bearly resemble the the true English whippet that was around when the breed standard was written.

 

[Lolcoe]

The breed standard size for a whippet dog is 20 1/2 inchs, a dog that is 22 inchs and above should not be winning shows, but they are !!!I admire whippets in all their shapes sizes and forms what ever their breeding, my own dog is 22 inch and i wouldnt swap him for any other whippet. However a dog of his size as nice as he is shouldn't be entered into a show never mind win one.

I feel the breed standard is there to protect the breed.

Unless the size of whippets in the show ring is addressed they will eventully bearly resemble the the true English whippet that was around when the breed standard was written.

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I agree with you there, i also have a 22" whippet although he might be more but ive seen bigger than him in the ring. Yes they are still lovely, but if you dont agree with showing bigger whippets and you have one, do you not show it? or do you show it knowing that its 'show size'?

Whats wrong with overlooking whippets that are too big? Whippets that are small get totally overlooked all the time, only a handful of judges will give a smaller whippet a good looking over, all the rest glance and move on!!