Is There A Difference?

[nabeeha]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Is there a difference in show and race whippets?

I mean mentally.

 

[Nicola]

Do you mean in temperament?

I think there could well be. I'm sure others will answer as I have no real experience of whippets from racing lines.

 

[nabeeha]

Yes, temperament.. sorry :- " :lol: thanks

 

[melanie]

i have no idea as i only have showing whipps

nice to see you on here jess :thumbsup:

 

[nabeeha]

i have no idea as i only have showing whipps nice to see you on here jess :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Aww Hiya Mel babes nice seeing you here :clown:

 

[LasVegasNo1]

Hi, I don't have any experience with racing Whippets, I have a show bred bruiser of a Whippet, he's about 40lb-42lb, who has recently started to enjoy having barneys with other dogs when he's out :- " but at home he's the biggest baby and he quite literally likes to be held in our arms and rocked to sleep on his back :b :wub:

 

[Janimal]

Hi, I don't have any experience with racing Whippets, I have a show bred bruiser of a Whippet, he's about 40lb-42lb, who has recently started to enjoy having barneys with other dogs when he's out :- " but at home he's the biggest baby and he quite literally likes to be held in our arms and rocked to sleep on his back :b   :wub:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Blimey Sarah - thats what Oscar is like too sometimes, he thinks hes a great dane sometimes (w00t) but is soft as in the house too.

Must admit my two are both from show lines and have very different temperaments but I had a racing whippet years ago and she was much smaller and finer in build and had a smashing nature. :thumbsup:

 

[jok]

Would i be right in saying that Racing lines should have a stronger prey drive? My two showies aren't majorly interested in chasing small furries. :lol: (Maybe they're just odd!)

 

[LasVegasNo1]

Blimey Sarah - thats what Oscar is like too sometimes,  he thinks hes a great dane sometimes  (w00t)   but is soft as    in the house too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Does Oscar like to pick a fight? We're getting a bit concerned that Alfie is enjoying 'fighting' with other dogs :unsure: So far nothing serious has happened, but if he picks on the wrong dog....... :sweating:

 

[kim & Tilly]

Tilly is more show than racing and she loves racing and is always stalking and chasing things.

Bean is coursing bred and isnt interested one bit in chasing anything, she just walks by my side all the time, going off now and again to run

 

[Janimal]

Would i be right in saying that Racing lines should have a stronger prey drive?  My two showies aren't majorly interested in chasing small furries. :lol:    (Maybe they're just odd!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

No Im sure ... Oscar and Kobi are from showlines and love chasing small furries (and my cats :lol: ) now and then, squirrels, - Oscar even killed a rat a couple of weeks ago.

Blimey Sarah - thats what Oscar is like too sometimes,  he thinks hes a great dane sometimes  (w00t)   but is soft as    in the house too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Does Oscar like to pick a fight? We're getting a bit concerned that Alfie is enjoying 'fighting' with other dogs :unsure: So far nothing serious has happened, but if he picks on the wrong dog....... :sweating:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Yes he can be quite aggressive when we meet other males, and is extremely protective over Kobi when other dogs are around. He hasnt had a fight yet, thank goodness because I put him onto the leash if I see trouble. (w00t) but think like you do Sarah - if its the wrong dog (they have very thin skins) :sweating: :sweating:

 

[*Lesley*]

Is there a difference in show and race whippets?I mean mentally.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Mine are all mental :- " :lol:

Seriously though I dont have racers but have 2 show breds and 2 coursing bred they are all different from each other in their own ways but will all chase anything, all lazy, all loving and all have equally good temperament. :wub:

Kane's mad keen to chase Kim (w00t)

 

[Esthermax]

My show bred is a total hunter, her predatory side is very strong, she will course anything h34r: My racers are very laid back, untill they know they are going racing & then they are nutters :lol: Temperament is lovely in all of them :huggles:

 

[running_free]

Ours are both happy chappies when it comes to meeting other dogs, bit much for some dogs to handle because they are soo quick at running in and out lol but calm and lovable :wub:

Ours are from show lines, Kai likes the chase of a lure and tried to jump out of the persons arms who was slipping him to get to the lure, Stirling seems to run to me and ignore this big lure infront of it :blink:

I was just wondering if you are lure training your dogs would this effect their look if you show them? Dont know if you understand what I'm trying to say :wacko:

 

[Strike Whippets]

My working/racing bred and her daughter are a tad sharp with unwanted attention from unknown dogs, but all of the rest of my lot be it show or racing bred are very easy going

I was just wondering if you are lure training your dogs would this effect their look if you show them? Dont know if you understand what I'm trying to say wacko.gif

It can do if they get "bunchy muscles" as they are called ........If I remember correctly I think the new breed standard calls for "flat muscles on the shoulders" which again if I remember correctly is built up very steadily, where as the racers muscle builds too quickly causing it to bunch and produce too much muscle too quickly .....hence the loaded shoulders and huge thighs we see on most of the racers and workers ...........but again I may have this all wrong :wacko:

 

[Seraphina]

I was just wondering if you are lure training your dogs would this effect their look if you show them? Dont know if you understand what I'm trying to say wacko.gif

It can do if they get "bunchy muscles" as they are called ........If I remember correctly I think the new breed standard calls for "flat muscles on the shoulders" which again if I remember correctly is built up very steadily, where as the racers muscle builds too quickly causing it to bunch and produce too much muscle too quickly .....hence the loaded shoulders and huge thighs we see on most of the racers and workers ...........but again I may have this all wrong :wacko:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Friend of mine breeds both racing and show Whippets, and got a championship title with some of her top racing dogs. However she told me you cannot show Whippets while they are in top racing condition. She stops their training for about 6 months, they put little bit of weight on and loose some of that bulky muscle. But there are some deeper differences between the dogs capable of achieving top speed and the look we seem to be looking for in the ring nowadays. One is that show Whippets are getting longer in the body. Once the back gets too long it looses strength, so the dog cannot run as fast. Also the racers do not seem to have much of a "front fill", while some show dogs are becoming pigeon chested.

Basically, i would not buy a pup from racing line if you want to show. Or a show puppy if you want to win races.

 

[jean.dunbar]

Whippets are bred for running. They should be able to race and show. I race and show mine as do many of my friends. A good Whippet is a good Whippet (and they are all barking MAD).

 

[running_free]

I was just wondering if you are lure training your dogs would this effect their look if you show them? Dont know if you understand what I'm trying to say wacko.gif

It can do if they get "bunchy muscles" as they are called ........If I remember correctly I think the new breed standard calls for "flat muscles on the shoulders" which again if I remember correctly is built up very steadily, where as the racers muscle builds too quickly causing it to bunch and produce too much muscle too quickly .....hence the loaded shoulders and huge thighs we see on most of the racers and workers ...........but again I may have this all wrong :wacko:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Friend of mine breeds both racing and show Whippets, and got a championship title with some of her top racing dogs. However she told me you cannot show Whippets while they are in top racing condition. She stops their training for about 6 months, they put little bit of weight on and loose some of that bulky muscle. But there are some deeper differences between the dogs capable of achieving top speed and the look we seem to be looking for in the ring nowadays. One is that show Whippets are getting longer in the body. Once the back gets too long it looses strength, so the dog cannot run as fast. Also the racers do not seem to have much of a "front fill", while some show dogs are becoming pigeon chested.

Basically, i would not buy a pup from racing line if you want to show. Or a show puppy if you want to win races.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

We brought ours as pets first and formost, but they do like to run and pose as well 8) Was just thinking about it the other day and wondered whether it would have any effects against them either which way, whether they win or loose on a track or in the ring they certainly will still be loved :wub:

Thanks for the good information, I shall bare it in mind :thumbsup:

 

[Seraphina]

Whippets are bred for running. They should be able to race and show. I race and show mine as do many of my friends. A good Whippet is a good Whippet (and they are all barking MAD).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Do you mean you take your dog one weekend to races and he wins, and next weekend the same dog gets BOB, BIG or BIS? :unsure:

 

[~elizabeth~]

I think temperament is one of those things that goes with all the other aspects of breeding and line, if there is a tendency towards shyness or extroversion it's probably just down to the family characteristics of that particular line, rather than being strictly related to the activities they pursue. Most of the racing whippets I've met have been very nice natured. :thumbsup:

That said, I think there can be some more superficial changes in temperament if you race/course actively, I've noticed mine (usually laid back to the point of coma) is more restless and excitable when he's competing actively, but he goes back to his slothful self very quickly when he's having a break from it.

I don't think prey drive affects underlying temperament at all, I have a keen coursing dog that has the sweetest temperament possible, he is completely trustworthy with my sick/young poultry if I leave him free in the kitchen/garden with them, despite going rabbit hunting regularly. I'm sure there are show-bred whippets (and indeed many other non-hound breeds) who couldn't be trusted to this degree.

Also, the different kinds of whippets all have common ancestors if you go back far enough, in the past (1960s) racing, coursing and show lines were closer both in type and kinship anyway.