What Will The Whippet Of 2020 Look Like?

[lorna anne]

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Given the changes between the "old-fashioned" whippet of 50 years ago and the "modern" whippet we see in the showring and in pictures today, the quesion arises, "What will the whippet look like in 2020?" In the absence of a crystal ball, perhaps we (the whippet community) could come up with some predictions. . . .

 

[eve]

You never know

Like many things, we could go full circle and end up back at where we started. My small 'old fashioned whippet, Lilly is faster and definately neater in her feet than any of the larger less curvy whippets that I have had or have met. She can turn on a sixpence when chasing something which I would have thought is what a whippet is all about.

 

[lorna anne]

You never know Like many things, we could go full circle and end up back at where we started. My small 'old fashioned whippet, Lilly is faster and definately neater in her feet than any of the larger less curvy whippets that I have had or have met. She can turn on a sixpence when chasing something which I would have thought is what a whippet is all about.

My first prediction is that the standard will change to reflect the INCREASE IN THE HEIGHT of whippets we are seeing these days. How big will they go in the next decade is open to speculation. . . .

 

[Mark Roberts]

if some have their way over size they will look like big donkeys

 

[lorna anne]

if some have their way over size they will look like big donkeys

HEIGHT is one of the few things in the standard which is not open to personal interpretation and discussion. 20 inches is 20 inches. So this is the one issue in the standard which should be VERY easy to measure objectively, not so . . . It would be interesting to measure the size of all whippet entries at larger shows, and see what the average size is for adult males and females. If it doesn't differ much from the height requirements in the current standard, then the height issue is a non-issue - end of discussion.

 

[bertha]

The height has already been changed twice!

If they get any bigger the will become small greyhounds, so breeders IMO should be looking at their lines and breeding to type AND size.

Heaven alone knows what they will look like in another ten years, doubt if I'll be around to see them :lol:

 

[quintessence]

I think a lot will happen in the world of pedigree dogs and showing in the next ten years, and we have to keep our breed close to our hearts. I think the busy people will be the breed club health co-ordinators monitoring the health of our breed and ensuring it remains fit for function. I don't have a crystal ball but I can't see changes being made to the breed standard.

Jenny

 

[Seraphina]

Don't know about 2020, that is only 11 years from now, but say by 2060, if they keep changing in the direction they have been I think they will look like something like this:

 

[lorna anne]

Don't know about 2020, that is only 11 years from now, but say by 2060, if they keep changing in the direction they have been I think they will look like something like this:

OH MY WORD!!! Fortunately I'll no longer be around to appreciate this abomination of our beautiful breed. My compliments to the artist, though. I take it it isn't the handlers that will shrink in size, but the whippets that will increase

 

[~Annie~]

Is it possible that eventually, if not by 2020, the size discrepancy between the smaller "old fashioned" whippets and the ever taller whippets so often complained about will lead to a mini/standard split or equivalent ??

 

[Noise]

Don't know about 2020, that is only 11 years from now, but say by 2060, if they keep changing in the direction they have been I think they will look like something like this:

I'd say the topline is too curved and the rear angulation needs to be a bit more extreme

size is an issue, but I honestly don't think it will creep up anymore. so who are these very large, dunno, 23, 24 inches to the withers whippets winning top awards in the ring today? after all, it's in the hands of us - whippet owners, exhibitors, breeders, judges. Whippet is not a breed on the brink of extinction, there is no reason why judging cannot be stricter, in shows where the entry can be well over 200 there is certainly enough dogs to choose from - beautiful, healthy, fit, with good temperament, of correct size and built and good movers. after all, it is about the whole package, size on its own does not define the breed. don't know about others but I manage to see stunning whippets when I am at shows.

 

[dolly]

I personally dont think size is as bad as it was about 8-10 years ago, to be people tend to highlight size because its the most obvious thing they can say.

There are plenty of correct sized whippets, as with oversize whippets, you have to judge the dog as a whole not just part of it

 

[lorna anne]

Is it possible that eventually, if not by 2020, the size discrepancy between the smaller "old fashioned" whippets and the ever taller whippets so often complained about will lead to a mini/standard split or equivalent ??

This is a very interesting point you raise. There are people who have even raised the issue of having a split between the "American Whippet" and the "Whippet". I speak under correction, but I think this has been the case in the Cocker spaniel, for instance.

 

[T Hoare]

The only real way to tackle the size of dogs allowed in the show ring would be measure each one.

 

[rls22]

If we are getting on to the size debate again then this from Magnus Hagstedt when he judged bitches at The Whippet Club last year, sums it up perfectly for me.

"Admittedly size varies but this should not present a problem as long as the balance between power and elegance is right. But if we add a little here and there, forgetting the general balance we will soon be in trouble. Size in itself is not a problem and I alwayss miss the "judges should use his own discretion and not unduly penalise an otherwise good specimen" paragrap from the previous standard. A whippet must never, never be too heavy or strtong, with power but no elegance to match, regardless of the measured size at the withers. Elegance must always come before the power and the strength."

 

[T Hoare]

If we are getting on to the size debate again then this from Magnus Hagstedt when he judged bitches at The Whippet Club last year, sums it up perfectly for me. "Admittedly size varies but this should not present a problem as long as the balance between power and elegance is right. But if we add a little here and there, forgetting the general balance we will soon be in trouble. Size in itself is not a problem and I alwayss miss the "judges should use his own discretion and not unduly penalise an otherwise good specimen" paragrap from the previous standard. A whippet must never, never be too heavy or strtong, with power but no elegance to match, regardless of the measured size at the withers. Elegance must always come before the power and the strength."

I for one could never understand why this was taken out of the standard.

Like Dolly said it is an obvious thing to see but as others have said size is only one fault, no different to bad angulation or poor movement etc.

 

[lorna anne]

The only real way to tackle the size of dogs allowed in the show ring would be measure each one.

A decade or so ago size was a huge issue in the Doberman breed. So, out came the dreaded MEASURING STICK!!! Wow, did this throw the cat among the pigeons. But it sent a message out to all breeders, "WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ADHERING TO THE SIZE STIPULATED IN THE STANDARD". Let me tell you, all of a sudden breeders were seriously looking at the size of their breeding stock before going ahead with matings.

 

[eve]

I look at what whippets used to be like, small neat and powerful. A perfect balance of grace and elegance able to turn on a sixpence to catch their prey. To the whippet lover like me, but no expert or judge, some show whippets look enormous built like porcelain figurines rather than the light energetic hunters they are supposed to be. One breeder said to me that small whippets tend to be overlooked in the show ring which is why the show dogs are getting bigger. Standards should not change or be flexible with regard to size allowed in the showring. If the breed standard says a size limit, that should be the max alllowed. Otherwise what is the point of the breed standard.

 

[rls22]

I think the size debate has been done to death before.

As has been said size is just one thing to take into consideration - how about short upperarms that result in horrible mincey movement?

I wouldn't swap my 21" dog who moves true and with drive for a 20" dog that goes nowhere any day.

 

[dolly]

In the breed standard it says DISERABLE height. Any judge worth its salt would love to put up all correct size dogs, however size is only one part, its far more important to put up a dog with correct movement who maybe a little oversize than a correct sized unsound dog ??